Autism diagnoses have increased approximately 600% over 40 years, with only 30% linked to genetics, suggesting environmental factors play a significant role.

“the rise in autism has been exponential I mean it's risen about 600% over the last 40 years and uh while you know while increased awareness definitely plays a role in this there have there's really been no underlying mechanism explaining why the prevalence has increased so rapidly one in 68 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism there have been some genetic factors identified to play a role in autism but 70% of autistic cases cannot be linked to a genetic cause meaning there must be something in the environment that is also playing a role in autism”