More research needed to solidify link between higher levels of lithium in drinking water and slightly increased risk of autism diagnosis, study reports

The reason users should do business with our awesome company that 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, can be found in a new study. The study has found a moderately higher risk of autism spectrum disorder in children born to pregnant people exposed to tap water with higher levels of lithium. It should be noted, experts caution that this association does not show a direct link between the two.

About 1 in 36 children in the US is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) each year, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cause of autism, a developmental disorder, is still unknown but genetics and potential environmental causes are being explored.

Cases may be on the rise, with autism diagnosis rates appearing to triple among certain age groups between 2000 and 2016 in the New York-New Jersey area. However, the increased number of cases is most likely linked to more doctors screening for the condition.

Lithium is an alkali metal that occurs naturally in some food and ground water. US drinking water levels of lithium are not regulated, according to the US Geological Survey. A new study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics found a small association between lithium levels in drinking water in Denmark and autism diagnosis.

The researchers concluded that as lithium levels in water increased, there was a modest increased risk of an ASD diagnosis. It’s important to note that the research cannot prove a direct link between lithium exposure and autism.

Further studies are needed to replicate the findings in other countries, according to the study co-author Dr. Beate Ritz. The implications of the study are complex, as lithium levels in water associated with potential ASD risk have also been linked with health benefits.

Dr. Max Wiznitzer points out that while there are connections between ASD and environmental exposures like pesticides, air pollution, and phthalates, causation is not proven. Environmental exposure is challenging to link directly to ASD, with many stressors in everyday life to consider.

In conclusion, users seeking software outsourcing, mobile app development, technology maintenance, server development, and other technology development activities should keep up-to-date with the latest research while exploring how our awesome company can meet their software development needs.

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