Vaccine quote of the week by Bernard Rimland, PhD

Jeff wrote:
"Mark Probert" wrote in message
...

(...)

You assumption is absurd. Did the children have high levels of mercury at
birth? If not, the current blood test is useless.

Even so, since I feel that autism is 99% genetic, there would be no issue
for me.

The problem is that the data do not indicate that autism is 99% genetic.
There are clearly a lot of environment factors involved as well.

We are far too early in the investigation to rule that out. Like I said
I *feel* it is. I read every study that comes from PubMed on this, and
it is looking more and more like it is a genetic disorder, with a
*remote possibility* of an environmental trigger, ASSUMING THAT THE
GENES ARE THERE. This would explain why not all of the kids who were
exposed to Thimerosal developed autism.

I should point out that the data, coming from different sources, indicate
that neither mercury nor organomercury pounds (e.g., ethyl- and
methylmercury) are not causes of autism.

100% agreement.

In article , Mark Probert
wrote:

Jason Johnson wrote:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mark,
I have read studies on both sides of this issue. It appears to me (and I
hope I wrong) that you instantly discount any studies or reports which
indicate that mercury MAY be the cause of autism. Am I wrong? I hope so.

Read my fingers....there are NO epidemiological studies showing a
link...eight studies on diverse populations all show that there is no
link....keep reading...

Replication of findings is one of the "checks and balances" in the world
of scientific research. You may recall the cold fusion debacle several
years ago...or the Korean scientist on cloning whose findings could not
be reproduced....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mark,
For the sake of this discussion, let's assume that you had 10 blood tests
of 10 children that had autism in front of you and they all indicated that
the children had dangerous levels of mercury. Would you discount those
blood tests or assume that autism MAY be caused by mercury?

Like I said, the epidemiological studies refute any possible connection
between mercury and autism. Eight studies, LARGE diverse populations,
all showing the same thing.

Furthermore, how do we know that 10 non-autistic kids don't have equally
high levels of mercury? If you want to use that model, all I need to do
is to bring one kid with the same levels who does not have autism.

I would assume that the autism MAY have been caused by mercury.
Jason

You would assume wrong.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mark,
Good point. It appears to me that you have made up your mind that mercury
plays no role in regard to the cause of autism. Even if you saw data
indicating that every child that had autism also had high levels of
mercury--you still would not be convinced. I hope that I am wrong. I hope
that mercury is not the cause of autism. I have had lots of vaccines and
lots of dental fillings containing mercury. I hope that when the babies of
the world are my age (55 years old) that the levels of mercury and other
heavy metals are much lower than the levels in the bodies of people that
are now 55 years old.
Jason
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~

Jason Johnson wrote:
In article , Mark Probert
wrote:

Jason Johnson wrote:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mark,
I have read studies on both sides of this issue. It appears to me (and I
hope I wrong) that you instantly discount any studies or reports which
indicate that mercury MAY be the cause of autism. Am I wrong? I hope so.

Read my fingers....there are NO epidemiological studies showing a
link...eight studies on diverse populations all show that there is no
link....keep reading...

Replication of findings is one of the "checks and balances" in the world
of scientific research. You may recall the cold fusion debacle several
years ago...or the Korean scientist on cloning whose findings could not
be reproduced....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mark,
For the sake of this discussion, let's assume that you had 10 blood tests
of 10 children that had autism in front of you and they all indicated that
the children had dangerous levels of mercury. Would you discount those
blood tests or assume that autism MAY be caused by mercury?

Like I said, the epidemiological studies refute any possible connection
between mercury and autism. Eight studies, LARGE diverse populations,
all showing the same thing.

Furthermore, how do we know that 10 non-autistic kids don't have equally
high levels of mercury? If you want to use that model, all I need to do
is to bring one kid with the same levels who does not have autism.

I would assume that the autism MAY have been caused by mercury.
Jason

You would assume wrong.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mark,
Good point. It appears to me that you have made up your mind that mercury
plays no role in regard to the cause of autism. Even if you saw data
indicating that every child that had autism also had high levels of
mercury--you still would not be convinced.

Try reading comprehension. What I said is that there is no evidence of
causation. None. It is nothing more than a theory, and that is why Boyd
Haley, et al, were excluded from testifying. All the evidence says
otherwise.

I hope that I am wrong. I hope
that mercury is not the cause of autism.

Since there is no evidence that it is, your hopes have been answered.

I have had lots of vaccines

That is unusual for someone your age, unless you traveled to some really
remote areas of the third world.

and
lots of dental fillings containing mercury. I hope that when the babies of
the world are my age (55 years old) that the levels of mercury and other
heavy metals are much lower than the levels in the bodies of people that
are now 55 years old.

There has been a decades long effort to reduce environmental mercury.

In article , Mark Probert
wrote:

Jason Johnson wrote:
In article , Mark Probert
wrote:

Jason Johnson wrote:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mark,
I have read studies on both sides of this issue. It appears to me
(and I
hope I wrong) that you instantly discount any studies or reports which
indicate that mercury MAY be the cause of autism. Am I wrong? I
hope so.

Read my fingers....there are NO epidemiological studies showing a
link...eight studies on diverse populations all show that there is no
link....keep reading...

Replication of findings is one of the "checks and balances" in the world
of scientific research. You may recall the cold fusion debacle several
years ago...or the Korean scientist on cloning whose findings could not
be reproduced....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mark,
For the sake of this discussion, let's assume that you had 10 blood tests
of 10 children that had autism in front of you and they all indicated that
the children had dangerous levels of mercury. Would you discount those
blood tests or assume that autism MAY be caused by mercury?

Like I said, the epidemiological studies refute any possible connection
between mercury and autism. Eight studies, LARGE diverse populations,
all showing the same thing.

Furthermore, how do we know that 10 non-autistic kids don't have equally
high levels of mercury? If you want to use that model, all I need to do
is to bring one kid with the same levels who does not have autism.

I would assume that the autism MAY have been caused by mercury.
Jason

You would assume wrong.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mark,
Good point. It appears to me that you have made up your mind that mercury
plays no role in regard to the cause of autism. Even if you saw data
indicating that every child that had autism also had high levels of
mercury--you still would not be convinced.

