Environmental Exposure & Autism: The Role of Physician Counseling in Incidence Reduction

Maternal environmental exposures to certain specific chemicals during early pregnancy, including pesticides, air pollutants and others, are known to increase the incidence of autism and autism spectrum disorder in offspring. The prevalence of these diseases can be reduced by taking steps to reduce environmental chemical exposures. Obstetricians and family practice physicians typically counsel patients on good health practices during pregnancy, including proper nutrition, the need for exercise, weight control, avoidance of drugs and other safeguards. It is proposed here that physician counseling of patients include information about the identification and avoidance of exposures to environmental neurotoxins that have been identified as causative agents for autism and autism spectrum disorder and that such counseling will lead to a decrease in the incidence of these diseases.