Fwd: Dr.Boyd Haley RESPONSE TO 2008 R. SCHECHTER AND J. GRETHER PUBLCIA...

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In a message dated 29/02/2008 10:32:00 GMT Standard Time, MandiRodwell writes:

From: NANCALE@... Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 5:54 PMTo: undisclosed-recipientsSubject: Dr.Boyd Haley RESPONSE TO 2008 R. SCHECHTER AND J. GRETHER PUBLCIATION

If you received this email by error, click REPLY, add REMOVE and you will no longer receive Unlocking Autism posts.In January of 2008, researchers at the California Department of Public Health published a paper in the Archives of General Psychiatry that was widely reported to show that vaccines play no role in autism. Noted researcher Boyd Haley has graciously given ARRI permission to publish his response to this study.-RESPONSE TO 2008 R. SCHECHTER AND J. GRETHER PUBLCIATION “CONTINUING INCREASES IN AUTISM REPORTED TO CALIFORNIA'S DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES SYSTEM†WHICH ADDRESSES CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DATA ON EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIMEROSAL AND AUTISM8 January 2008 by Boyd Haley, Professor of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KYWe should all consider that there are two top priorities in the vaccine/autism issue every American should be concerned with. We need to develop a safe vaccination program, and we need to find the cause of autism and eliminate it if possible. I have been a strong proponent of investigating thimerosal as the casual agent for autism spectrum disorders based on the biological science that shows thimerosal to be incredibly toxic, especially to infants. I know of nothing remotely as toxic as thimerosal that numerous infants would be exposed to before 3 to 4 years of age. Below I present several comments regarding this issue and the 2008 Schechter-Grether study that I think are relevant. Mainly, while the Schechter-Grether study appears to be a well done study it suffers from the fatal flaw of assuming that thimerosal was removed to safe levels in vaccines by 2002. They also cut a fine edge as to time when a significant drop in autism rates would be expected. Further, no study exists that proves our vaccine schedule alone is safe, let alone the current one that still exposes infants to thimerosal, a concern they do not address. The alarming concern is that these authors seem more involved at providing material saying thimerosal is safe than they are concerned with the obvious fact, openly presented in their own data on autism rates, which strongly indicated that increased rates of autism started with the CDC mandated vaccine program. References to support the comments are readily available in many recent publications. 1. Autism was not a known, described illness until about 1941-3, 8 to 10 years after the introduction of thimerosal and similar organic thiol-mercury compounds in biological mixtures used in medicine and other areas. This argues against autism being a genetic illness.2. In 1977, 10 of 13 infants treated in a single hospital by topical application of thimerosal for umbilical cord infections died of mercury toxicity. This same topical was used on adolescents without obvious ill effects which strongly supports the concept that infants are very susceptible to thimerosal toxicity.3. The recent increase (starting about 1990) of autism spectrum disorders correlated well with the advent of the CDC mandated vaccine program which increased thimerosal exposures with increased vaccinations. Due to its toxicity, thimerosal would have to be suspect for causing autism. 4. As expected by science, extensive searching for a genetic cause of autism has not turned up a significant find that would explain the recent increased rate in autism. The latest genetic find, at best, might explain 0.5% of autism causation. Most agree that a genetic predisposition is likely (like those that lead to low glutathione levels), but that a toxic exposure is absolutely needed. Consider also, that this increased toxic exposure would have had to occur in all 50 states at about the same time as all states have reported similar increases in autism rates. Only something like the government recommended vaccine program fits this need for a time dependent, uniform exposure of a toxin throughout all the states.5. In the Schechter-Grether study it is implied or assumed that all thimerosal containing vaccines were gone