Try reading comprehension. What I said is that there is no evidence of
causation. None. It is nothing more than a theory, and that is why Boyd
Haley, et al, were excluded from testifying. All the evidence says
otherwise.

I hope that I am wrong. I hope
that mercury is not the cause of autism.

Since there is no evidence that it is, your hopes have been answered.

I have had lots of vaccines

That is unusual for someone your age, unless you traveled to some really
remote areas of the third world.

and
lots of dental fillings containing mercury. I hope that when the babies of
the world are my age (55 years old) that the levels of mercury and other
heavy metals are much lower than the levels in the bodies of people that
are now 55 years old.

There has been a decades long effort to reduce environmental mercury.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It might be unsual but it does happen. I was attending grade school in one
county and received all of the required vaccinations. Several years later,
I transferred to a school in a different county. The vaccine records could
not be found so they required me to get a new series of vaccinations
before I could attend that school. I understand that members of the
military also have to take vaccines. That's one of the reasons that
mercury should not be used in vaccines. One or two vaccines containing
thimerosal don't cause much harm but some people (like me and members of
the military) end up getting lots of vaccines containing thimerosal. Now
you know another reason why I want thimerosal to be banned.
Jason
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mark Probert" wrote in message
...
Jason Johnson wrote:
In article , Mark Probert
wrote:

Jason Johnson wrote:
In article , Bryan Heit
wrote:
john wrote:
"Bryan Heit" wrote in message
...
If so, they know that they would be fired if they
approved articles that
mentioned the dangerous side effects and newly discovered side
effects of
statins or other drugs made by the companies that were
advertisers.

But they are not paid, so it's a non-issue.

Bryan
Oh yeah, not paid to review but you can bet your last
dose of
mercury that they get funded by vaccine makers, after all the only
people who review vaccine articles are vaccine people
Nope, as I've pointed out to your repetitively, I've reviewed
papers but not once ever received or spent a single penny which came
from any pharmaceutical company. About the only money paid to
academic institutions by pharma is contract fees, as in when they pay
us to run some experiments for us.
Closest I've come was some free T-shirts for my slow-pitch
(beer-ball) team, courtesy of one of our local suppliers. Not exactly
a big present, given that we buy close to a half-million dollars of
reagents from them every year.
They did an investigation about how the pharmaceutical
companies are
funding all the research and spinning the trial results, so you can
no
longer really trust what you read in scientific journals.
"They" being who? The voices in your head?
They pointed out that when they tried to get an expert
to review the scientific literature related to antidepressants, they
basically couldn't find someone who hadn't
taken money from the drug companies. I can think of several
people at my uni who'd fit the bill. I guess "they" didn't look very
hard.
Psychiatric Drugs: An Assault on the Human Condition
Street Spirit Interview with Robert Whitaker
Who's "they"?
Bryan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bryan,
Since you have done lots of research related to autism, I hope that
you
can answer a question for me. This is the report that caused me to
become interested in this issue:
There was a mercury catastrophe in Minamata Bay, Japan, involving
ingestion
of methymercury-contaminated fish--it led to metal deficits.
http://www.american.edu/TED/MINAMATA.HTM
It was methyl mercury, which is recognized to be much more toxic than
ethyl mercury, and is retained far more easily.
I have seen other reports indicating that when they test the blood of
children that have autism--it (in most cases) reveals that the
children
have high levels of mercury. Much of the testing is of rather dubious
merit. Spend some time and learn about it.
When I read reports like the two reports mentioned above, it appears
to me
to indicate that mercury MAY be the cause of autism.
When you read those same sorts of reports, why do you discount them?
You
already know that some people that have had mercury poisoning for
several
years develop mental problems. If this is true, is it possible that
when
an infant or small child has been exposed to mercury that it could
cause
autism.
They are discounted because the epidemiological studies of large and
diverse populations fails to show a link.
You have been told this over and over, and you seem to refuse to
understand that point.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mark,
I have read studies on both sides of this issue. It appears to me (and I
hope I wrong) that you instantly discount any studies or reports which
indicate that mercury MAY be the cause of autism. Am I wrong? I hope so.

Read my fingers....there are NO epidemiological studies showing a
link...eight studies on diverse populations all show that there is no
link....keep reading...

Replication of findings is one of the "checks and balances" in the world
of scientific research. You may recall the cold fusion debacle several
years ago...or the Korean scientist on cloning whose findings could not be
reproduced....

Note how Mark adds the word *epidemiological*.

One should NOT read his fingers, or his postings.

http://www.flu.org.cn/news/2004986362.htm
Thimerosal,New study reopens debate on vaccinations
Published: Sep ,8,2004 16:21 PM
By ###
Special to The Wall Street Journal & Medicalnewstoday



By Tara Parker-Pope
The Wall Street Journal

Just a few months after the nation's top medical adviser rejected a link
between vaccines and autism, a mouse study has reignited the debate and
raised new fears among parents considering vaccinations and flu shots for
their kids.


For years, a cadre of parents and physicians have contended that thimerosal,
an ethyl-mercury compound that has been one of the most widely used vaccine
preservatives, is partly responsible for an apparent rise in autism in
recent decades. But broad population studies haven't supported the claim. In
May, a major report from the Institute of Medicine's Immunization Safety
Review Committee rejected a link between autism and vaccines.



But today, a congressional committee will review a June study from Columbia
University, which found that a preservative used in vaccines can cause
autism-like symptoms in a specific strain of mice. The research raises
questions about whether some people might be genetically vulnerable to the
effects of thimerosal.



The study also raises questions about a new push by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention to add flu shots to the immunization schedule for
school-age kids. The vast majority of flu shots given still contain the
preservative.



In the study, researchers administered thimerosal to four strains of young
mice. Three of the mice strains were unaffected by thimerosal, but the
fourth developed problems consistent with autism such as delayed growth,
social withdrawal and brain abnormalities. The mice were known to have a
genetic susceptibility to mercury.



