(TJV) The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is preparing to launch a significant study to explore the possible connection between vaccinations and autism.

Reuters confirmed the planning of the study through two sources familiar with the situation. This will be the first such study conducted by the CDC. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CDC issued a joint statement on Friday, acknowledging the alarming rise in autism diagnoses and emphasizing the need for an extensive investigation into all potential causes, including vaccinations.

“CDC is committed to thoroughly investigating the factors at play and ensuring transparency in its research,” the statement read.

While the role of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the study remains unclear, he recently published an opinion piece on Fox News in which he endorsed vaccination in light of a measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, while also affirming that vaccination should be a personal choice.

Autism rates have significantly increased in the U.S. over the past few decades, with one in 36 children now diagnosed, compared to one in 150 just 20 years ago. Proposed reasons for this rise include better awareness and diagnostic practices, changes in criteria for diagnosis, and environmental or genetic factors.

Recent research has suggested that exposure to glyphosate, the active ingredient in the widely used herbicide Roundup, could play a significant role in the autism epidemic. Studies have shown that glyphosate may disrupt the production of melatonin in the body, potentially leading to autism’s key symptoms, such as changes in brain structure and reduced bone density. Since 1974, approximately 1.6 billion kilograms of glyphosate have been used in the U.S., making up around 20% of global usage. A 2022 study found that 81.2% of Americans over six years old have detectable glyphosate levels in their urine.

Additionally, research has pointed to a link between bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and autism, particularly in boys. Boys with higher BPA levels in their mothers’ urine during late pregnancy were found to be 3.5 times more likely to exhibit autism symptoms by age two and six times more likely to receive an autism diagnosis by age 11.