New research suggests that air pollution breathed in by pregnant women could increase their child’s risk of developing autism, particularly in those with genetic predisposition. Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have found that exposure to four common air pollutants during pregnancy or early childhood may be linked to higher autism rates. The study, published in Brain Medicine, examined how these pollutants can enter the bloodstream and bypass protective layers of the brain. This research comes as autism rates continue to rise globally, with recent analysis showing cases have ne…