Thimerosal, found in childhood vaccines, can increase the risk of
autism-like damage in mice



A new study indicates that postnatal exposure to thimerosal, a mercury
preservative commonly used in a number of childhood vaccines, can lead to
the development of autism-like damage in autoimmune disease susceptible
mice. This animal model, the first to show that the administration of
low-dose ethylmercury can lead to behavioral and neurological changes in the
developing brain, reinforces previous studies showing that a genetic
predisposition affects risk in combination with certain environmental
triggers. The study was conducted by researchers at the Jerome L. and Dawn
Greene

Infectious Disease Laboratory at the Mailman School of Public Health,
Columbia University. Over the past 20 years, there has been a striking
increase--at least ten-fold since 1985--in the number of children diagnosed
with autism spectrum disorders. Genetic factors alone cannot account for
this rise in prevalence. Researchers at the Mailman School, led by Dr. Mady
Hornig, created an animal model to explore the relationship between
thimerosal (ethylmercury) and autism, hypothesizing that the combination of
genetic susceptibility and environmental exposure to mercury in childhood
vaccines may cause neurotoxicity.

Cumulative mercury burden through other sources, including in utero
exposures to mercury in fish or vaccines, may also lead to damage in
susceptible hosts. Timing and quantity of thimerosal dosing for the mouse
model were developed using the U.S. immunization schedule for children, with
doses calculated for mice based on 10th percentile weight of U.S. boys at
age two, four, six, and twelve months.

The researchers found the subset of autoimmune disease susceptible mice with
thimerosal exposure to express many important aspects of the behavioral and
neuropathologic features of autism spectrum disorders, including:

Abnormal response to novel environments;

Behavioral impoverishment (limited range of behaviors and decreased
exploration of environment); Significant abnormalities in brain
architecture, affecting areas subserving emotion and cognition; Increased
brain size.

These findings have relevance for identification of autism cases relating to
environmental factors; design of treatment strategies; and development of
rational immunization programs. The use of thimerosal in vaccines has been
reduced over the past few years, although it is still present in some
influenza vaccines. Identifying the connection between genetic
susceptibility and an environmental trigger for autism--in this case
thimerosal exposure--is important because it may promote discovery of
effective interventions for and limit exposure in a specific population,
stated the lead author Dr. Mady Hornig. Because the developing brain can be
exposed to toxins that are long gone by the time symptoms appear, clues
gathered in these animal models can then be evaluated through prospective
human birth cohorts--providing a powerful to tool to dissect the interaction
between genes and the environment over time.

Citation source: Molecular Psychiatry 2004 Volume 9, advance on line
publication doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001529

For further information on this work, please contact Mady Hornig, MD,
Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Greene Infectious
Disease Laboratory, 722 W 168th St, New York, New York 10032, United States
of America, phone: 212-342-9036; FAX: 949-824-1229; e-mail:


ARTICLE: "Neurotoxic effects of postnatal thimerosal are mouse
strain-dependent"

M Hornig, D Chian, W. I. Lipkin

Greene Infectious Disease Laboratory, Mailman School of Public Health,
Columbia University, 722 W 168th St, New York, New York 10032

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q..._uids=15527868

1: Neurotoxicology. 2005 Jan;26(1):1-8. Related Articles, Links


Thimerosal neurotoxicity is associated with glutathione depletion:
protection with glutathione precursors.

James SJ, Slikker W 3rd, Melnyk S, New E, Pogribna M, Jernigan S.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and
Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA.


Thimerosol is an antiseptic containing 49.5% ethyl mercury that has been
used for years as a preservative in many infant vaccines and in flu
vaccines. Environmental methyl mercury has been shown to be highly
neurotoxic, especially to the developing brain. Because mercury has a high
affinity for thiol (sulfhydryl (-SH)) groups, the thiol-containing
antioxidant, glutathione (GSH), provides the major intracellular defense
against mercury-induced neurotoxicity. Cultured neuroblastoma cells were
found to have lower levels of GSH and increased sensitivity to thimerosol
toxicity compared to glioblastoma cells that have higher basal levels of
intracellular GSH. Thimerosal-induced cytotoxicity was associated with
depletion of intracellular GSH in both cell lines. Pretreatment with 100
microM glutathione ethyl ester or N-acetylcysteine (NAC), but not
methionine, resulted in a significant increase in intracellular GSH in both
cell types. Further, pretreatment of the cells with glutathione ethyl ester
or NAC prevented cytotoxicity with exposure to 15 microM Thimerosal.
Although Thimerosal has been recently removed from most children's vaccines,
it is still present in flu vaccines given to pregnant women, the elderly,
and to children in developing countries. The potential protective effect of
GSH or NAC against mercury toxicity warrants further research as possible
adjunct therapy to individuals still receiving Thimerosal-containing
vaccinations.

PMID: 15527868 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q..._uids=15184908

Mol Psychiatry. 2004 Sep;9(9):833-45. Related Articles, Links


Neurotoxic effects of postnatal thimerosal are mouse strain dependent.

Hornig M, Chian D, Lipkin WI.

Jerome L and Dawn Greene Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of
Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New
York, NY 10032, USA.

The developing brain is uniquely susceptible to the neurotoxic hazard posed
by mercurials. Host differences in maturation, metabolism, nutrition, sex,
and autoimmunity influence outcomes. How population-based variability
affects the safety of the ethylmercury-containing vaccine preservative,
thimerosal, is unknown. Reported increases in the prevalence of autism, a
highly heritable neuropsychiatric condition, are intensifying public focus
on environmental exposures such as thimerosal. Immune profiles and family
history in autism are frequently consistent with autoimmunity. We
hypothesized that autoimmune propensity influences outcomes in mice
following thimerosal challenges that mimic routine childhood immunizations.
Autoimmune disease-sensitive SJL/J mice showed growth delay; reduced
locomotion; exaggerated response to novelty; and densely packed,
hyperchromic hippocampal neurons with altered glutamate receptors and
transporters. Strains resistant to autoimmunity, C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ, were
not susceptible. These findings implicate genetic influences and provide a
model for investigating thimerosal-related neurotoxicity.

PMID: 15184908 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://poisonevercure.150m.com/autism.htm

Autistic children are shown to retain abnormally high concentrations of
mercury from environmental sources such as vaccines.

