TITLE:
Mapping Contaminants Associated with Autism: A Public Health Pilot in New Jersey
AUTHORS:
Erin Speiser Ihde, Themba Nyirenda, Aridaman K. Jain, Ji Meng Loh, Francisco Artigas, Christine Hobble, Dom Elefante, Saleh Kojak, Jin Young Shin, Lawrence Rosen
KEYWORDS:
ASD, Autism, Contaminant, Neurodevelopmental, Toxin
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geographic Information System,
Vol.6 No.6,
December
25,
2014
ABSTRACT: The rise in reported prevalence rates
of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is a national concern that continues to
grow at a record pace. New Jersey has the highest prevalence rate of autism
spectrum disorders (ASDs) among states surveyed, with approximately 1 in 45
children diagnosed. The pilot study focused on toxins potentially linked to
autism: arsenic, lead, manganese, mercury, organophosphate pesticides,
polychlorinated biphenyls, trichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride. In northern
NJ there were approximately 4600 Known Contaminated Sites (KCSNJ) where these
toxins were detected. A total of 269,790 sample detections were identified. Our
objective was to identify and map these sites, and identify methods by which
more robust contaminant data could be collected and analyzed. This study
resulted in eight original maps showing sample detections. These maps will aid
researchers and public health advocates in future analyses exploring links between
autism and these toxins. Concentrations of multiple toxins associated with ASDs
were most dense near urban industrial or mixed residential/industrial areas,
though no conclusions can be made regarding association or causality between
the sample detections and autism. Based in part on this study, NJDEP has made
and will continue to make improvements to contaminant data collection systems.