Maternal Occupations Linked to Autism Risk

A study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests that mothers working in jobs with high exposure to toxic chemicals or high stress have increased odds of having a child with Autism (ASD). The observational study, conducted in Denmark, analyzed data from 1,702 cases of ASD and 108,532 controls, using employment histories from the Danish Pension Fund Registry. It found increased odds of ASD in offspring for mothers employed in ground transportation, public administration, and military/defense occupations before conception and during pregnancy. For instance, military/defense occupations increased the odds by 59%, and ground transportation by 24%. The researchers theorize that exposure to combustion products, lead, exhaust fumes, industrial solvents, and work-related stress may contribute to neurodevelopmental risk. However, the study notes that it is observational and cannot establish cause and effect, and its findings may not be generalizable outside of Denmark.