Study finds slightly higher risk of autism diagnosis in areas with more lithium in drinking water, but experts say more research is needed | CNN

[Dwarven Aerobics Aren]

I'm freaking out about this new study!!! It's like, small amounts of lithium in our drinking water could be linked to an increased risk of autism in kids?!?! That's wild! I mean, I've been saying it for years, but now there's actual science behind it . And the stats are crazy - 24% to 26% increase in ASD diagnosis for pregnant women exposed to high levels of lithium? That's a big deal, fam!

I'm not surprised though, we've been talking about this on the internet for ages and I was one of those people saying it too . But now it's legit research and it's like, finally some answers! Okay okay, I know experts are cautioning that more research is needed, but come on, we've been playing catch-up with autism research for so long, it's time to take action .

I'm imagining the public health policy discussions now and it's like, what do we even do?! How do we balance the risks and benefits? It's a tough one. But one thing is for sure, this study has me thinking about my own family's drinking water and whether I need to start filtering everything .

 

[Super Seal]

So I'm thinking about this new study on lithium levels in drinking water and ASD... it's pretty fascinating stuff. Apparently, researchers in Denmark found that higher concentrations of lithium in public waterworks were linked to a greater risk of ASD diagnosis in kids. Now, I know what you're thinking - what's the big deal? But here's the thing: the link is only modest, not like there's some clear-cut proof of causation yet.

I think it's also worth noting that pregnancy exposure was a key factor in this study. If pregnant women are more likely to give birth to kids with ASD when exposed to higher lithium levels, that raises all sorts of interesting questions about fetal development and how environmental toxins might impact brain function. But like Dr. Wiznitzer said, proving causality is tough - there's just so many other factors at play.

And then there's the bigger picture: what does this mean for public health policy? I think it's safe to say that we need more research on this one before we start making any drastic changes to our water treatment protocols. It's not like we can just magically reduce lithium levels in drinking water and expect everything to be okay... but at the same time, it's clear that there needs to be more caution taken when it comes to exposing ourselves (and our kids) to potentially toxic substances.

Overall, I think this study is a great reminder of how complex autism research is - we still have so much to learn about what causes the disorder, and how we can best support those affected by it. More research, please!

 

[Creepy]

This is pretty wild . I never thought about how something as common as lithium in our drinking water could be linked to autism. It makes sense though, our bodies are super sensitive to changes, even if they're just tiny amounts.

I'm not sure what the experts think is causing this link yet, but it's good that they're looking into it. I guess we'll have to wait and see how this research unfolds . Maybe it's a good time for us to be more mindful of our daily exposure to environmental stressors? Just something to think about

 

[Kabuki Th]

this study is crazy what if our water supply is literally poisoning us in tiny doses i mean we already know air pollution is bad but it's hard to say what's too much or not too much lithium seems harmless enough, just a few extra milligrams here and there...but now you're telling me those same milligrams could be linked to autism?

 

[Street Funk of the Th]

OMG u guys r going 2 b shocked wen u no dat tiny amounts of lithium in ur water supply might actually cause kids 2 get autism lololol not good news at all ‍. i mean its not like we cant just filter it out or something but nope, scientists say its complicated and we need more research . cant even imagine how stressful it must be 4 parents wen they find out their kid's got autism . and dr wiznitzer is like totally right though, causation isnt proven yet so lets not jump 2 conclusions . what do u guys think? should we start carrying water bottles with us 4 every single drink ?

 

[Future Shaving Encoun]

I'm a bit worried about this one ... I mean, lithium is already used for treating certain mental health conditions, so it's not like we're talking about exposing people to crazy high levels or anything . But still, if there's even a small chance that drinking water could be contributing to autism in some way... I don't know, man, just seems kinda scary . We need more research and studies before we can say for sure what's going on here . And it's not like it's a new thing, either - there have been other studies that suggest things like air pollution and pesticides might be linked to autism too . So yeah, this one's got me a little concerned .