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Presenter at HHS-labeled recording says autism rates are rising, announces studies into environmental causes
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Summary
An unnamed presenter in a recording labeled as produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said autism prevalence has risen sharply and promised a series of studies to investigate environmental causes, naming mold, food additives, pesticides, air, water and medicines and saying some answers would be available by September.
An unnamed presenter at an event identified in the recording as produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said autism is increasing ‘‘at an alarming rate’’ and announced a planned series of studies to investigate environmental causes.
The presenter said the autism spectrum disorder prevalence for 8-year-olds is now ‘‘1 in 31’’ and described the trend as ‘‘unrelenting,’’ saying ‘‘most cases now are severe.’’ The speaker contrasted that figure with a historical number, saying, ‘‘In 1987, out of ‘1 mil every 1000000 kids, 330 were diagnosed with autism. Today, there are 27777 for every million.’’
The presenter attributed the rise to environmental exposure rather than genetics, saying, ‘‘We know it's an environmental exposure. It has to be — genes do not cause epidemics. They can provide a vulnerability. You need an environmental toxin.’’ The speaker said a series of new studies would be announced ‘‘to identify precisely what the environmental toxins are that are causing it’’ and listed potential culprits including mold, food additives, pesticides, air, water and medicines.
The presenter said the organizers would ‘‘follow this science no matter what it says’’ and added, ‘‘we will have some of the answers by September.’’ The recording is labeled at the end: "Produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services." The transcript does not provide a speaker name or title for the person making the statements, nor does it record presentation of supporting data or formal findings.
The comments reported in the recording are claims made by the presenter and are reported here as statements from that presenter. No votes, formal actions or references to peer-reviewed studies appear in the provided transcript excerpt.
The recording also includes the presenter introducing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; the transcript does not include remarks from Kennedy in the provided excerpt.
