In the past child abouse was happening and nobody "cared", children where sold (sometime hoping for their better life) It was not right, it just happened, so, no, authism is not bound to that Most likely it is bound to the increased level of chemicals that are in our food and drinks + the number of "pills" we take Once upon the time, no hormones in meat, no "special" sugar, no antibiotics in eggs.... so on and so forth