********* (Until recently, the FDA administration concealed their knowledge
that thimerosal has been known to cross through the blood-brain barrier and
concentrate in the brain).***********

In a recent communication with Congressman Dr. Weldon, CDC conceded that
some of the routinely recommended vaccines contained the full amount of
thimerosal (25 mcg) as late as 2003. Those are not to expire until towards
the end of 2005. There is no existing reason to believe that manufactures
have it in mind to completely remove thimerosal from childhood vaccines in
the near future. Much to my alarm, documents recently obtained from the
World Health Organization (WHO)state that their policy is to lobby strongly
for maintaining thimerosal in vaccines as they see it necessary to use
childhood vaccines in third world countries. The mentality is that if
thimerosal is taken out of American childhood vaccines, the third world
countries will not accept thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines. This
seems to be a clear disturbing indication that, for whatever reason, WHO
desires to inoculate third world country populations with thimerosal
containing vaccines. This is an agency that claims to have an interest in
making sure that children in developing countries have the best
opportunities at life. How is that possible when they are being
deliberately poisoned with high concentrations of a neurotoxins?
There exists many decades worth of peer-reviewed literature (literally
hundreds) on the dangers of thimerosal which include case-reports, animal
studies, tissues culture studies, genetic studies, toxicology studies, and
biochemical studies. According to the above article, CDC, HHS and AAP warns
that 1/166 children have autistic spectrum disorders and even more alarming,
1/6 children have developmental and or behavioral disorders.
The World Health Organization's (WHO) Expert Committee on Biological
Standardization acknowledges that thimerosal is essential during vaccine
production to inactivate certain pathogenic organisms and toxins and prevent
microbial growth during vaccine storage and use. (click here to view
document). Read the Eli Lilly's, manufacturer of thimerosal, safety data
sheet on thimerosal. According to this document, thimerosal will react with
strong oxidizing agents and one listed is peroxides. Another vaccine
component. Also listed are the effects, including signs and symptoms of
exposure such as topical allergic dermatitis, topical hypersensitivity
reactions. Early signs of mercury poisoning are noted as nervous system
effects which include narrowing of the visual field and numbness in the
extremities. "Exposure to mercury in utero and in children can cause mild
to severe mental retardation and mild to severe motor coordination's
impairment". Primary routes of entry are listed as inhalation and skin
contact. For shipping information, there's no question of the label:
POISONS accompanied by the skull and bones picture label.
Mercury over stimulates the brain's immune system. Over stimulation of the
brain results in activation of the microglia widely dispersed in the brain.
When the microglia are activated, they release toxins killing surrounding
brains cells. Prolonged stimulation of the microglia by too many vaccines
kills far too many brain cells.
Though, some may find the reasoning of this imitation form of immunization
to make sense and logic, studying the peer review, lab work and studies
conducting the safety of such the practice will encourage you to think
twice. The dangers of inoculating children and adults with vile
microorganisms is potentially fatal. World Health Organization is privy to
this information. Other material indicate they know that more children
would die and or die quicker without the thimerosal. Sounds insane, but a
fact worth keeping in mind and or researching on your own. So, in order to
inactivate these microorganisms something even more toxic is needed to do
just that. That's where the thimerosal comes in. These facts alone should
raise a few eyebrows. Remember, in the records of mercury toxicology, it
only takes 35 mcg to kill a rabbit. Now, think about how much is in each
vaccine. There's 25mcg in Hib, Pneumococcal (except for Prevnar), DTaP, all
Tetanus brands. Then there's 12.5 in the Hep b. How much thimerosal is
needed should be your other indicator of the dangers of vaccines. The next
indicator is how many doses children receive by school registration.
It's one Russian roulette game after another to keep the big bucks packing
into the pockets of the big dogs.

Mol Psychiatry. 2004 Sep;9(9):833-45.Related Articles, Links


Neurotoxic effects of postnatal thimerosal are mouse strain dependent.

Hornig M, Chian D, Lipkin WI.

Jerome L and Dawn Greene Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of
Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New
York, NY 10032, USA.

The developing brain is uniquely susceptible to the neurotoxic hazard posed
by mercurials. Host differences in maturation, metabolism, nutrition, sex,
and autoimmunity influence outcomes. How population-based variability
affects the safety of the ethylmercury-containing vaccine preservative,
thimerosal, is unknown. Reported increases in the prevalence of autism, a
highly heritable neuropsychiatric condition, are intensifying public focus
on environmental exposures such as thimerosal. Immune profiles and family
history in autism are frequently consistent with autoimmunity. We
hypothesized that autoimmune propensity influences outcomes in mice
following thimerosal challenges that mimic routine childhood immunizations.
Autoimmune disease-sensitive SJL/J mice showed growth delay; reduced
locomotion; exaggerated response to novelty; and densely packed,
hyperchromic hippocampal neurons with altered glutamate receptors and
transporters. Strains resistant to autoimmunity, C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ, were
not susceptible. These findings implicate genetic influences and provide a
model for investigating thimerosal-related neurotoxicity.

PMID: 15184908 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Neurotoxicology. 1989 Winter;10(4):699-706.Related Articles, Links


Effect of organic and inorganic mercuric salts on Na+K+ATPase in different
cerebral fractions in control and intrauterine growth-retarded rats:
alterations induced by serotonin.

Chanez C, Flexor MA, Bourre JM.

Unite 26, INSERM, Hopital Fernand WIDAL, Paris, France.

An intrauterine growth-retarded (IUGR) model based on restriction of blood
supply to the rat fetus at the 17th day of pregnancy was studied. We
investigated in vitro the effects of thimerosal and mercuric chloride on
Na+K+ATPase activity in total brain homogenate, synaptosomes and myelin at
weaning. In addition, we evaluated the reversal effect of serotonin on
mercury-inhibited Na+K+ATPase activity. The toxicity, in terms of inhibition
of Na+K+ATPase activity was greater with mercuric chloride than with
thimerosal. Synaptosomes and principally myelin were more sensitive to the
metal salts than total homogenate. Serotonin stimulated the Na+K+ATPase
activity in total brain homogenate and synaptosomes but inhibited the enzyme
in the myelin fraction. This effect was more marked in the IUGR group than
in the control group. Serotonin (1 mM) added to total homogenate pretreated
with the mercury salts produced variable reversal effects. In the
synaptosomal fraction reverse effect was noted with serotonin. In myelin
fraction, added serotonin increased inhibition caused by thimerosal.

