Autism expert doubts claims that there may be a connection between autism and vinyl floors

April 1 2009,

A leading autism expert has spoken out and urged caution about a new study which is claimed to show some possible links between vinyl (PVC) flooring and autism.

In her blog published today on the About.com Autism web site, Lisa Jo Rudy says that In just the past few years, high profile articles on potential causes of autism have filled the airwaves. But so far, since the answers remain elusive, the possibilities remain... endless.

The connection was made in an article in the March 30th issue of Environmental Health News, entitled Scientists Find 'Baffling' Link between Autism and Vinyl Flooring. It says that according to research by Swedish and U. S. scientists, children who live in homes with vinyl floors containing phthalate plasticisers are more likely to have autism.

The article itself notes that the study is tiny, uncontrolled, and inconclusive - but as Lisa Jo Rudy points out, most parents will have stopped reading before reaching this later paragraph: ... The scientists were surprised by their finding, calling it "far from conclusive."

"Anyone not involved with the autism community might wonder - why are there headlines in major papers about a tiny, uncontrolled survey study that didn't even focus on autism? It's a good question, and one that should, perhaps, occur to journalists before they send parents scurrying to rip up their bedroom and kitchen floors!" says Ms Rudy.

On Monday (March 30 2009) the American Chemistry Council issued a statement: "As a science-based industry, the American Chemistry Council supports ongoing research into the safety and health effects of phthalates. With over 50 years of research, phthalates have been extensively reviewed by multiple regulatory agencies in the U. S. and abroad.

"In this particular study, the researchers state in their introduction that, "The data are far from conclusive." This is important in that ASD was not systematically analysed, but just happened to be a question asked 5 years into the study. No other means for assessing these children existed except for the questionnaire and the parent's responses, making this finding rather insignificant. No family medical histories were taken or any other means of verifying the medical condition of these children.

"As mentioned by the authors, this study is far from definitive and warrants “further and more extensive exploration.”