Environmental Toxins

1. What can I do while I wait to see our clinician – are there biomedical interventions I can try that are safe without a doctor's supervision?

Many families have contacted ARI over the past 40 years describing successful initial interventions at home using a variety of strategies, including:

  • Eliminating toxins in their child's environment
  • Trying restricted diets like gluten/casein/soy free, SCD, etc.
  • Using over-the-counter nutritional supplements

See:
Autism Network for Dietary Intervention
What is the right 'dosage' for Vitamin B6, DMG, and other nutrients in autism?
Vitamin B6 (and magnesium) in the treatment of autism
Suggested Dosages for Nutritional Supplements
Generation Rescue, What To Do: Action Plan
Autism Advocate's Environmental Health and Autism Pages on ASA Website

2. What can I do to PREVENT autism from occurring in subsequent children?

Autism is a complex disorder with many contributing factors. While we don't have all the answers yet, you can decrease the risk to younger siblings and future pregnancies by protecting your family from known dangers like environmental toxins. You may also want to speak with your doctor and dentist about amalgam safety, water filtering, fish consumption, etc.

Be sure and talk to your doctor about any vaccinations you've had in recent years and avoid vaccines containing heavy metals (mercury, aluminum, etc.) during pregnancy. You may not be informed in advance, ask to look at the manufacturer's insert for specifics about thimerosal, etc.

Autism Advocate's Environmental Health and Autism Pages on ASA Website

3. Is there any "safe" sedation? Are some safer than others? Are there some to be concernedabout?

Surgical: Parents often ask ARI for information about anesthesia for autistic children. Several years ago, ARI published a request for input from anesthesiologist Louise Kirz, M.D. who has two autistic sons.

Dental: Dental Anesthesia for the Autistic Child

4. My doctor says the thimerosal in vaccines is "so little there's nothing to be worriedabout" - is he/she right?

From Boyd Haley, Professor and Chair of the University of Kentucky Department of Chemistry: "The EPA safe level for mercury exposure from the diet is 0.1 micrograms/2.2 pounds body weight and the vaccines preserved with thimerosal has 12.5 micrograms of mercury or 125 times the EPA safe level. This makes the vaccine exposure safe if your baby weighs 275 pounds." Also, the thimerosal is injected, not ingested, which makes it more toxic, and it is delivered with aluminum that enhances the neurotoxicity. So it is surprising a physician would be so dismissive and say the thimerosal is 'so small it is nothing to worry about.'"

5. What about other chemicals in our environment besides mercury and heavy metals - do these affect our kids?

There are numerous studies showing the relationship between chemicals in our environment and developmental delays, thyroid disruption, etc. One of the best sources for information on the affects of chemicals in our environment is Environmental Working Group. Another source is Toxin Free legacy: Toxic Free Legacy

6. Where do the heavy metals come from?

See: Detoxamin, Heavy Metals, Sources and Effects