PMID: 2562765 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Int J Biochem. 1983;15(1):5-7.Related Articles, Links


Rat brain (Na+-K+)ATPase: modulation of its ouabain-sensitive K+-PNPPase
activity by thimerosal.

Lewis RN, Bowler K.

1. The (Na+ + K+) ATPase activity of a rat brain synaptic membrane
preparation was inhibited by 10(-5) M thimerosal. 2. The ouabain inhibitable
K+-PNPPase activity of thimerosal treated membranes was compared with that
of untreated membranes with respect to sensitivity to temperature, ouabain,
K+ and ATP. 3. All those kinetic characteristics were substantially altered
by treatment with thimerosal.

PMID: 6298022 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

pharmacist friend maintains multiple dose vials of flu vaccine all
contain mercury as a preservative/antibacterial. the single dose vials
do not have mercury as a preservative, but have had mercury added
during the initial processing of the vaccine. the resultant single
dose vials have a minute amount of mercury, esp in comparison to the
multiple dose vials. one can request one's physician order single
dose vial flu vaccine. It is more expensive.
(2-5-04) BOSTON, Mass. - According to new research from Northeastern
University pharmacy professor Richard Deth and colleagues from the
University of Nebraska, Tufts, and Johns Hopkins University, there is
an apparent link between exposure to certain neurodevelopmental toxins
and an increased possibility of developing neurological disorders
including autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The
research - the first to offer an explanation for possible causes of
two increasingly common childhood neurological disorders - is
published today in the April 2004 issue of the journal Molecular
Psychiatry.

Though some speculation exists regarding this link, Deth and his
colleagues found that exposure to toxins, such as ethanol and heavy
metals (including lead, aluminum and the ethylmercury-containing
preservative thimerosal) potently interrupt growth factor signaling,
causing adverse effects on methylation reactions (i.e. the transfer of
carbon atoms). Methylation, in turn, plays a significant role in
regulating normal DNA function and gene expression, and is critical to
proper neurological development in infants and children. Scientists and
practitioners have identified an increase in diagnoses of autism and
ADHD in particular, though the reasons why are largely unknown.

In their work, the scientists found that insulin-like growth factor-1
(IGF-1) and the neurotransmitter dopamine both stimulated
folate-dependent methylation pathways in neuronal cells. At the same
time they noted that compounds like thimerosal, ethanol and metals
(like lead and mercury) effectively inhibited these same biochemical
pathways at concentrations that are typically found following
vaccination or other sources of exposure. By better understanding what
happens when infants and children are exposed to these materials, the
work of Deth and his colleagues helps to explain how environmental
contact with metals and administration of certain vaccines may lead to
serious disorders that manifest themselves during childhood, including
autism and ADHD.

"Scientists certainly acknowledge that exposure to neurotoxins like
ethanol and heavy metals can cause developmental disorders, but until
now, the precise mechanisms underlying their toxicity have not been
known," said Deth. "The recent increase in the incidence of autism
led us to speculate that environmental exposures, including vaccine
additives might contribute to the triggering of this disorder."

Thimerosal, which was largely phased out in the U.S. and in Europe
starting in 2000,was often used for its preservative abilities in
multi-dose units of vaccines for diseases like hepatitis, whooping
cough, tetanus and diptheria. Today, most vaccines carry only trace
amounts of it, according to the CDC. But in larger, multi-dose vials of
these vaccines, often shipped to and used in third world countries,
thimerosal is still very common. Multi-dose flu vaccines still contain
thimerosal.

Additionally, the scientists recently obtained more insight into the
mechanism by which thimerosal interferes with folate-dependent
methylation. It acts by inhibiting the biosynthesis of the active form
of vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin), which is of particular interest
because doctors treating autistic kids are having good success with the
administration of methycobalamin.

Northeastern University, a private research institution located in
Boston, Massachusetts, is a world leader in practice-oriented
education. Building on its flagship cooperative education program,
Northeastern links classroom learning with workplace experience and
integrates professional preparation with study in the liberal arts and
sciences. U.S. News & World Report, in its annual guide America's
Best Colleges, 2003, ranked Northeastern University number one in the
country among programs that "require or encourage students to apply
what they're learning in the classroom out in the real world." In
addition, Northeastern's career services was top ranked by Kaplan
Newsweek's "Unofficial Insiders Guide to the 320 Most Interesting
Colleges and Universities," 2003 edition. For more information, please
visit http://www.northeastern.edu.

Paper in full at this link:

http://www.nupr.neu.edu/2-04/deth_article.pdf
Mol Psychiatry. 2004 Apr;9(4):358-70. Related Articles, Links


Activation of methionine synthase by insulin-like growth factor-1 and
dopamine: a target for neurodevelopmental toxins and thimerosal.

Waly M, Olteanu H, Banerjee R, Choi SW, Mason JB, Parker BS, Sukumar S,
Shim S, Sharma A, Benzecry JM, Power-Charnitsky VA, Deth RC.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston,
MA 02115, USA.

Methylation events play a critical role in the ability of growth
factors to promote normal development. Neurodevelopmental toxins, such
as ethanol and heavy metals, interrupt growth factor signaling, raising
the possibility that they might exert adverse effects on methylation.
We found that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)- and
dopamine-stimulated methionine synthase (MS) activity and
folate-dependent methylation of phospholipids in SH-SY5Y human
neuroblastoma cells, via a PI3-kinase- and MAP-kinase-dependent
mechanism. The stimulation of this pathway increased DNA methylation,
while its inhibition increased methylation-sensitive gene expression.
Ethanol potently interfered with IGF-1 activation of MS and blocked its
effect on DNA methylation, whereas it did not inhibit the effects of
dopamine. Metal ions potently affected IGF-1 and dopamine-stimulated MS
activity, as well as folate-dependent phospholipid methylation: Cu(2+)
promoted enzyme activity and methylation, while Cu(+), Pb(2+), Hg(2+)
and Al(3+) were inhibitory. The ethylmercury-containing preservative
thimerosal inhibited both IGF-1- and dopamine-stimulated methylation
with an IC(50) of 1 nM and eliminated MS activity. Our findings outline
a novel growth factor signaling pathway that regulates MS activity and
thereby modulates methylation reactions, including DNA methylation. The
potent inhibition of this pathway by ethanol, lead, mercury, aluminum
and thimerosal suggests that it may be an important target of
neurodevelopmental toxins.