by the end of 2002 due to their expiration dates. I don't think this is a valid assumption. I have talked to mothers who asked to see the vaccine inserts as late as 2004 and found thimerosal present as a preservative in infant vaccines being used in certain clinics. Also, in 2004 the influenza vaccine was recommended by the CDC for infants 6 months of age and older. It would appear as if a thimerosal free vaccine time-frame would be very hard to identify, if one ever existed. I have read that the average age of autism diagnosis is near 44 months of age. Therefore, while it does seem reasonable to expect a decrease in autism after 4 to 5 years of complete thimerosal removal, assuming a consistent diagnostic protocol was used, it appears this has not been accomplished. This means the Schechter-Grether study is likely somewhat premature in reaching the conclusions reported in that enough time has not passed for the expected decrease to occur and that they were quite optimistic in identifying the dates of thimerosal reduction and underestimate exposures occurring between 2002-4.6. If, indeed, the complete removal of thimerosal from vaccines was not followed in an appropriate time by a decrease in autism then this would be solid proof that thimerosal was not causal for autism. However, thimerosal has not been completely removed from vaccines and thimerosal used at the original levels in the manufacturing of these vaccines with “trace†amounts left in the vaccines when bottled. I don't know what level “trace†is since it is not a term used in science to describe an actual amount. Some called the 12.5 micrograms mercury in the older vaccines a “trace†amount. Bottom line, the infants are still getting some level of thimerosal, a “trace†amount that is free and an amount of ethylmercury that is bound to the proteins that induce the immune response. If vaccines are causing autism and it appears this is a strong possibility based on the California data and, if removing thimerosal added as a preservative really does not reduce the autism rate then the causation is much more complex.Consider the possibilities that: A. Autism may be caused by a thimerosal modified protein that sets off an immune response or causes some other biological reaction that can cascade with injurious effects. Since the vaccines are manufactured with thimerosal present in abundance it is quite likely that any cysteine containing proteins would be modified with ethylmercury. Removal of most of the free thimerosal (or just not adding it) would not decrease the level of any toxic modified protein produced during the vaccines production that might be causal. Removing the thimerosal added as a preservative would not decrease the amount of this ethylmercury modified protein in those vaccines with “trace†thimerosal levels. B. That autism could be caused in susceptible individuals by very low thimerosal or ethylmercury modified protein exposures due to their genetic susceptibility or other factors (general health, gender). In this scenario the higher thimerosal exposures are not required and the induction of autism is not thimerosal concentration dependent at the old and new thimerosal vaccine levels, but just requires a significant exposure level that is met by the vaccines containing the lower “trace†amounts of thimerosal and past thimerosal levels in vaccine production processes. Bottom line, if genetic susceptibility is involved then causation of autism may not increase linearly with increased thimerosal exposure. Causation may only require low thimerosal exposure or exposure to modified proteins. It is possible that the reduction of thimerosal as in the “trace†was just not enough to produce a safe vaccine.Not all toxins work like alcohol and the old “dose makes the toxin†is not always correct. As long as they are used, the mere use of “trace†thimerosal in vaccines along with higher levels in the flu vaccine will always prevent a conclusive answer to thimerosal's involvement in autism causation. What should be studied is the “no exposure†versus the “exposed†populations with regard to autism rates.7. If indeed autism is rare among the non-vaccinated Amish populations, as reported by Dan Olmstead, I find it an amazingly oversight that the CDC and others responsible for infant health do not fund a study in this area. This study could go both ways, if the Amish have autism rates identical with the rest of the population the argument would be