Health

Autism risk could rise with air pollution, new study suggests

Published

1 year ago

November 13, 2024

Autism risk could rise with air pollution, new study suggests

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders could be triggered by air pollution, including the type emitted in car exhaust, a new study suggested — though it had some limitations.

The review, led by Hebrew University of Jerusalem, analyzed multiple studies related to autism and cellular activity. The findings were published in the journal Brain Medicine.

The researchers focused on four specific types of particles that make up air pollution: fine particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3).

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They also investigated four different ways in which these particles could impact the fetus.

Those four ways were neuroinflammation, oxidative/nitrosative stress (an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants that causes cell damage), epigenetic modifications (chemical changes to DNA) and disruptions to certain neurotransmitters, according to the study.

Lead study author Haitham Amal, PhD (center) is an associate professor at The School of Pharmacy at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is pictured with his research team. (Igor Fabrov)

“Increasing air pollution may significantly raise the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly ASD, due to gene-environment interactions,” lead study author Haitham Amal, PhD, an associate professor at The School of Pharmacy at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told Fox News Digital.

“Key air pollutants — such as fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and ozone — are implicated in triggering harmful processes in the brain, including neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and neurotransmitter imbalances,” he added.

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The risk is highest during times of accelerated development, such as prenatal and early childhood periods, according to Amal, who is also a visiting professor at Boston Children’s Hospital within Harvard Medical School.

“The brain starts developing at birth and continues to develop until the mid 20s,” Georges Ghacibeh, M.D., a neurologist at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, told Fox News Digital. He was not involved in the study.

The risk is highest during times of accelerated development, such as prenatal and early childhood periods, the researcher said. (iStock)

“During the early years, from conception until about age 5, the brain undergoes the most changes and therefore is more susceptible to the impact of external factors,” added Ghacibeh.

In a previous study published in 2023, the same research team found that nitric oxide (NO), which is one of the particles in air pollution, is a “key pathological factor in autism,” Amal noted.

The brain is most susceptible to external factors from conception until age 5, experts say.

Ghacibeh agreed that air pollution could increase autism risk.

“Chemicals inhaled by a pregnant mother or a young child, if they enter the bloodstream and make it to the brain of the fetus or developing child, can affect various metabolic pathways, either by interfering directly with certain chemical reactions inside the cells, or by reducing the amount of oxygen delivered to the brain,” he told Fox News Digital.

In the U.S., autism affects one in 36 children, or about 2.3%, as of 2024, according to statistics from the CDC. (iStock)

This can interrupt the process of normal brain development, according to the doctor, causing brain cells to lose their normal function.

“The mechanism would be similar to the effect of certain medications ingested during pregnancy that can lead to developmental delay or autism in the child,” Ghacibeh said.

Study doesn’t prove cause

Amal acknowledged that the study had some limitations.

“The data is based on epidemiological studies,” he said. “Extensive experiments in our labs should be done to validate and prove this connection.”

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Ghacibeh agreed, noting that epidemiological studies prove association but not causality.

“In other words, if two phenomena occur simultaneously, such as high levels of air pollution and a rise in autism, this does not necessarily prove that one caused the other — it just means that both phenomena occurred at the same time. It is possible that additional, unknown factors might have played a role as well,” he said.

Air pollution affects approximately 131.2 million people, or 39% of the U.S., as noted in the 2024 American Lung Association’s State of the Air report. (iStock)

Future research should aim to better understand pollution’s effects on “genetically susceptible individuals” and to find ways to protect those at greatest risk, according to Amal.

“This knowledge could inform public health policies aimed at minimizing ASD risk from environmental pollutants,” he added.

In the U.S., autism affects one in 36 children, or about 2.3%, as of 2024, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This is an increase from one in 44 children two years ago.

Air pollution is also on the rise, affecting approximately 131.2 million people, or 39% of the U.S., as noted in the 2024 American Lung Association’s State of the Air report.

This is an increase of 11.7 million people from 2023.

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Living in areas with lower pollution levels — away from factories or airports, for example — could help to prevent potentially harmful effects of air pollution, Ghacibeh said.

“Increasing air pollution may significantly raise the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly ASD, due to gene-environment interactions,” the study researcher said. (iStock)

“Using good air filters, especially when you live in a higher-pollution environment, also helps mitigate those risks,” he added.

Good nutrition and limited exposure to smoking, alcohol and drugs also helps to promote optimal brain development and neurological health, according to Ghacibeh.

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The study was funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the Eagles Autism Foundation, which raises funds for innovative research and care programs, according to its website, along with others.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Autism Foundation, Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation and Autism Society for comment on the study.

Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.