PMID: 14745455 [PubMed - in process]

Medical News Today
Thimerosal, found in childhood vaccines, can increase the risk of
autism-like damage in mice
09 Jun 2004

A new study indicates that postnatal exposure to thimerosal, a mercury
preservative commonly used in a number of childhood vaccines, can lead to
the development of autism-like damage in autoimmune disease susceptible
mice. This animal model, the first to show that the administration of
low-dose ethylmercury can lead to behavioral and neurological changes in
the developing brain, reinforces previous studies showing that a genetic
predisposition affects risk in combination with certain environmental
triggers. The study was conducted by researchers at the Jerome L. and Dawn
Greene

Infectious Disease Laboratory at the Mailman School of Public Health,
Columbia University. Over the past 20 years, there has been a striking
increase--at least ten-fold since 1985--in the number of children
diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Genetic factors alone cannot
account for this rise in prevalence. Researchers at the Mailman School,
led by Dr. Mady Hornig, created an animal model to explore the
relationship between thimerosal (ethylmercury) and autism, hypothesizing
that the combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental exposure
to mercury in childhood vaccines may cause neurotoxicity.

Cumulative mercury burden through other sources, including in utero
exposures to mercury in fish or vaccines, may also lead to damage in
susceptible hosts. Timing and quantity of thimerosal dosing for the mouse
model were developed using the U.S. immunization schedule for children,
with doses calculated for mice based on 10th percentile weight of U.S.
boys at age two, four, six, and twelve months.

The researchers found the subset of autoimmune disease susceptible mice
with thimerosal exposure to express many important aspects of the
behavioral and neuropathologic features of autism spectrum disorders,
including:

Abnormal response to novel environments;

Behavioral impoverishment (limited range of behaviors and decreased
exploration of environment); Significant abnormalities in brain
architecture, affecting areas subserving emotion and cognition; Increased
brain size.

These findings have relevance for identification of autism cases relating
to environmental factors; design of treatment strategies; and development
of rational immunization programs. The use of thimerosal in vaccines has
been reduced over the past few years, although it is still present in some
influenza vaccines. Identifying the connection between genetic
susceptibility and an environmental trigger for autism--in this case
thimerosal exposure--is important because it may promote discovery of
effective interventions for and limit exposure in a specific population,
stated the lead author Dr. Mady Hornig. Because the developing brain can
be exposed to toxins that are long gone by the time symptoms appear, clues
gathered in these animal models can then be evaluated through prospective
human birth cohorts--providing a powerful to tool to dissect the
interaction between genes and the environment over time.

Citation source: Molecular Psychiatry 2004 Volume 9, advance on line
publication doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001529

For further information on this work, please contact Mady Hornig, MD,
Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Greene Infectious
Disease Laboratory, 722 W 168th St, New York, New York 10032, United
States of America, phone: 212-342-9036; FAX: 949-824-1229; e-mail:


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

http://www.thecre.com/quality/2005/2...f_quality.html

Thursday, June 16, 2005
Why Won't the CDC Allow Access to the Vaccine Safety Datalink?

Memo to CDC: We're not getting our money's worth
David Kirby
May 23, 2005

Can mercury in vaccines cause autism in children? This hotly disputed
question will only burn brighter as more biological evidence surfaces to
suggest a link. But a definitive answer might take years. Meanwhile, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is sitting on a
multi-million-dollar database - paid for by you and me - that could probably
resolve this contretemps within weeks.

They have the data. We paid for the data. Yet we cannot see the data. The
information is kept under lock and key within the massive health agency --
as jealously guarded as nuclear secrets.

The CDC tells us that they have looked at the data exhaustively and found
"no evidence of harm." They implied that their own scientists are perfectly
capable of analyzing the data, thank you very much, and outside researchers
cannot be trusted to independently verify their analyses, nor to protect the
confidentiality of patients whose numbers they would be crunching.

But, as any high school student can tell you, the replication of a study is
the hallmark of all good science. Without access to the raw data originally
used by the CDC researchers, it is impossible to verify their work. All we
can do is trust that they got it right.

The CDC, which has budgeted nearly $200 million to operate the Vaccine
Safety Datalink, spent four years analyzing data from children who received
varying amounts of thimerosal in their vaccines. The study went through five
different permutations before being published in November, 2003. Early study
"generations," which were never meant to see the light of day, showed highly
elevated, statistically significant increased risks for autism and other
disorders among the kids receiving the most mercury.

But by the time the study was published, most of these associations had
somehow disappeared entirely.

Only two outside researchers, Mark and David Geier, have managed to gain
access to the raw CDC data. They faced daunting hurdles to get into the CDC
computer center, and nearly crippling software malfunctions once they were
inside. But among the data they did manage to mine, they reportedly found
highly elevated risks for autism among children in the highest mercury
exposure group.

So we now have two extremely different interpretations of the same data. It
is way past time that the CDC allow a third team - outside researchers
completely acceptable to all parties involved in this dispute - into the
database to conduct any analyses they see fit. (Patients names are removed
from the data, making it exceedingly hard for researchers to identify
anyone, even if they desired, which is extremely unlikely in itself).

It sounds reasonable, it sounds nice. But don't hold your breath. The CDC is
hardly issuing engraved invitations to come trawl its mainframes, despite a
harshly written report earlier this year from the Institute of Medicine. The
IOM complained of CDC foot dragging, and even insolence, on this matter, and
suggested that vaccine officials at the health agency seek "legal counsel."
Why? Because the original datasets of children used by the government have,
as they say, gone missing. (Actually, the official explanation was that they
"were not archived in a standard fashion.") The intentional loss or
destruction of taxpayer funded data or datasets is a violation of the
Federal Data Quality Act. It is a felony, and someone could go to jail for
it.