over---neither vaccines nor thimerosal would be causal for autism, and I personally would argue in this direction. If, however, the autism rates in the Amish are exceptionally low then vaccines would have to be considered as a prime suspect in causation with the presence of the highly toxic thimerosal the main suspect. If the results in the 2008 Schechter-Grether study hold up with time, and complete removal of thimerosal does not cause a drop in autism rates and the autism rates in non-vaccinated populations are low then something else in the vaccines would have to be considered the major causation factor for autism. However, without doing the non-vaccinated population studies there cannot be a conclusive statement either way about either vaccines or thimerosal as being causal for autism. The steadfast refusal of the CDC and others to support such studies being done is part of the reason that many parents, scientists and physicians have severe doubts about the sincerity of their efforts to resolve this issue. This is how I think, when I review a paper submitted for publication I always ask why an obvious experiment wasn't done. The study of non-vaccinated populations is a very obvious experiment that the CDC and its supporters appear to refuse to consider. This makes me suspicious that this knowledge exists and is being suppressed because knowledge of the rate among the non-vaccinated population would answer many questions.Finally, the Schechter-Grether study may be good news to the vaccine manufacturers and those who recommended and use the mandated vaccine program as it serves as manufactured uncertainty about the thimerosal involvement in autism causation. However, it presents a major concern to the parents and families of infants since it implies that our vaccines, even with most of the free thimerosal removed, may not be safe and that our CDC does not have a clue about what to do make them safe. Common sense would lead most to attack finding the cause of autism instead of trying to prove something besides thimerosal is causal. The major question is “are our vaccines causing autismâ€---only comparing the non-vaccinated to the vaccinated will answer this question. Common sense would have lead to this comparison being done first and being done 10-15 years ago. In the recent past I have recommended that parents vaccinate their children with thimerosal free vaccines as I considered them safe. If Schechter-Grether are correct, and vaccines, but not thimerosal, correlate with increased autism rates, then I am in error assuming vaccines are now safer with regards to autism risk than they were 2000.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------All information provided or published by Unlocking Autism is for information purposes only. Under Unlocking Autism Option Policy you are responsible for the choice of any treatment or therapy option or service provider. Specific treatment, therapy or services should be provided to an individual only at the direction of the individual's doctor, caregiver, or other qualified professional. References to any treatment or therapy option, program, service or treatment provider are not an endorsement by Unlocking Autism. References of treatments, therapies, programs, services, and/or providers are not intended to be comprehensive statements. You should investigate alternatives that may be more appropriate for a specific individual. Unlocking Autism assumes no responsibility for the use made of any information published or provided by Unlocking Autism. www.unlockingautismstore.orgVisit Foggyrock.com to connect with other individuals who share your heart and passion for autism. Registration is quick and easy and allows you to participate in forums, blogs, sharing photos, sending messages and access to the latest news in the autism community.www.foggyrock.comVisit www.iABIDA.com, a free web communication application that bring teams together, to provide a 360 degree view of special needs individuals. See daily schedules, track daily behavior and graph the progress, receive alerts about any changes, share pictures, videos or audio files and allow parents or teachers to post quick notes to the team or individuals.Visit Children Of Destiny at Welcome to Children of Destiny Every child has a destiny and God has a plan for every child!Get to know all our friends at Autism Collaboration - www.autism.org**************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)

