Category: twitter

Auto traffic and autism association found

Does proximity to high volumes of car traffic lead to autism?

Maybe, maybe not, but research by the University of Southern California and published in JAMA Psychiatry shows an association with autism in children born in an environment with elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide and micro-fine particulate pollutants. The USC researchers say further epidemiological and toxicological examinations of likely biological pathways will help determine whether these associations are causal.

This study is not a smoking gun for autism, but we already know fine particulate matter causes brain damage.

Earlier research in Southern California has shown that exhaust nanoparticles are easily absorbed into brain tissue and are toxic to brain cells. In experiments with animal tissue, researchers saw the poisons inflame and damage brain cells and inhibit brain tissue growth in cell cultures. Furthermore, they saw the exhaust particles damages brain blood vessels, causing cognitive decline through reduced blood flow into the brain.

This is in addition to other direct damage caused by driving cars such as various respiratory diseases (from emissions), stress-induced illnesses (from road noise), and various cancers (from VOC, NOx, and maybe PM).

Abstract is here; full journal article available to subscribers.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-20

  • Owl City – Fireflies: My daughter has Owl City’s “Ocean Eyes” on her MP3 player. A number of songs on this album a… http://bit.ly/95FpPR #
  • Bicycles: East Coast / West coast on SF public access cable noon today; live stream @ http://cycl.me/jje #
  • NAHBS Checkpoint Race: Globe, Mash, and Embrocation cycling journal have come together to sponsor an urban checkpo… http://bit.ly/95pi0X #
  • New Flickr photo – Camera pole mount test http://bit.ly/9LGoiD #
  • New Flickr photo – Ride to Farmer's Market http://bit.ly/bpyEYA #
  • Hmm, I need to fix that double tweets of my blog posts. #
  • @rpointer I thought Matt T just did some of the background vocals for that? in reply to rpointer #
  • New Flickr photo – Ow! http://bit.ly/dg957o #
  • Bamboosero: Building Bamboo Bikes For A Better Future: One of the more exciting exhibitors coming to the Shimano N… http://bit.ly/9UJonj #