Socioeconomic Status, Air Pollution, and Other Variables as Predictors of U.S. State Autism Spectrum Disorder Rates

An exploratory study examined 14 predictors of autism prevalence across U.S. states using 2017 data, finding that socioeconomic status and air pollution jointly explained 55.7% of variance in state ASD rates. Higher SES and greater air pollution exposure were associated with higher ASD prevalence, though the study notes these are correlational findings requiring further investigation.