Parents’ work exposure could lead to children’s autism: Study

Study shows prenatal exposure to solvents at work as a risk factor

Furniture restorers often work with varnishes and solvents,
which could affect their health and well-being.

A pilot study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has linked parental exposure to solvents at work to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in their children.

The results were published in Springer’s Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

The researchers found that parents of children with ASD had higher exposures to lacquer, varnish and xylene than parents whose were unaffected.

They also reported more exposures to asphalt and solvents.

Xylene is often used in the paint and painting industry, biomedical laboratories, automobile garages, the metal industry and by furniture restorers, for example, but many other industries also rely on solvents.

Autism spectrum disorder is a group of developmental conditions that includes full syndrome autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and pervasive development disorder. The causes of the disease are still unknown.

The researchers warned that the results of the study were preliminary and not conclusive, but that they added more evidence that individual exposures may be linked to the development of ASD.

Source: Springer

Air cleaners for solvents, xylene and other chemicals

When it comes to work exposures, less is more – and an industrial-strength air cleaner with the right air filters can help reduce exposures to airborne chemicals, fumes and toxins.

Electrocorp offers industrial strength air cleaner for a wide range of commercial and industrial applications, including

• Auto body shops and garages
• Printing and graphics
• Woodshops and furniture/art restorers
• And many more

The air cleaners can remove the widest range of indoor air contaminants with a deep-bed activated carbon filter (different carbon blends and types of carbons are available for specific chemical concerns), a HEPA filter for particles and dust and optional UV germicidal filtration for pathogens.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and personalized recommendations.