Meanwhile, the data just sit there. Our data, not theirs. CDC officials
insist they have an "open mind" on this issue, and that thimerosal has not
been ruled out as a possible cause of autism and other disorders. But they
also insist that the vaccine safety database yielded no evidence of harm.

If that is true, then why are they so reluctant to let someone else in to
verify this claim? I cannot answer that question, because the CDC is not
talking to me. But I do know that people with nothing to hide are
unencumbered by doubts of what others will find if they rifle through their
closet.

If the data can prove that injecting a known neurotoxin into infants at
levels up to 125 times over federal safety limits was a safe and sane thing
to do, then why isn't the CDC having an open house for all researchers worth
their salt to come on down and have a look-see for themselves?

Without access to the raw data, parents who support the thimerosal theory -
and their allies in Congress, academia and law - are falling back on other
recent studies that show a possible link between mercury and autism. They
may not have the epidemiology on their side, yet, but the mounting evidence
emerging from the fields of biology and toxicology is becoming too urgent to
ignore. Recent published studies have shown:

+ Autistic children retain mercury at much higher rates than non-autistic
kids.

+ Autistic children lack certain sulfur-based proteins that bind to heavy
metals and remove them from the body.

+ Autistic children have a dysfunctional immune profile generally consistent
with mercury toxicity.

+ The rate of increase in reported autism cases peaked between 1987 and
1992, the same years that new mercury-containing vaccines were added to the
U.S. schedule.

+ Mice with autoimmune disorders react horrifically to mercury exposure from
vaccines, whereas typical mice of the same species do not.

+ In primates, mercury from vaccines was more likely to become trapped in
the brain than mercury from fish.

+ Children who live near mercury spewing power plants have an elevated risk
of developing autism.

These are all intriguing, to be sure. But what we really need is to get our
hands on the raw CDC data - our data.

David Kirby is author of "Evidence of Harm" (St. Martin's Press)
www.evidenceofharm.com

"Jason Johnson" wrote in message
...
(...)

Mark,
Good point. It appears to me that you have made up your mind that mercury
plays no role in regard to the cause of autism. Even if you saw data
indicating that every child that had autism also had high levels of
mercury--you still would not be convinced. I hope that I am wrong. I hope
that mercury is not the cause of autism. I have had lots of vaccines and
lots of dental fillings containing mercury. I hope that when the babies of
the world are my age (55 years old) that the levels of mercury and other
heavy metals are much lower than the levels in the bodies of people that
are now 55 years old.

I wish thimerasol were the cause of autism. In that case, it would be simple
to prevent new cases of autism.

But, unfortunately, autism is NOT cause by thimerasol, so preventing new
cases is something beyound our current abilities.

Jeff

Jason
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~

"Mark Probert" wrote in message
...
Jason Johnson wrote:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mark,
I have read studies on both sides of this issue. It appears to me (and
I
hope I wrong) that you instantly discount any studies or reports which
indicate that mercury MAY be the cause of autism. Am I wrong? I hope
so. Read my fingers....there are NO epidemiological studies showing a
link...eight studies on diverse populations all show that there is no
link....keep reading...
Replication of findings is one of the "checks and balances" in the world
of scientific research. You may recall the cold fusion debacle several
years ago...or the Korean scientist on cloning whose findings could not
be reproduced....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mark,
For the sake of this discussion, let's assume that you had 10 blood tests
of 10 children that had autism in front of you and they all indicated
that
the children had dangerous levels of mercury. Would you discount those
blood tests or assume that autism MAY be caused by mercury?
I would assume that the autism MAY have been caused by mercury.

You assumption is absurd. Did the children have high levels of mercury at
birth? If not, the current blood test is useless.

Wow!!! What nonsense.

http://www.flu.org.cn/news/2004986362.htm

Cumulative mercury burden through other sources, including in utero
exposures to mercury in fish or vaccines, may also lead to damage in
susceptible hosts.

==

it is still present in flu vaccines given to pregnant women.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q..._uids=15184908


The developing brain is uniquely susceptible to the neurotoxic hazard posed
by mercurials. Host differences in maturation, metabolism, nutrition, sex,
and autoimmunity influence outcomes. How population-based variability
affects the safety of the ethylmercury-containing vaccine preservative,
thimerosal, is unknown. Reported increases in the prevalence of autism, a
highly heritable neuropsychiatric condition, are intensifying public focus
on environmental exposures such as thimerosal. Immune profiles and family
history in autism are frequently consistent with autoimmunity. We
hypothesized that autoimmune propensity influences outcomes in mice
following thimerosal challenges that mimic routine childhood immunizations.
Autoimmune disease-sensitive SJL/J mice showed growth delay; reduced
locomotion; exaggerated response to novelty; and densely packed,
hyperchromic hippocampal neurons with altered glutamate receptors and
transporters. Strains resistant to autoimmunity, C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ, were
not susceptible. These findings implicate genetic influences and provide a
model for investigating thimerosal-related neurotoxicity.

PMID: 15184908 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Neurotoxicology. 1989 Winter;10(4):699-706.Related Articles, Links


Effect of organic and inorganic mercuric salts on Na+K+ATPase in different
cerebral fractions in control and intrauterine growth-retarded rats:
alterations induced by serotonin.

Chanez C, Flexor MA, Bourre JM.

Unite 26, INSERM, Hopital Fernand WIDAL, Paris, France.

An intrauterine growth-retarded (IUGR) model based on restriction of blood
supply to the rat fetus at the 17th day of pregnancy was studied. We
investigated in vitro the effects of thimerosal and mercuric chloride on
Na+K+ATPase activity in total brain homogenate, synaptosomes and myelin at
weaning. In addition, we evaluated the reversal effect of serotonin on
mercury-inhibited Na+K+ATPase activity. The toxicity, in terms of inhibition
of Na+K+ATPase activity was greater with mercuric chloride than with
thimerosal. Synaptosomes and principally myelin were more sensitive to the
metal salts than total homogenate. Serotonin stimulated the Na+K+ATPase
activity in total brain homogenate and synaptosomes but inhibited the enzyme
in the myelin fraction. This effect was more marked in the IUGR group than
in the control group. Serotonin (1 mM) added to total homogenate pretreated
with the mercury salts produced variable reversal effects. In the
synaptosomal fraction reverse effect was noted with

Even so, since I feel that autism is 99% genetic, there would be no issue
for me.

