Pitt research suggests link between autism, dirty air

University of Pittsburgh research suggests a possible link between childhood autism and exposure to dirty air, according to preliminary findings released Wednesday.

The study at the Pitt Graduate School of Public Health surveyed 217 Western Pennsylvania families whose children have autism spectrum disorder, a collection of developmental disabilities that affect one in 68 children nationwide.

Autistic children in the survey were more likely to have had elevated exposure early in life to airborne pollutants including chromium, cyanide and styrene, Pitt reported. Emissions from gasoline-powered cars, chemical manufacturing and other industrial processes can produce the toxins.

The Downtown-based Heinz Endowments funded the work.