His book is a clearly and accessibly written account of his proposal that environmental poisons, including heavy metals, interact with genetic vulnerability to cause damage to the limbic brain system ... resulting in autism ... This is, overall, a scholarly book providing a possible explanation of autism. It will be of interest to parents as well as professionals.''. - Nature. The increasing number of people being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) cannot simply be explained by changes in diagnostic criteria or greater awareness of the condition. In this controversial new book, Richar.