Exposure to environmental toxins in developing human brains has strong implications to the cause and development of Autism Spectrum Disorders especially if when a genetic vulnerability is present. An Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an incurable neurological disorder that impacts social connectedness, impairs communication and can exhibit repetitive patterns of behavior. The frequency of ASD has been on the rise since the 1970’s. In 1970 Autism was diagnosed for 3 in every 10,000, increasing to 66 in every 10,000 to about 1 in 88 children in 2008. The dramatic increase over the past 20 years has brought this disorder to national attention which has aided in awareness. This awareness helps parents learn the signs of an ASD so that they may achieve the help for their child that comes from a proper diagnosis at an earlier age. However, awareness and an increase in diagnosis alone can’t explain the huge increase and so doctors have tried to find other explanations. A developing brain being exposed to environmental toxins is greatly attributed to the development of Autism. The way the toxins weaken the developing immune system, toxins in food, gut dsybiosis, and excessive vaccinations that contain toxins like mercury all play a major role in whether or not a child develops Autism. Skeptics may say that it is genetics alone that cause Autism; however, genetics, like awareness, doesn’t explain the dramatic increase in cases seen over the past 20 years. Regardless, the risk is too high and the effects of these toxins are devastating for those individuals whose bodies can’t process it.
Gastrointestinal involvement to ASD has been