Autism risk increases with greater prenatal exposure to wildfire smoke, study says
PhillyVoice
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that increased prenatal exposure to wildfire particulate matter is associated with a higher risk of autism in children. The risk of autism diagnosis rose by 30% for each 0.75-microgram-per-cubic-meter increase in wildfire fine particles, with the strongest link observed after the 15th week of pregnancy. The study highlights the potential impact of wildfire pollution on fetal brain development, though it did not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
All articles from 28 October 2026. Summaries are AI-generated and may contain errors; the linked article is the authority.