The use of a toxic mercury based compound, Thimerosal...

[whistle]

...in vaccines and various medications as a preservative linked to the epidemic of autism that has seen a the fold rise in the last decade revealing a national scandal.

<snip>

Autism: a Novel Form of Mercury Poisoning

S. Bernard, B.A., A. Enayati, M.S.M.E., L. Redwood, M.S.N., H. Roger, B.A., T. Binstock
Sallie Bernard, ARC Research, 14 Commerce Drive, Cranford, NJ 07901 USA, 908.276.6300, fax [phone]

Summary

Autism is a syndrome characterized by impairments in social relatedness and communication, repetitive behaviors, abnormal movements, and sensory dysfunction. Recent epidemiological studies suggest that autism may affect 1 in 150 U. S. children.

Exposure to mercury can cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions similar to traits defining or associated with autism, and the similarities extend to neuroanatomy, neurotransmitters, and biochemistry.

Thimerosal, a preservative added to many vaccines, has become a major source of mercury in children who, within their first two years, may have received a quantity of mercury that exceeds safety guidelines.

A review of medical literature and U.S. government data suggests that


i) many cases of idiopathic autism are induced by early mercury exposure from thimerosal;

(ii) this type of autism represents an unrecognized mercurial syndrome; and

(iii) genetic and non-genetic factors establish a predisposition whereby thimerosal's adverse effects occur only in some children.

<more>
<link> http://www.mercola.com/2000/oct/1/autism_mercury.htm

<and more links>

http://www.laleva.org/eng/2004/07/autismmercury_poisoning_connection_appears_to_be_confirmed.html

http://www.monheit.com/thimerosal/t_being_done.shtml

http://www.mercola.com/2004/mar/31/mercury_vaccines.htm

http://www.pressbox.co.uk/Detailed/16756.html

http://gnn.tv/articles/699/Vaccine_Nation

http://www.lotusbirth.com/doc/FEB2003Lotusbirth-536.htm

http://www.altcorp.com/DentalInformation/recordssealed.htm

http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v54/__show_article/_a000054-000040.htm

http://www.newswithviews.com/Cuddy/dennis21.htm

[Dookus]

1. It seems the real science

in this area finds no link between autism and thimerosal.

http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/concerns/thimerosal/thimerosal-vacs-facts.htm

http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/030909237X?OpenDocument

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/mayautism.htm

[MADem]

2. SOMETHING is causing it, the increases have been astounding

...over the years. Years ago, no one ever even heard of it. Now it seems to be everywhere.

[Dookus]

3. Maybe

maybe not.

Certainly better diagnoses are responsible for some increase. Many who would've previously just been labeled "retarded" are now more accurately diagnosed.

I live in the Bay Area which has a pretty high rate of autism. It has been speculated that some of the increase can be tied to the "gathering" of people with slight autism or Asperger's here in the computer industry. If there's a genetic component, the "carriers" are gathering here and having children. I don't know the state of any research to confirm or deny this hypothesis.

But there *IS* plenty of evidence that thimerosal is not responsible. I think the link started in people's minds because autism often first manifests itself around the same time children get their vaccinations.

[Undercover Owl]

6. interesting point, dookus.

"Many who would've previously just been labeled "retarded" are now more accurately diagnosed."

This has got to be true, to an extent. These days, we are so much more informed, so much more aware, about Special Ed issues. (I'm a Special Ed professional in an elementary school). Back in the old days, I'm sure autistic kids were misunderstood and were treated ignorantly. They may even have been denied a public education.

However, I personally don't believe the awareness of autism is the main cause of the increase in the number of cases of kids within "the autism spectrum". There are simply too many of them! There really does seem to be a wild growth rate in the number of truly autistic children.

Thinking about teachers in decades past...ANYONE would be able to recognize that they act differently than a non-autistic person with mental retardation. They would be able to explain how they are different, whether or not they could explain why.

[Dogmudgeon]

4. But is it Thimerosal?

There are thousands of toxic substances in our environment, and thimerosal accounts for a very small percentage of just the mercury based pollutants. It's almost impossible to tease the effects of a single compound out from the pack without a lot of heavy-duty analytic gear and a couple of underpaid grad students.

The best thing we can do is to stay as healthy as we can.

--p!

[politicat]

5. And while mercury *might* be implicated, along with complex genetic

factors (i.e. this is not a simple Y chromosome defect like Duchiens Muscular Dystrophy) the more likely source of mercury poisoning for fetuses and neo-nates is environmental and dietary. (Nature Genetics, late 2003 issue. I'm relying on memory here since this is of interest to me, but is not actually my field. I believe the article was called Silicon Valley Syndrome or something like that.)

The consumption of fish, living in a city with a high ratio of driver miles to residents, coal-fired electricity, and any number of mining and landfill operations are far more likely to cause damaging levels of mercury in the developing child than the minute amounts contained in a vaccine. (FDA and EPA releases on mercury; www.fda.gov and www.epa.gov, then search on mercury and be prepared to wade.)

Considering a single can of albacore tuna can have as much as 6x (3 ppm) as much mercury as the MMR (.5 ppm).... I'd be lookin' at lunch, not the Physician's Assistant. (FDA and www.rxlist.com)

Do note that autism "clusters" tend to be in cities with either inexpensive access to fresh fish and a general level of income that allows for parental consumption of fish in quantity, or in older, industrial cities where coal power and manufacturing are still common, and EPA regs may be flaunted or grandfathered. (American Pediatric Psychiatric Association, Autism Clusters, Notes, Sept/Oct issue(?) - I've bundled this one out the door, I fear. But I read it before the election, so that's the right time. )

Don't you just love the Clear Skies Initiative, which would increase mercury emissions?

Pcat