Traffic pollution ‘link’ to autism

Living near a busy road is associated with a dramatic increase in the risk of childhood autism, a study has shown.

Children from homes with the highest air pollution levels were three times more at risk than those from the least exposed homes. Experts described the finding as “important” but stressed it did not prove a causal link between pollutant chemicals and impaired brain development.

Autism is believed to be caused by a combination of both genetic and environmental factors. The link between the disorder and the environment has been less clear.