There are a lot of things, including autism, that we really don't know the cause of. But we do know that a great many chemicals, such as pesticides, herbicides, many food additives, etc., have both known and unknown ill effects. It seems to me, that if you know something is bad for you, it's a good idea to stop using it, whether it specifically causes autism, cancer, ADHD, or any other specific ailment, or not. For example, it's well known that mercury is toxic. We don't know everything bad that mercury does. But we sure know enough already to know we shouldn't be eating it.
We tend to let the big industries decide what we eat, drink, breathe, put on our skins, etc. We take their word for it that it's safe. Products contain what the government has decided is a "safe" level of toxins. That lotion only has a teeny bit of this toxin, and that pepper only has a little toxic residue, and those amounts alone probably wouldn't do much. But they aren't alone. There are toxins on, and in, so many different things, and they accumulate, and interact with each other. We don't even know yet all the ways they interact, probably never will. There are simply too many new and complex chemicals and drugs being used, and they haven't all been tested to see what happens when they combine. They can't all be tested that way, there are too many.
Meanwhile, we do know that food without toxic pesticides on it isn't harmful. (as long as you aren't allergic to it, anyway) We know it won't hurt you not to ingest mercury. It won't hurt you not to eat herbicides. It won't hurt you if you do eat wholesome, natural, nutritious foods, and get plenty of vitamins and minerals.
It's a no-brainer to me, and I don't understand why so many people don't seem to get this. Not just for prevention of autism, but for all the other weird things happening to people, particularly children.
Oh, and don't forget, some things don't become apparent for years, sometimes decades. Like the women who took that drug that caused their daughters to have cancer when they were young adults. Some environmental toxins are like that, too. You could be exposed, not show any outward damage, but have something wrong with children you have afterward. Things that may not show up right away.
You can't avoid everything bad, but there are plenty of things you can avoid. It just makes sense to me, to do so, when you can.
