The Autism Puzzle
Connecting the Dots Between Environmental Toxins and Rising Autism Rates
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
The alarming spike in autism in recent years has sent doctors and parents on a search for answers. And while many controversies have erupted around the issue, none have gotten us any closer to a definitive explanation, and many key concerns remain unexplored. Moving beyond the distractions of the vaccine debate, The Autism Puzzle is the first book to address the compelling evidence that it is the pairing of environmental exposures with genetic susceptibilities that may be impacting the brain development of children.
Journalist Brita Belli brings us into the lives of three families with autistic children, each with different ideas about autism, as she explores the possible causes. She interprets for readers compelling evidence that environmental toxins—including common exposures from chemicals mounting in our everyday lives—may be sparking this disorder in vulnerable children. Belli calls for an end to the use of hazardous materials—like toxic flame retardants used in electronics and furniture, which have been banned elsewhere--insisting that we cannot afford to experiment with our children. The Autism Puzzle puts a human face on the families caught in between the debates, and offers a refreshingly balanced perspective.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Given that autism rates in the U.S. have reached 1 in 110 children, Belli's exploration of the correlation between environmental toxins and this difficult genetic condition couldn't be timelier. A journalist and editor of E/The Environmental Magazine, Belli explains that the "Mad Hatter" in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland was inspired by 18th century hatmakers, who after years of working with mercury to transform fur into felt began to exhibit neurological and physical problems. Though we've since learned of the devastating effects of mercury sickness, Belli warns that other chemicals still pose a threat. The author cites a startling recent study of blood taken from the umbilical cords of babies born in the U.S. that revealed therein "an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants, everything from mercury to pesticides to flame retardants." Focusing on the stories of three families with autistic children, Belli examines the myriad substances that might be causing the unprecedented diagnoses of autism in the U.S. Lamenting the "the enormous difficulty of passing any meaningful comprehensive reform," and backed up with plenty of research, the author suggests ways in which individuals might reduce their daily chemical exposure from going organic, avoiding foods packaged in plastic, and eliminating chemical cleaners from one's household. Grounded in anecdote and reliant on the facts, Belli's study is readable and very informative.
