That could very well be noise. Autism rates have gone up because more people are checked and, far more importantly, what is diagnosed as autism spectrum disorder has expanded GREATLY in even just the last decade. The greatest increase in rates, by an enormous factor, has occurred in those with very mild to borderline symptoms, the rates of more severe disabilities having effectively been static.
That could very well be noise. Autism rates have gone up because more people are checked and, far more importantly, what is diagnosed as autism spectrum disorder has expanded GREATLY in even just the last decade. The greatest increase in rates, by an enormous factor, has occurred in those with very mild to borderline symptoms, the rates of more severe disabilities having effectively been static.
Since both autism and ADHD are developmental disorders, I’d honestly be shocked if environmental factors including pollution weren’t involved.
At worse we reduce pollution for no reason.