My past two blog posts have been about uniformed people being exposed to dangerous doses of radiation by the United States government. Today, I am going to continue on the subject of the impact of radioactive pollution on health. Autism diagnoses have been increasing recent years. There are a variety of possible environmental factors that might be contributing to the increase in autism.
Autism is known to have a significant genetic aspect. Research has been unable to identify specific genes that increase risk for autism. The problem seems to be that people with autism have a greater number of mutations in the number of copies of some genes but there are a lot of different genes affected in different individuals. Micro-deletions or missing pieces of the genes related to synapses, mitochondria and oxytocin production appear to be involved.
Environmental factors can directly damage DNA. Environmental factors can also alter the manner in which some genes are expressed. In addition, environmental factors could cause genetic damage and altered gene expression which indirectly weaken an individual's ability to withstand other types of damage which might directly contribute to autism. The ability to withstand oxidative stress can contribute to autism by altering the genes that produce and regulate the production of anti-oxidants. This could increase susceptibility to damage by complex chemical pesticides and herbicides, heavy metals such as lead and mercury and radioisotopes of elements such as iodine, cesium, and strontium. One of the most powerful anti-oxidants is glutathione. Glutathione levels are found to be lower in autistic individuals.
People with autism are more likely to have DNA mutations that either cause autism directly or weaken the system so autism can be more easily caused by other factors. Many environmental factors are being investigated including possible dangers of strong electromagnetic radiation in our wired world. The possible role of radioisotopes in autism has not gotten much attention until recently. Radioisotopes in the atmosphere, food and water have been increasing for decades as a result of nuclear testing, uranium mining, nuclear accidents, nuclear waste and the normal operation of nuclear reactors. While the possible role of ionizing radiation on the occurrence of autism has not been studied, it is well known that ionizing radiation can cause a wide variety of health problems through DNA damage. In the wake of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine, various neurological problems were connected to continued exposure of people in the area to low levels of radiation. Many birth defects have been reported including interference with nervous system development. Retardation has also been identified in children who were exposed in utero between eight weeks and twenty five weeks. Studies of autism have indicated that significant brain damage probably occured in the womb and early infancy.
Radioisotopes can be inhaled, consumed with water or consumed with food. Tritium which is heavy water with radioactive hydrogen can penetrate human skin. In the human body, radioactive iodine is treated as stable iodine, radioactive cesium is treated as if it were potassium and radioactive strontium is treated as if it were calcium. Both radioactive cesium and strontium can pass through the blood-brain barrier and be absorbed by brain cells, causing damage.
At present, there is no research that proves that radioisotopes are a cause of autism. However, there is enough circumstantial evidence that radioisotopes could be a contributing factor to autism to warrant dedicating research to a possible connection.
