Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Autism and Ionizing Radiation

Diagnoses of autism are increasing and more researchers are concluding that environmental causes are contributing in significant ways to the rising diagnoses. Environmental injuries that are suspected to play a role in autism include DNA damage, primarily in the form of de novo mutations, epigenetic changes in how genes encode proteins, and endocrine system disturbances. The environmental culprits potentially responsible for these injuries are varied. This mini-essay seeks to redress a limitation in the autism research on environmental insults by exploring the potential role of radioisotopes, such as strontium and radiocesium, in contributing to rising rates of autism. 
Many have suspected since the onset of the atomic age that there would be a price to pay. Very interesting article here.

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