Dan Gould: Americans need to look deeper into autism surge

[Guest guest]

http://tinyurl.com/9vfm7

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Published July 1, 2005

Dan Gould: Americans need to look deeper into autism surge

Role of mercury in vaccinations hasn't been resolved

Imagine this front-page headline: " 24,000 children in U.S. abducted. "

It's false. But if it were true, imagine the public and governmental

reaction. The country would mobilize in a massive search and

politicians on every level would call for an investigation into how

and why such a tragedy could happen.

The truth is, that headline could be truer than we care to believe.

According to some studies, 1 in every 166 children born in the U.S.

is " abducted " by some form of autism. Normal, healthy children who

are " taken " by autism become distant, quit communicating and

interacting with their families and others.

It's as if they have been abducted.

The numbers of those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders has

mushroomed in the last 15 years.

Some believe it is the result of better education and diagnostic

skills. Others believe there may be a link between autism's rise and

the use of a mercury-based preservative in childhood vaccinations.

In his book " Evidence of Harm, " Kirby sounds the alarm against

Thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative used to prevent bacteria

from contaminating a wide variety of vaccines.

He writes, " There is a growing body of evidence showing that

(Thimerosal) does harm and that evidence is compelling enough to

warrant urgent research. "

There are studies that dismiss Kirby's assertions. Also, Kirby

admits that Thimerosal is only one of the potential triggers for

autism.

However, what caused the number of cases of ASDs to skyrocket

beginning in the late 1980s? That was the same time Thimerosal

appeared in childhood vaccinations for measles, mumps and rubella in

the U.S. Then in 1999, the FDA noticed that mercury levels in

children were above acceptable levels and they notified the

pharmaceutical firms producing the vaccinations.

Kirby continues, " Mercury (Thimerosal) began to be removed slowly

from vaccines in late 1999. But as we know, all the vaccines on the

shelf with mercury stayed on the shelves - there was never a recall.

We have no idea how long it took to use up all that mercury-

containing vaccine, or even if it has all been used up. The Office

of Special Counsel has said that there may be vaccine out there with

an expiration date of 2005 that still contains the full amount of

mercury.

" We don't know when those lots were released; we don't know where

they were released; we don't know what kids in what part of the

country were getting mercury and what kids were not post-2000. "

In a press release accompanying a letter to Congress on the issue,

J. Bloch of the Office of Special Counsel said:

" It appears the science is inconclusive, not definitive ... There

appears to be equally qualified experts on both sides of the

emotional scientific and medical debate. This strikes me as a far-

reaching public health issue that warrants further study and

awareness, particularly because it affects the most vulnerable among

us. "

What are the ramifications of this debate? There are many.

Consider the health-care and educational costs for these children

affected by this terrible disorder. How will these costs be absorbed?

Do pharmaceutical firms share some liability if a link is proven

between Thimerosal and the prevalence of ASDs?

Apparently so, a number of bills before Congress since 2001 have

contained riders indemnifying the pharmaceutical firms from

liability concerning Thimerosal.

The companies have stated that childhood vaccinations in the U.S.

are now Thimerosal-free.

However, what about the stockpiled vaccines donated by the U.S. to

Third World countries? Do they contain Thimerosal? We still don't

know.

If they do, I doubt that will help our image around the globe.

What do you think? Dan Gould is an Okemos financial consultant and a

member of the State Journal's Community Advisory Board. Write to him

c/o Lansing State Journal, 120 E. Lenawee St., Lansing, MI 48919.