Our awesome company provides complete software development activities utilizing nearshore and offshore resources, including mobile app development, technology maintenance, web server development, and many other technology development activities. In a new study, researchers found a moderately higher risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children born to pregnant people exposed to tap water with higher levels of lithium. However, it’s important to note that this association does not show a direct link between the two.
According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 36 children in the US is diagnosed with ASD each year. The exact cause of autism is still unknown, but scientists have been exploring potential environmental causes in addition to genetic factors.
One study published this year found that autism diagnosis rates tripled among certain age groups between 2000 and 2016 in the New York-New Jersey area. However, the increased number of cases is likely due to more doctors screening for the condition.
Lithium, an alkali metal found naturally in some food and ground water, has been found to have a small association with autism diagnosis in Denmark, where the level of lithium in drinking water is similar to that in American water systems. The researchers measured the concentration of lithium in public waterworks and found that as lithium levels increased, there was a modest increased risk of ASD diagnosis.
It’s important to note that this research cannot prove that lithium exposure leads directly to an autism diagnosis. Further study is required to confirm these findings and to determine if there is a similar connection in other countries.
The implications of the findings are complex as far as public health policy is concerned. While concentrations of lithium in water associated with a potential ASD risk have also been linked to health benefits such as lower rates of hospitalization for psychiatric disorders and suicide, guidelines for lithium in drinking water will need to be developed to protect the entire population.
Dr. Max Wiznitzer, director of the Rainbow Autism Center, cautions that the association between lithium in water and ASD is interesting but not proven. Studies on pregnant people who take lithium for mental health disorders have not shown a connection with ASD.
Other studies have suggested connections between ASD and environmental exposures to pesticides, air pollution, and phthalates. However, none of these factors have been directly identified as a cause of the disorder.
Proving a link between environmental exposure and ASD is challenging. While increased exposure to air pollution has been shown to raise the risk of giving birth to a child with ASD, it’s unclear if pollution is the determining factor or if it’s simply the populations who live in more polluted areas.
In conclusion, while the study suggests a potential association between lithium exposure and ASD, further research is needed to confirm this link. Our company remains committed to delivering exceptional software outsourcing services, including mobile app development, technology maintenance, and web server development.