Health Secretary RFK Jr. Plans Studies on Toxins Linked to Autism

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced plans to investigate environmental factors as potential causes of rising autism rates, dismissing prevailing scientific consensus that increased diagnoses are primarily due to improved screening and expanded diagnostic criteria. At a press conference, Kennedy called the prevalence of autism an 'epidemic' and outlined forthcoming studies targeting a range of possible contributors, including mold, pesticides, food chemicals, medicines, and even ultrasound scans. He asserted that genetics alone cannot account for the surge, emphasizing the need to focus on external risk factors. Kennedy was joined by Dr. Walter Zahorodny, a CDC report co-author, who echoed that the increase in autism represents an urgent public health crisis likely linked to environmental factors. Recent CDC data shows autism prevalence among U.S. children has risen to one in 31, a trend some experts attribute to broader awareness and access to diagnosis, though Kennedy disputes this explanation. The proposed studies, to be unveiled within weeks, aim to provide answers by September, despite skepticism from much of the scientific community regarding Kennedy's claims.