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FW: Dr.Boyd Haley RESPONSE TO 2008 R. SCHECHTER AND J. GRETHER PUBLCIATION

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From: NANCALE@... Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 5:54 PMTo: undisclosed-recipientsSubject: Dr.Boyd Haley RESPONSE TO 2008 R. SCHECHTER AND J. GRETHER PUBLCIATION

If you received this email by error, click REPLY, add REMOVE and you will no longer receive Unlocking Autism posts.In January of 2008, researchers at the California Department of Public Health published a paper in the Archives of General Psychiatry that was widely reported to show that vaccines play no role in autism. Noted researcher Boyd Haley has graciously given ARRI permission to publish his response to this study.-RESPONSE TO 2008 R. SCHECHTER AND J. GRETHER PUBLCIATION “CONTINUING INCREASES IN AUTISM REPORTED TO CALIFORNIA'S DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES SYSTEM†WHICH ADDRESSES CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DATA ON EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIMEROSAL AND AUTISM8 January 2008 by Boyd Haley, Professor of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KYWe should all consider that there are two top priorities in the vaccine/autism issue every American should be concerned with. We need to develop a safe vaccination program, and we need to find the cause of autism and eliminate it if possible. I have been a strong proponent of investigating thimerosal as the casual agent for autism spectrum disorders based on the biological science that shows thimerosal to be incredibly toxic, especially to infants. I know of nothing remotely as toxic as thimerosal that numerous infants would be exposed to before 3 to 4 years of age. Below I present several comments regarding this issue and the 2008 Schechter-Grether study that I think are relevant. Mainly, while the Schechter-Grether study appears to be a well done study it suffers from the fatal flaw of assuming that thimerosal was removed to safe levels in vaccines by 2002. They also cut a fine edge as to time when a significant drop in autism rates would be expected. Further, no study exists that proves our vaccine schedule alone is safe, let alone the current one that still exposes infants to thimerosal, a concern they do not address. The alarming concern is that these authors seem more involved at providing material saying thimerosal is safe than they are concerned with the obvious fact, openly presented in their own data on autism rates, which strongly indicated that increased rates of autism started with the CDC mandated vaccine program. References to support the comments are readily available in many recent publications. 1. Autism was not a known, described illness until about 1941-3, 8 to 10 years after the introduction of thimerosal and similar organic thiol-mercury compounds in biological mixtures used in medicine and other areas. This argues against autism being a genetic illness.2. In 1977, 10 of 13 infants treated in a single hospital by topical application of thimerosal for umbilical cord infections died of mercury toxicity. This same topical was used on adolescents without obvious ill effects which strongly supports the concept that infants are very susceptible to thimerosal toxicity.3. The recent increase (starting about 1990) of autism spectrum disorders correlated well with the advent of the CDC mandated vaccine program which increased thimerosal exposures with increased vaccinations. Due to its toxicity, thimerosal would have to be suspect for causing autism. 4. As expected by science, extensive searching for a genetic cause of autism has not turned up a significant find that would explain the recent increased rate in autism. The latest genetic find, at best, might explain 0.5% of autism causation. Most agree that a genetic predisposition is likely (like those that lead to low glutathione levels), but that a toxic exposure is absolutely needed. Consider also, that this increased toxic exposure would have had to occur in all 50 states at about the same time as all states have reported similar increases in autism rates. Only something like the government recommended vaccine program fits this need for a time dependent, uniform exposure of a toxin throughout all the states.5. In the Schechter-Grether study it is implied or assumed that all thimerosal containing vaccines were gone by the end of 2002 due to their expiration dates. I don't think this is a valid assumption. I have talked to mothers who asked to see the vaccine inserts as late as 2004 and found thimerosal present as a preservative in infant vaccines being used in certain clinics. Also, in 2004 the influenza vaccine was recommended by the CDC for infants 6 months of age and older. It would appear as if a thimerosal free vaccine time-frame would be very hard to identify, if one ever existed. I have read that the average age of autism diagnosis is near 44 months of age. Therefore, while it does seem reasonable to expect a decrease in autism after 4 to 5 years of complete thimerosal removal, assuming a consistent diagnostic protocol was used, it appears this has not been accomplished. This means the Schechter-Grether study is likely somewhat premature in reaching the conclusions reported in that enough time has not passed for the expected decrease to occur and that they were quite optimistic in identifying the dates of thimerosal reduction and underestimate exposures occurring between 2002-4.6. If, indeed, the complete removal of thimerosal from vaccines was not followed in an appropriate time by a decrease in autism then this would be solid proof that thimerosal was not causal for autism. However, thimerosal has not been completely removed from vaccines and thimerosal used at the original levels in the manufacturing of these vaccines with “trace†amounts left in the vaccines when bottled. I don't know what level “trace†is since it is not a term used in science to describe an actual amount. Some called the 12.5 micrograms mercury in the older vaccines a “trace†amount. Bottom line, the infants are still getting some level of thimerosal, a “trace†amount that is free and an amount of ethylmercury that is bound to the proteins that induce the immune response. If vaccines are causing autism and it appears this is a strong possibility based on the California data and, if removing thimerosal added as a preservative really does not reduce the autism rate then the causation is much more complex.Consider the possibilities that: A. Autism may be caused by a thimerosal modified protein that sets off an immune response or causes some other biological