environmental mercury release and special education rates in Texas

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http://www.seedcoalition.org/downloads/autism_study_UTHSCSA.pdf Title: Environmental mercury release, special education rates, andautism disorder: an ecological study of Texas.Authors: Palmer, F.1 palmerr@... Source: Health & Place; Jun2006, Vol. 12 Issue 2, p203-209, 7pDocument Type: ArticleAbstract: The association between environmentallyreleased mercury, special education and autism rates in Texas wasinvestigated using data from the Texas Education Department and theUnited States Environmental Protection Agency. A Poisson regressionanalysis adjusted for school district population size, economic anddemographic factors was

used. There was a significant increase in therates of special education students and autism rates associated withincreases in environmentally released mercury. On average, for each1000lb of environmentally released mercury, there was a 43% increase inthe rate of special education services and a 61% increase in the rate ofautism. The association between environmentally released mercury andspecial education rates were fully mediated by increased autism rates.This ecological study suggests the need for further research regardingthe association between environmentally released mercury anddevelopmental disorders such as autism. These results have implicationsfor policy planning and cost analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR; Copyright2006 Elsevier]Author Affiliations: 1University of Texas Health Science Center, San Department of Family and Community Medicine, 7703 Floyd CurlDrive, San , Texas 78229-3900,

USA2Department of Sociology, Our Lady of the Lake University, San ,Texas, USA3University of Pennsylvania Center for Mental Health Policy and ServicesResearch, USAISSN: 1353-8292_____

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