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Higher lithium levels in drinking water may raise autism risk
Medical Xpress / University of California, Los Angeles / JAMA Pediatrics ^ | April 3, 2024 | Beate Ritz, MD, Ph.D. et al

Posted on 04/03/2023 4:57:30 PM PDT by ConservativeMind

Pregnant women whose household tap water had higher levels of lithium had a moderately higher risk of their offspring being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to a new study.

Because of lithium's mood-stabilizing effects, some lithium compounds have long been used as a treatment for depression and bipolar disorders. However, there has been debate about whether mothers can safely take lithium during pregnancy amid increasing evidence it is associated with higher risk of miscarriage and cardiac anomalies or defects in newborns.

Ritz found that some experimental research indicated lithium, which is among several naturally occurring metals often found in water, could affect an important molecular pathway involved in neurodevelopment and autism.

Ritz worked with researchers who analyzed lithium levels in 151 public waterworks in Denmark. To identify which waterworks supplied mothers' homes at the time of their pregnancy, the researchers used address information from Denmark's comprehensive civil registry system. Using a nationwide database of patients with psychiatric disorders, the researchers identified children who were born in 1997-2013, and compared 12,799 diagnosed with autism against 63,681 children who did not have an autism diagnosis.

As lithium levels increased, so did the risk of an autism diagnosis, the researchers reported. Compared to the lowest quartile of recorded lithium levels—in other words, those in the 25th percentile—lithium levels in the second and third quartiles were associated with a 24-26% higher risk of autism. In the highest quartile, the risk was 46% higher compared to the lowest quartile.

The researchers found a similar relationship between increased lithium levels and higher risk of autism diagnosis when the data were broken down by subtypes of the disorder. They also found the association between lithium levels and autism risk was slightly stronger for those living in urban areas compared to smaller towns and rural areas.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
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It seems to be safer to limit lithium exposure which can affect kids, at least.
1 posted on 04/03/2023 4:57:30 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; BusterDog; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; ...

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List

This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

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2 posted on 04/03/2023 4:58:13 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

I’m going to make a totally unsubstantiated comment, one I have not researched, nor can I back it up.

Where are we going to be when they get done raping the Earth for lithium and lie like hell about how they’re disposing of the batteries? I mean these people all go nuts about 1940s paint with lead in it. If they don’t give a shit about the damage being done by the toxic chemicals they’re mining for their beloved batteries.


3 posted on 04/03/2023 5:07:28 PM PDT by ChildOfThe60s ( If you can remember the 60s.....you weren't really there..)
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To: ConservativeMind

Yes. Lithium is widely used as a psychic drug.
I am wondering, if the whole “global warming” scare is a plot to expose people to lithium!


4 posted on 04/03/2023 5:21:12 PM PDT by AZJeep
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To: ChildOfThe60s

Correct, Wait till all the lithium leaks out of the junked batteries into the water system.

Probably not a real problem. Mom painted all my chew toys with old lead based house paint and I turned out just fine.


5 posted on 04/04/2023 5:44:59 AM PDT by oldasrocks (quew)
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