reaction that can cascade with injurious effects. Since the vaccines are manufactured with thimerosal present in abundance it is quite likely that any cysteine containing proteins would be modified with ethylmercury. Removal of most of the free thimerosal (or just not adding it) would not decrease the level of any toxic modified protein produced during the vaccines production that might be causal. Removing the thimerosal added as a preservative would not decrease the amount of this ethylmercury modified protein in those vaccines with “trace†thimerosal levels. B. That autism could be caused in susceptible individuals by very low thimerosal or ethylmercury modified protein exposures due to their genetic susceptibility or other factors (general health, gender). In this scenario the higher thimerosal exposures are not required and the induction of autism is not thimerosal concentration dependent at the old and new thimerosal vaccine levels, but just requires a significant exposure level that is met by the vaccines containing the lower “trace†amounts of thimerosal and past thimerosal levels in vaccine production processes. Bottom line, if genetic susceptibility is involved then causation of autism may not increase linearly with increased thimerosal exposure. Causation may only require low thimerosal exposure or exposure to modified proteins. It is possible that the reduction of thimerosal as in the “trace†was just not enough to produce a safe vaccine.Not all toxins work like alcohol and the old “dose makes the toxin†is not always correct. As long as they are used, the mere use of “trace†thimerosal in vaccines along with higher levels in the flu vaccine will always prevent a conclusive answer to thimerosal's involvement in autism causation. What should be studied is the “no exposure†versus the “exposed†populations with regard to autism rates.7. If indeed autism is rare among the non-vaccinated Amish populations, as reported by Dan Olmstead, I find it an amazingly oversight that the CDC and others responsible for infant health do not fund a study in this area. This study could go both ways, if the Amish have autism rates identical with the rest of the population the argument would be over---neither vaccines nor thimerosal would be causal for autism, and I personally would argue in this direction. If, however, the autism rates in the Amish are exceptionally low then vaccines would have to be considered as a prime suspect in causation with the presence of the highly toxic thimerosal the main suspect. If the results in the 2008 Schechter-Grether study hold up with time, and complete removal of thimerosal does not cause a drop in autism rates and the autism rates in non-vaccinated populations are low then something else in the vaccines would have to be considered the major causation factor for autism. However, without doing the non-vaccinated population studies there cannot be a conclusive statement either way about either vaccines or thimerosal as being causal for autism. The steadfast refusal of the CDC and others to support such studies being done is part of the reason that many parents, scientists and physicians have severe doubts about the sincerity of their efforts to resolve this issue. This is how I think, when I review a paper submitted for publication I always ask why an obvious experiment wasn't done. The study of non-vaccinated populations is a very obvious experiment that the CDC and its supporters appear to refuse to consider. This makes me suspicious that this knowledge exists and is being suppressed because knowledge of the rate among the non-vaccinated population would answer many questions.Finally, the Schechter-Grether study may be good news to the vaccine manufacturers and those who recommended and use the mandated vaccine program as it serves as manufactured uncertainty about the thimerosal involvement in autism causation. However, it presents a major concern to the parents and families of infants since it implies that our vaccines, even with most of the free thimerosal removed, may not be safe and that our CDC does not have a clue about what to do make them safe. Common sense would lead most to attack finding the cause of autism instead of trying to prove something besides thimerosal is causal. The major question is “are our vaccines causing autismâ€---only comparing the non-vaccinated to the vaccinated will answer this question. Common sense would have lead to this comparison being done first and being done 10-15 years ago. In the recent past I have recommended that parents vaccinate their children with thimerosal free vaccines as I considered them safe. If Schechter-Grether are correct, and vaccines, but not thimerosal, correlate with increased autism rates, then I am in error assuming vaccines are now safer with regards to autism risk than they were 2000.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------All information provided or published by Unlocking Autism is for information purposes only. Under Unlocking Autism Option Policy you are responsible for the choice of any treatment or therapy option or service provider. Specific treatment, therapy or services should be provided to an individual only at the direction of the individual's doctor, caregiver, or other qualified professional. References to any treatment or therapy option, program, service or treatment provider are not an endorsement by Unlocking Autism. References of treatments, therapies, programs, services, and/or providers are not intended to be comprehensive statements. You should investigate alternatives that may be more appropriate for a specific individual. Unlocking Autism assumes no responsibility for the use made of any information published or provided by Unlocking Autism. www.unlockingautismstore.orgVisit Foggyrock.com to connect with other individuals who share your heart and passion for autism. Registration is quick and easy and allows you to participate in forums, blogs, sharing photos, sending messages and access to the latest news in the autism community.www.foggyrock.comVisit www.iABIDA.com, a free web communication application that bring teams together, to provide a 360 degree view of special needs individuals. See daily schedules, track daily behavior and graph the progress, receive alerts about any changes, share pictures, videos or audio files and allow parents or teachers to post quick notes to the team or individuals.Visit Children Of Destiny at Welcome to Children of Destiny Every child has a destiny and God has a plan for every child!Get to know all our friends at Autism Collaboration - www.autism.org**************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)

