California and Oregon are the hotspots of America for dangerous air toxins that can lead to autism, suggests a study.
Researchers at Washington University of St Louis gathered for 25 years in data about the air pollution of Submicron (PM1), particles less than a millionth of a meter wide and a sixth the size of human blood cells.
Although scientists have long followed the health effects of his cousin fine particles (PM2.5), emitted in the air through fossil fuels, PM1 has largely flown under the scientific radar.
Although little is known, it has been shown that PM1 increases the risk of heart attacks, lung cancer and dementia.
It is said that health agencies are carrying out a series of studies to find out whether environmental pollution can lead to autism, which has risen in the US for the past two decades.
In the new study, a map reveals that concentrations of PM1 were highest in the areas Los Angeles, Phoenix and Portland, along with parts of Idaho, New Mexico and Texas.
Less densely populated states without busy cities, such as Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming had the smallest concentrations.
The researchers have not provided exact figures, but the data suggests that larger cities in the western US along the west coast and the south run the most risk of harmful pollutants such as PM1.
A new study has measured the national levels of PM1, a polluting substance associated with a higher risk of autism (stock image)
The above map shows levels of PM1 based on data from 1998 to 2022. Parts of California, Oregon and Arizona had the highest concentrations
They also said that the new report could be one of the first to look at PM1 specifically.
Jay Turner, co-author of the study, said: ‘When EPA first announced a nice PM-air quality standard in 1997, there was a significant discussion about regulating PM 1 or PM 2.5.
‘For various reasons, including but not limited to the lack of health effect studies for PM1 compared to studies for PM2.5, the latter was chosen.
“This study offers an extensive, national data set to investigate PM1 effects on health.”
California, which had higher concentrations PM1, also has one of the highest percentages of autism in the country, according to the latest data from the CDC.
A report from the agency found one in 19 children in California, was diagnosed with autism, 48 percent higher than one in 31 national.
However, the report only looked at children aged four to eight, so it is unclear how many older children and teenagers were diagnosed.
Nationally, autism rates have risen from about one in 150 in the early 2000s.
Health secretary Robert F Kennedy JR announced a series of studies earlier this year that will look at ‘environmental oxins’ that he believes they can be causes, including pesticides and food additives, and promised’ that there will be an answer for the American people by September.
Particles has been demonstrated in recent studies to increase the risk of autism by causing inflammation in nerve tissue and possibly going from mother to placenta to fetus in the womb.
In the new study, published on Monday in The Lancet Planetary HealthResearchers calculate PM1 levels based on the measurement of seven components in PM2.5: sulfate, ammonium, nitrate, organic material, black carbon, dust and sea salt.
These pollutants can come from natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires and dust storms, as well as sources generated by people such as construction sites, burning fossil fuels and vehicle emissions.
Chi Li, first study author and professor of research assistant, said: “By putting together the seven species, we can calculate the total PM1 concentration in the country.”
PM1 levels were calculated on the basis of biweekly estimates from 1998 to 2022.
In addition to areas such as California and Oregon, parts of the Midwest and East East such as Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania also seemed to have higher concentrations of PM1, according to the map.
The researchers said that natural disasters such as forest fires may have contributed to increased levels. A 2020 Study The area found that is burned by forest fires in California has doubled over the past 20 years compared to the two decades before.
More urban areas such as Los Angeles and Portland also produce more PM1 due to a higher traffic, construction and a larger concentration of densely packed buildings.
Randall Martin, a professor in Energy Environmental and Chemical Engineering at Washu, said, “This data provides new information to improve the understanding of improving air quality and health.”
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