Health

Common nighttime noise exposure may trigger heart problems, study suggests

Published

1 hour ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Common nighttime noise exposure may trigger heart problems, study suggests

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Living near heavy traffic could negatively impact your heart health.

A European study, published in the journal Environmental Research, found that exposure to nighttime road traffic noise is linked to changes in the blood, leading to worsened cholesterol and cardiovascular risks.

The researchers considered data from the U.K. Biobank, Rotterdam Study, and Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, including more than 272,000 adults over the age of 30, according to a press release.

Nighttime road noise exposure was estimated at all participants’ homes based on national noise maps. Researchers also took blood samples to measure the participants’ metabolic biomarkers for disease, then mapped the link between nightly noise levels and existence of biomarkers.

Exposure to loud noise was associated with increased concentrations of cholesterol-related biomarkers. (iStock)

The study found that people exposed to louder noise at night — especially sounds above 55 decibels — showed changes in 48 different substances in their blood. Twenty of these associations “remained robust” throughout all cohorts.

Exposure to loud noise was associated with increased concentrations of cholesterol-related biomarkers, especially LDL “bad” cholesterol, IDL (intermediate-density lipoprotein) and unsaturated fatty acids.

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As noise levels increased, starting at around 50 decibels, cholesterol markers rose steadily, the release stated.

The authors concluded that this study “provides evidence that nighttime road traffic noise exposure from 50 dB upward is associated with alterations in blood cholesterol and lipid profiles in adults.”

Researchers noted a link between traffic noise and cardiometabolic disease. (iStock)

Study co-author Yiyan He, doctoral researcher at the University of Oulu in Finland, noted that in this type of research, small effect sizes are expected, and environmental exposures such as traffic noise are “typically modest.”

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“Despite this, we observed statistically robust and consistent associations across many biomarkers, especially those related to LDL and IDL lipoproteins,” she told Fox News Digital.

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“We also identified a clear exposure-response pattern starting at around 50 dB, suggesting that metabolic changes become more evident as noise levels increase.”

This aligns with public health guidance, as the World Health Organization recommends lower nighttime noise limits at around 40 to 45 dB, Yiyan He added.

“This finding may clarify the association between traffic noise and cardiometabolic diseases,” the researchers wrote. (iStock)

“The 55 dB level is often used as an interim benchmark associated with substantial noise annoyance and sleep disturbance,” she said. “In our study, we observed associations not only at 55 dB, but also indications of effects emerging at around 50 dB.”

The strength and consistency of the cholesterol-related associations were surprising, as these changes are usually “subtle.”

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“Instead, we found consistent associations across multiple large European cohorts, which strengthens confidence that the findings may reflect real biological patterns,” Yiyan He went on. “We were also interested to see that effects were minimal below ~50 dB, suggesting a possible threshold-like pattern.”

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The researcher noted that these findings were consistent across genders, education levels and obesity status.

The study was restricted to White Europeans, which posed a limitation. There was also a lack of information on the fasting status in the UK Biobank.

Changes in cholesterol levels were more severe than researchers expected. (iStock)

“Fasting can influence levels of certain metabolites, particularly fatty acids,” Yiyan He said. “However, based on UK Biobank documentation, fewer than 10% of participants were fasting for at least eight hours, and our main findings focused on cholesterol-related biomarkers, which are generally less sensitive to short-term fasting.”

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The researchers also lacked information on bedroom location, indoor noise exposure and time spent at home.

“These factors may introduce non-differential exposure misclassification,” Yiyan He said. “Additionally, noise exposure estimates were based on participants’ temporary residential addresses at the time of blood sampling, without considering the duration of residence.”

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“Many of these limitations would tend to bias results toward the null, so the consistent associations we observed remain noteworthy.”

Experts recommend taking measures to limit traffic noise at night. (iStock)

Based on this latest research, Yiyan He noted that nighttime noise is a “health-relevant exposure,” not just “an annoyance.”

“Our findings suggest that nighttime traffic noise may subtly but consistently affect metabolic health,” she said. “While the changes in cholesterol and lipid levels for any one individual are small, traffic noise affects a very large number of people, which means the potential public health impact could be substantial.”

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The researcher recommends taking measures like improving sound insulation, using noise-reducing strategies and placing bedrooms on the quieter side of the home when possible.

“Because sleep is a key pathway linking noise to health, protecting the nighttime sleep environment is especially important,” she added.

Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.

Health

The Best Time To Drink Coffee for Weight Loss and a Faster Metabolism

Published

13 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

The Best Time To Drink Coffee for Weight Loss and a Faster Metabolism

The Best Time To Drink Coffee for Weight Loss and Fat Burn | Woman’s World

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