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Study Shows More Autism Near Texas Coal Plants

By BJ Austin

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-701160.mp3

Dallas, TX – Dr. Ray Palmer, Associate Professor with the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. He studied autism in Texas students, some of whom live near power plants and factories.

Dr. Palmer: "Mercury pollution measured separately from coal fired power plants and other industrial sources was associated with subsequent increases of autism rates in the community. On average, we find that with each ten mile increment closer to the pollution source, autism presence is increased by at least two percent."

Dr. Lucy Frazier, a toxicologist hired by coal businesses discounted the study. She says it shows no link between mercury releases from the coal plants and actual exposure in the environment. It has other problems, too.

Dr. Frazier: "The primary mercury that is released from power plants, for example - elemental mercury -- is known to travel thousands of miles before it will deposit on the ground. So to try to make an association between autism nearby a power plant and mercury that's being emitted from a power plant really doesn't make sense."

But it grabs the attention of parents with autistic children. Jamie Brown brought her 7 year old autistic son to the downtown protest, and now wonders about pollution sources, including the Arlington General Motors Plant about a mile from her home.

Brown: "And I came to meet him and get a little more information about what's in our area."

Brown and other parents want to see a new focus on autism research, shifting from genetic to environmental.