Study links autism, mercury emissions:

[World News]: WASHINGTON, March 15 : A new study has found a possible link between higher mercury emissions and higher rates of autism.

The study, accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed journal "Health and Place," looked for an association between rates of autism and special education in Texas and levels of mercury released into the environment.

"There was a significant increase," according to the study."On average, for each 1,000 pounds of environmentally released mercury, there was a 43 percent increase in the rate of special education services and a 61 percent increase in the rate of autism."

The Bush administration is announcing a proposal this week to limit mercury emissions that has already stirred controversy.

The study's lead author, Raymond F.Palmer of the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, cautioned the findings are limited, but he said they should prompt more research.

"It's a first jumping off point where you could say, there's an association here," Palmer told UPI.

The study has not yet been scheduled for publication.A copy was reviewed by UPI.

- -- Copyright 2005 by United Press International.