From: NANCALE@... Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 5:54 PMTo: undisclosed-recipientsSubject: Dr.Boyd Haley RESPONSE TO 2008 R. SCHECHTER AND J. GRETHER PUBLCIATION

If you received this email by error, click REPLY, add REMOVE and you will no longer receive Unlocking Autism posts.In January of 2008, researchers at the California Department of Public Health published a paper in the Archives of General Psychiatry that was widely reported to show that vaccines play no role in autism. Noted researcher Boyd Haley has graciously given ARRI permission to publish his response to this study.-RESPONSE TO 2008 R. SCHECHTER AND J. GRETHER PUBLCIATION “CONTINUING INCREASES IN AUTISM REPORTED TO CALIFORNIA'S DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES SYSTEM†WHICH ADDRESSES CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DATA ON EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIMEROSAL AND AUTISM8 January 2008 by Boyd Haley, Professor of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KYWe should all consider that there are two top priorities in the vaccine/autism issue every American should be concerned with. We need to develop a safe vaccination program, and we need to find the cause of autism and eliminate it if possible. I have been a strong proponent of investigating thimerosal as the casual agent for autism spectrum disorders based on the biological science that shows thimerosal to be incredibly toxic, especially to infants. I know of nothing remotely as toxic as thimerosal that numerous infants would be exposed to before 3 to 4 years of age. Below I present several comments regarding this issue and the 2008 Schechter-Grether study that I think are relevant. Mainly, while the Schechter-Grether study appears to be a well done study it suffers from the fatal flaw of assuming that thimerosal was removed to safe levels in vaccines by 2002. They also cut a fine edge as to time when a significant drop in autism rates would be expected. Further, no study exists that proves our vaccine schedule alone is safe, let alone the current one that still exposes infants to thimerosal, a concern they do not address. The alarming concern is that these authors seem more involved at providing material saying thimerosal is safe than they are concerned with the obvious fact, openly presented in their own data on autism rates, which strongly indicated that increased rates of autism started with the CDC mandated vaccine program. References to support the comments are readily available in many recent publications. 1. Autism was not a known, described illness until about 1941-3, 8 to 10 years after the introduction of thimerosal and similar organic thiol-mercury compounds in biological mixtures used in medicine and other areas. This argues against autism being a genetic illness.2. In 1977, 10 of 13 infants treated in a single hospital by topical application of thimerosal for umbilical cord infections died of mercury toxicity. This same topical was used on adolescents without obvious ill effects which strongly supports the concept that infants are very susceptible to thimerosal toxicity.3. The recent increase (starting about 1990) of autism spectrum disorders correlated well with the advent of the CDC mandated vaccine program which increased thimerosal exposures with increased vaccinations. Due to its toxicity, thimerosal would have to be suspect for causing autism. 4. As expected by science, extensive searching for a genetic cause of autism has not turned up a significant find that would explain the recent increased rate in autism. The latest genetic find, at best, might explain 0.5% of autism causation. Most agree that a genetic predisposition is likely (like those that lead to low glutathione levels), but that a toxic exposure is absolutely needed. Consider also, that this increased toxic exposure would have had to occur in all 50 states at about the same time as all states have reported similar increases in autism rates. Only something like the government recommended vaccine program fits this need for a time dependent, uniform exposure of a toxin throughout all the states.5. In the Schechter-Grether study it is implied or assumed that all thimerosal containing vaccines were gone by the end of 2002 due to their expiration dates. I don't think this is a valid assumption. I have talked to mothers who asked to see the vaccine inserts as late as 2004 and found thimerosal present as a preservative in infant vaccines being used in certain clinics. Also, in 2004 the influenza vaccine was recommended by the CDC for infants 6 months of age and older. It would appear as if a thimerosal free vaccine time-frame would be very hard to identify, if one ever existed. I have read that the average age of autism diagnosis is near 44 months of age. Therefore, while it does seem reasonable to expect a decrease in autism after 4 to 5 years of complete thimerosal removal, assuming a consistent diagnostic protocol was used, it appears this has not been accomplished. This means the Schechter-Grether study is likely somewhat premature in reaching the conclusions reported in that enough time has not passed for the expected decrease to occur and that they were quite optimistic in identifying the dates of thimerosal reduction and underestimate exposures occurring between 2002-4.6. If, indeed, the complete removal of thimerosal from vaccines was not followed in an appropriate time by a decrease in autism then this would be solid proof that thimerosal was not causal for autism. However, thimerosal has not been completely removed from vaccines and thimerosal used at the original levels in the manufacturing of these vaccines with “trace†amounts left in the vaccines when bottled. I don't know what level “trace†is since it is not a term used in science to describe an actual amount. Some called the 12.5 micrograms mercury in the older vaccines a “trace†amount. Bottom line, the infants are still getting some level of thimerosal, a “trace†amount that is free and an amount of ethylmercury that is bound to the proteins that induce the immune response. If vaccines are causing autism and it appears this is a strong possibility based on the California data and, if removing thimerosal added as a preservative really does not reduce the autism rate then the causation is much more complex.Consider the possibilities that: A. Autism may be caused by a thimerosal modified protein that sets off an immune response or causes some other biological reaction that can cascade with injurious effects. Since the vaccines are manufactured