研究員表示:空氣污染或增加自閉風險大綱

We do everything possible to keep our kids safe. But, what do you do if the very air they breathe is hurting them? Two new studies have found an association between relatively low levels of air pollution and children's risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

我們竭盡所能護孩子周全。但如果人們賴以呼吸的空氣傷害了他們，你又會怎麼做呢？兩項新研究發現：相對較低的空氣污染與兒童患自閉症譜系障礙的風險之間存在關聯。

One study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, studied 132,000 births in Vancouver, Canada, from 2004 to 2009. Researchers concluded there was a link between exposure to nitric oxide from car exhaust during pregnancy and greater incidence of childhood ASD.

其中一項研究發表在《美國醫學會小兒科》期刊上，研究了從2004年至2009年出生在加拿大溫哥華的13.2萬名新生兒。研究員得出結論：孕期暴露於汽車尾氣排放一氧化氮的環境與兒童患自閉症譜系障礙風險增加有關。

The second study, published in Environmental Epidemiology, observed more than 15,000 infants born in Denmark between 1989 and 2013. It found that air pollution exposure during the first months of life and later was also associated with ASD.

第二項研究發表於《環境流行病學》，觀察了1989年至2013年出生于丹麥的1.5萬多名嬰兒。研究發現：出生前幾個月暴露於空氣污染環境之下或增加長大後患自閉症譜系障礙的風險。

"The study showed a small increase in autism for infants exposed before birth to one of the pollutants: nitric oxide. While it's a small increase, if large populations are exposed, it could still affect many children," Lynn Singer, PhD, professor of population and quantitative health sciences, pediatrics, psychiatry, and psychology at the School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, told Healthline.

"研究發現：嬰兒出生前暴露於一氧化氮這一污染物使得他們患自閉症的可能性略有增加。雖然是小幅度增長，但如果大量人口處於污染環境中，受影響的兒童將會增多，"俄亥俄州凱斯西儲大學醫學院人口和定量健康科學，兒科，精神病學和心理學教授林·辛格（Lynn Singer）博士對美國健康在線網說道。

"It confirms some previous research and suggests that air pollution should be studied further regarding how it relates to autism," she added. However, neither study proved that air pollution is causing ASD. The researchers have only found that children in an area with air pollution are at a greater risk.

"這證實了先前的某些研究，表明人們應進一步就空氣污染與自閉症之間的關係開展研究，"她補充道。然而，尚未有研究表明空氣污染直接導致自閉症。研究員只是發現：處於空氣污染地區的兒童患自閉症的可能性更高。

No proof yet on what causes ASD. In recent years there have been a lot of studies claiming to have found a link between one thing or another and an increased risk of ASD. Acetaminophen, sold under the brand name Tylenol, is a good example. Research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology concluded there's evidence that using acetaminophen for 28 days or more during pregnancy was linked with a 20 percent increase.

目前尚未證明自閉症譜系障礙的原因。近年來，很多研究聲稱已發現自閉症譜系障礙風險增加與某些因素之間存在聯繫。泰諾品牌出售的撲熱息痛藥就是一個很好的例子。發表在《美國流行病學》雜誌上的研究得出結論：有證據表明孕期服用撲熱息痛藥28天或更久與嬰兒自閉症譜系障礙風險增加20%有關。

Sound scary? Of course it does - but is it as bad as it sounds? Maybe not. Relative risk is the chance something will happen to a group of people. Absolute risk tells you your personal risk. This study's findings actually indicate a low level of personal risk.

聽上去是不是很嚇人？當然了--但的確這麼嚴重嗎？也許沒有。相對風險是一羣人發生某事的機率。絕對風險是個人風險。該研究的結果實際上表明個人風險較低。