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Apr 30, 2008 4:33 pm US/Central
New Study Says Autism Linked To Coal Power Plants
Seema Mathur
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
With about one in 150 children diagnosed with autism there's a desperate search into the cause of the disorder. A new University of Texas study, released Wednesday, points the finger at coal power plants.
The study says the same coal power plants that provide some of our electricity are also emitting dangerous environmental mercury. According to the study, the closer a child is to the power plant, the greater the risk of autism.
Professor Ray Palmer spoke at a rally in Dallas Wednesday. He says a child living just 10 miles from a power plant is at a 2-percent higher risk of developing autism than a child living 20 miles away.
Reaching her son through play is a big deal to Mara Laviola, whose 5-year-old son Zach has autism. Since her son was 9-months-old Mara has been asking why. "He's 5 ½ and he's not potty trained yet," the mother explained. "He doesn't have a single friend and we can't have a conversation with him."
Mara was among the mom's holding signs at the rally because they believe the results of the new research. "We lived about 10 miles downwind from a coal burning plant and so I do think that it plays a role," Mara said. "I don't think it's the absolute only cause of autism but I do think it plays a significant role."
Professor Palmer came to his conclusions after looking at the Environmental Protection Agency's data on environmental emissions of mercury from coal power plants and autism prevalence in the community.
Toxicologists consulting with the Clean Coal Technology Foundation of Texas were also at Wednesday's rally. They say the study is scientifically flawed and argue that proximity to a coal power plant does not increase risk because of the way environmental mercury is emitted.
CBS 11 News contacted the Centers for Disease Control for their opinion on the study results and was told that they 'don't comment on independent studies'.
Many doctors agree that environmental mercury carries neurological risks, saying that's why pregnant women are advised not to eat fish containing high levels of mercury.
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