202 chemicals, ADHD, autism: Smells like The Onion
February 25, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
A short spoof from The Onion satirizes the theory that mercury, thimerasol, lead, who knows what chemical agent may be the cause of autism:
202 Chemicals Linked To ADHD, Autism (The Onion, February 23)
This is a joke, but it is a reminder that there is a lot of bad science out there about autism.
It is a good reminder of bad science. I think it spoofs more than bad science though. It also spoofs some of the attitudes and disinterest in examining the causes of autism.
Funny, funny!
Oh yes, gotta love The Onion – cheers
Humor is a great leaven!
My sense of humor is often the last barricade that saves me from depression. I love the Onion!
Hmm… to be honest I think endocrine disruptors are a good bet for a causative agent (if there really is an increase in autism and not simply an increase in diagnosis). Some sex hormones pass into the brain and are quite important for the modulation/development of neurons. And well… I think I counted 4 different endocrine disruptors the last time I read the label on my shampoo (yes, I’m changing labels when I run out). We’ll see what REACH (EU program to remove the most dangerous chemicals) makes of them.