Of course. Neither is thimerosal.

I would want the mercury levels for the kids addressed, to prevent future
problems.

But..NOT past problems.

Mark is here to try and protect *organized and conventional* medicine.

In article . net, "Jeff"
wrote:

"Jason Johnson" wrote in message
...
(...)

Mark,
Good point. It appears to me that you have made up your mind that mercury
plays no role in regard to the cause of autism. Even if you saw data
indicating that every child that had autism also had high levels of
mercury--you still would not be convinced. I hope that I am wrong. I hope
that mercury is not the cause of autism. I have had lots of vaccines and
lots of dental fillings containing mercury. I hope that when the babies of
the world are my age (55 years old) that the levels of mercury and other
heavy metals are much lower than the levels in the bodies of people that
are now 55 years old.

I wish thimerasol were the cause of autism. In that case, it would be simple
to prevent new cases of autism.

But, unfortunately, autism is NOT cause by thimerasol, so preventing new
cases is something beyound our current abilities.

Jeff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeff,
Scientists are still not still not 100 per cent sure related to the cause
of autism. If mercury is the cause of autism, children would continue to
develop autism even if thimerosal is banned. For example, there are high
levels of mercury in some fish and the type of mercury in fish is even
more dangerous than the type of mercury in vaccines. It's also possible
that various heavy metals can cause autism. I once read an article about a
elementary school that was located next to a large field. The farmer hired
a helecopter pilot to spray that field with insecticides. Some of that
spray ended up on the grass on the school yard and some of those children
inhaled those insecticides. They came down with various types of breathing
problems. I don't remember if any of them ended up with long term medical
problems. I suspect that dangerous chemicals could also be involved in the
development of autism.

Jason

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~

"Jason Johnson" wrote in message
...
In article . net, "Jeff"
wrote:

"Jason Johnson" wrote in message
...
(...)

Mark,
Good point. It appears to me that you have made up your mind that
mercury
plays no role in regard to the cause of autism. Even if you saw data
indicating that every child that had autism also had high levels of
mercury--you still would not be convinced. I hope that I am wrong. I
hope
that mercury is not the cause of autism. I have had lots of vaccines and
lots of dental fillings containing mercury. I hope that when the babies
of
the world are my age (55 years old) that the levels of mercury and other
heavy metals are much lower than the levels in the bodies of people that
are now 55 years old.

I wish thimerasol were the cause of autism. In that case, it would be
simple
to prevent new cases of autism.

But, unfortunately, autism is NOT cause by thimerasol, so preventing new
cases is something beyound our current abilities.

Jeff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeff,
Scientists are still not still not 100 per cent sure related to the cause
of autism.

Correct. But we can be certain that the postition of Jupiter at one's birth
doesn't cause autism. Likewise, we can be certain that autism is not caused
by mercury, even if we don't know the exact cause.

If mercury is the cause of autism, children would continue to
develop autism even if thimerosal is banned. For example, there are high
levels of mercury in some fish and the type of mercury in fish is even
more dangerous than the type of mercury in vaccines.

Of course, if we knew organic mercury were the cause of autism, we would
take steps to limit the amount of organic mercury that children and young
women are exposed to even more than they are now. In other words, just
because we don't know what causes something, we don't have to assume that
something that has been eliminated for all practical reasons as a cause is
the cause.

It's also possible
that various heavy metals can cause autism. I once read an article about a
elementary school that was located next to a large field. The farmer hired
a helecopter pilot to spray that field with insecticides. Some of that
spray ended up on the grass on the school yard and some of those children
inhaled those insecticides. They came down with various types of breathing
problems. I don't remember if any of them ended up with long term medical
problems. I suspect that dangerous chemicals could also be involved in the
development of autism.

It seems unlikely that heavy metals play much of a role. The type of damage
in the brain when brain tissue is examined under the microscope is different
for mercury (and organic mercury) poisoning and autism. I would be very
surprised to learn that there is any type of posioning that looks similar
under the microscope to the damage done in autism.

Nonetheless, there is something triggering autism, and it is not just
genetics.

Jeff

Jason

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeff,
Scientists are still not still not 100 per cent sure related to the cause
of autism.

Correct. But we can be certain that the postition of Jupiter at one's birth
doesn't cause autism. Likewise, we can be certain that autism is not caused
by mercury, even if we don't know the exact cause.

If mercury is the cause of autism, children would continue to
develop autism even if thimerosal is banned. For example, there are high
levels of mercury in some fish and the type of mercury in fish is even
more dangerous than the type of mercury in vaccines.

Of course, if we knew organic mercury were the cause of autism, we would
take steps to limit the amount of organic mercury that children and young
women are exposed to even more than they are now. In other words, just
because we don't know what causes something, we don't have to assume that
something that has been eliminated for all practical reasons as a cause is
the cause.

It's also possible
that various heavy metals can cause autism. I once read an article about a
elementary school that was located next to a large field. The farmer hired
a helecopter pilot to spray that field with insecticides. Some of that
spray ended up on the grass on the school yard and some of those children
inhaled those insecticides. They came down with various types of breathing
problems. I don't remember if any of them ended up with long term medical
problems. I suspect that dangerous chemicals could also be involved in the
development of autism.

It seems unlikely that heavy metals play much of a role. The type of damage
in the brain when brain tissue is examined under the microscope is different
for mercury (and organic mercury) poisoning and autism. I would be very
surprised to learn that there is any type of posioning that looks similar
under the microscope to the damage done in autism.

Nonetheless, there is something triggering autism, and it is not just
genetics.

Jeff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeff,
Scientists will be able to figure it out. Would it be possible to give
laboratory rats (or other test animals) various types and doses of mercury
and other heavy metals to see if it triggers autism. I guess if it was
that simple, we would already know the exact cause of autism. Do you have
any ideas on how scientists could track down the cause?
Jason