with thimerosal present in abundance it is quite likely that any cysteine containing proteins would be modified with ethylmercury. Removal of most of the free thimerosal (or just not adding it) would not decrease the level of any toxic modified protein produced during the vaccines production that might be causal. Removing the thimerosal added as a preservative would not decrease the amount of this ethylmercury modified protein in those vaccines with “trace†thimerosal levels. B. That autism could be caused in susceptible individuals by very low thimerosal or ethylmercury modified protein exposures due to their genetic susceptibility or other factors (general health, gender). In this scenario the higher thimerosal exposures are not required and the induction of autism is not thimerosal concentration dependent at the old and new thimerosal vaccine levels, but just requires a significant exposure level that is met by the vaccines containing the lower “trace†amounts of thimerosal and past thimerosal levels in vaccine production processes. Bottom line, if genetic susceptibility is involved then causation of autism may not increase linearly with increased thimerosal exposure. Causation may only require low thimerosal exposure or exposure to modified proteins. It is possible that the reduction of thimerosal as in the “trace†was just not enough to produce a safe vaccine.Not all toxins work like alcohol and the old “dose makes the toxin†is not always correct. As long as they are used, the mere use of “trace†thimerosal in vaccines along with higher levels in the flu vaccine will always prevent a conclusive answer to thimerosal's involvement in autism causation. What should be studied is the “no exposure†versus the “exposed†populations with regard to autism rates.7. If indeed autism is rare among the non-vaccinated Amish populations, as reported by Dan Olmstead, I find it an amazingly oversight that the CDC and others responsible for infant health do not fund a study in this area. This study could go both ways, if the Amish have autism rates identical with the rest of the population the argument would be over---neither vaccines nor thimerosal would be causal for autism, and I personally would argue in this direction. If, however, the autism rates in the Amish are exceptionally low then vaccines would have to be considered as a prime suspect in causation with the presence of the highly toxic thimerosal the main suspect. If the results in the 2008 Schechter-Grether study hold up with time, and complete removal of thimerosal does not cause a drop in autism rates and the autism rates in non-vaccinated populations are low then something else in the vaccines would have to be considered the major causation factor for autism. However, without doing the non-vaccinated population studies there cannot be a conclusive statement either way about either vaccines or thimerosal as being causal for autism. The steadfast refusal of the CDC and others to support such studies being done is part of the reason that many parents, scientists and physicians have severe doubts about the sincerity of their efforts to resolve this issue. This is how I think, when I review a paper submitted for publication I always ask why an obvious experiment wasn't done. The study of non-vaccinated populations is a very obvious experiment that the CDC and its supporters appear to refuse to consider. This makes me suspicious that this knowledge exists and is being suppressed because knowledge of the rate among the non-vaccinated population would answer many questions.Finally, the Schechter-Grether study may be good news to the vaccine manufacturers and those who recommended and use the mandated vaccine program as it serves as manufactured uncertainty about the thimerosal involvement in autism causation. However, it presents a major concern to the parents and families of infants since it implies that our vaccines, even with most of the free thimerosal removed, may not be safe and that our CDC does not have a clue about what to do make them safe. Common sense would lead most to attack finding the cause of autism instead of trying to prove something besides thimerosal is causal. The major question is “are our vaccines causing autismâ€---only comparing the non-vaccinated to the vaccinated will answer this question. Common sense would have lead to this comparison being done first and being done 10-15 years ago. In the recent past I have recommended that parents vaccinate their children with thimerosal free vaccines as I considered them safe. If Schechter-Grether are correct, and vaccines, but not thimerosal, correlate with increased autism rates, then I am in error assuming vaccines are now safer with regards to autism risk than they were 2000.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------All information provided or published by Unlocking Autism is for information purposes only. Under Unlocking Autism Option Policy you are responsible for the choice of any treatment or therapy option or service provider. Specific treatment, therapy or services should be provided to an individual only at the direction of the individual's doctor, caregiver, or other qualified professional. References to any treatment or therapy option, program, service or treatment provider are not an endorsement by Unlocking Autism. References of treatments, therapies, programs, services, and/or providers are not intended to be comprehensive statements. You should investigate alternatives that may be more appropriate for a specific individual. Unlocking Autism assumes no responsibility for the use made of any information published or provided by Unlocking Autism. www.unlockingautismstore.orgVisit Foggyrock.com to connect with other individuals who share your heart and passion for autism. Registration is quick and easy and allows you to participate in forums, blogs, sharing photos, sending messages and access to the latest news in the autism community.www.foggyrock.comVisit www.iABIDA.com, a free web communication application that bring teams together, to provide a 360 degree view of special needs individuals. See daily schedules, track daily behavior and graph the progress, receive alerts about any changes, share pictures, videos or audio files and allow parents or teachers to post quick notes to the team or individuals.Visit Children Of Destiny at Welcome to Children of Destiny Every child has a destiny and God has a plan for every child!Get to know all our friends at Autism Collaboration - www.autism.org**************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)

