Potential autism risk identified

Potential autism risk identified

A new study shows that pregnant women who use flea and tick shampoos on pets may double the risk of autism in their children.

This finding comes from the Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment study (CHARGE) – a case-control study from the University of California Davis. The ongoing research follows 2,000 children – some with autism, some with developmental delay, and some with typical development – and compares individual genetic patterns with exposure to medications, chemicals, food products, and other environmental factors.

The authors (who stress the findings are preliminary) believe that insecticide chemicals called pyrethrins may play a role in triggering autism in certain kids.

Pyrethrins are extracted from Chrysanthemum flowers and are regarded as low in toxicity. In fact, the USDA considers pyrethrum formulas to be safe to use in food preparation areas. Pyrethrins are widely used in insect foggers (to kill flies, mosquitoes, and cockroaches) and are also found in some lice-control shampoos for humans.

Source:
“Pyrethrin Chemicals in Pet Shampoo May Increase Autism Risk” Mark Henderson, The Times of London, 5/15/08, timesonline.co.uk The CHARGE Study, beincharge.ucdavis.edu