Is Air Pollution Increasing Hospitalisation Risk for Autistic Children

 

The number of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has rapidly increased globally. However, it is a genetic disorder, studies have shown that environmental factors may also contribute to the development of ASD, increasing the risk of children being hospitalized.

Researchers from the Institute of public health and medical care at Seoul National university hospital drew on official government data on daily hospital admissions for autism among children aged five to 14 between 2011 and 2015.

They also collected data on national daily levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) in each of the 16 regions in the Republic of Korea.

A 10 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) increase in PM2.5 levels was associated with a 17 per cent higher risk of hospital admission for autism.

Analysis of the data revealed that short-term exposure to PM2.5, NO2 and O3 was associated with a heightened risk of hospital admission for autism, and that boys were at greater risk than girls.

Admissions for issues such as hyperactivity, aggression or self-injury may be prevented by minimising their exposure, and cutting air pollution levels could lower the risks, the researchers behind the study concluded. The findings were published in the journal BMJ Open.

“These results emphasise that reduction of air pollution exposure needs to be considered for successful ASD symptom management, which is important with regard to quality of life and economic costs.

“Because this is the first study on this subject, further studies, especially studies directly investigating ASD symptoms in more detail, are warranted to confirm the results and draw policy implications.”- researchers said.

What is ASD,

‘Autism' is a disease in which the brain of the child suffering from it works less than that of a normal child. Since the development of the brain starts from childhood, the symptoms of 'autism spectrum disorder' start showing in children by the age of three years.

In medical science, 'Autism spectrum disorder' (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a range of symptoms and severity. It is often accompanied by neuroinflammation and systemic inflammation meaning drugs, supplements, and diet can improve the core symptoms.

Globally, one in 100 children are autistic, according to the World Health Organization.

Autism, also called autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can manifest itself in many different ways, with varying signs and symptoms. Around one in a hundred children under the age of eight years has ASD. Children suffering from this disease are not able to connect with another person quickly. There is also a lot of difference in their behavior, way of speaking and the way of doing things as compared to a normal child; boys are more at risk than girls, a study suggests.

The prevalence of autistic disorder (AD), a serious developmental condition, has risen dramatically over the past two decades, but high-quality population-based research addressing causes is limited.

Relation between ASD and air pollution,

Several studies showed linkage between perinatal exposure to ambient air pollution and risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These studies have largely been consistent, with associations seen with different aspects of air pollution, including hazardous air toxics, ozone, particulate, and traffic-related pollution.

Researchers discovered that exposure to fine particles that emanated from vehicular exhaust, industrial emissions, and other sources of outdoor air pollution increased the risk of developing autism spectrum disorder by as much as 78%. The study also found that the risk of ASD increased by 64% with exposure to 10 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air (mcg/m3) during early childhood. A child’s developing nervous system is more susceptible to environmental exposures than adults.

According to the Environment International Journal. while high levels of exposures to pollution have been implicated in early fetal death, where pregnancies do not survive, low-level exposures might have a more subtle effect on brain development. This might be one of the triggers for the development of autism, especially if other factors, such as genetics, are present.