Wildfire Smoke Exposure During Pregnancy Linked To Autism

THURSDAY, Oct. 29, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Exposure to wildfire smoke during pregnancy might increase a child’s risk of autism, a new study says.

Kids were more likely to be diagnosed with autism if their moms inhaled wildfire smoke while pregnant, particularly during the second and third trimesters, researchers reported Oct. 26 in JAMA Pediatrics.

Each 0.75-microgram-per-cubic-meter increase in airborne particle pollution from wildfires was linked to a 30% higher risk of a later autism diagnosis, researchers found.