From: NANCALE@...

Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008

5:54 PM

To: undisclosed-recipients

Subject: Dr.Boyd Haley RESPONSE TO

2008 R. SCHECHTER AND J. GRETHER PUBLCIATION

If you received

this email by error, click REPLY, add REMOVE and you will no longer receive

Unlocking Autism posts.

In

January of 2008, researchers at the California Department of Public Health

published a paper in the Archives

of General Psychiatry that was widely

reported to show that vaccines play no role in autism. Noted researcher Boyd

Haley has graciously given ARRI permission to publish his response to this

study.

-

RESPONSE TO 2008 R.

SCHECHTER AND J. GRETHER PUBLCIATION “CONTINUING INCREASES IN AUTISM REPORTED

TO CALIFORNIA'S DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES SYSTEM”

WHICH ADDRESSES CALIFORNIA

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DATA ON EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN THIMEROSAL AND AUTISM

8 January 2008

by Boyd Haley, Professor of Chemistry, University

of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

We should all consider that there are two top priorities in the vaccine/autism

issue every American should be concerned with. We need to develop a safe

vaccination program, and we need to find the cause of autism and eliminate it

if possible. I have been a strong proponent of investigating thimerosal

as the casual agent for autism spectrum disorders based on the biological

science that shows thimerosal to be incredibly toxic, especially to infants.

I know of nothing remotely as toxic as thimerosal that numerous infants would

be exposed to before 3 to 4 years of age. Below I present several

comments regarding this issue and the 2008 Schechter-Grether study that I think

are relevant. Mainly, while the Schechter-Grether study appears to be a well

done study it suffers from the fatal flaw of assuming that thimerosal was

removed to safe levels in vaccines by 2002. They also cut a fine edge as

to time when a significant drop in autism rates would be expected. Further,

no study exists that proves our vaccine schedule alone is safe, let alone the

current one that still exposes infants to thimerosal, a concern they do not

address. The alarming concern is that these authors seem more involved at

providing material saying thimerosal is safe than they are concerned with the

obvious fact, openly presented in their own data on autism rates, which

strongly indicated that increased rates of autism started with the CDC mandated

vaccine program. References to support the comments are readily available in

many recent publications.

1. Autism was not a known, described illness until

about 1941-3, 8 to 10 years after the introduction of thimerosal and similar

organic thiol-mercury compounds in biological mixtures used in medicine and

other areas. This argues against autism being a genetic illness.

2. In 1977, 10 of 13 infants treated in a single

hospital by topical application of thimerosal for umbilical cord infections

died of mercury toxicity. This same topical was used on adolescents

without obvious ill effects which strongly supports the concept that infants

are very susceptible to thimerosal toxicity.

3. The recent increase (starting about 1990) of autism

spectrum disorders correlated well with the advent of the CDC mandated vaccine

program which increased thimerosal exposures with increased vaccinations.

Due to its toxicity, thimerosal would have to be suspect for causing autism.

4. As expected by science, extensive searching for a

genetic cause of autism has not turned up a significant find that would explain

the recent increased rate in autism. The latest genetic find, at best,

might explain 0.5% of autism causation. Most agree that a genetic

predisposition is likely (like those that lead to low glutathione levels), but

that a toxic exposure is absolutely needed. Consider also, that this

increased toxic exposure would have had to occur in all 50 states at about the

same time as all states have reported similar increases in autism rates.

Only something like the government recommended vaccine program fits this need

for a time dependent, uniform exposure of a toxin throughout all the states.

5. In the Schechter-Grether study it is implied or

assumed that all thimerosal containing vaccines were gone by the end of 2002

due to their expiration dates. I don't think this is a valid assumption.

I have talked to mothers who asked to see the vaccine inserts as late as 2004

and found thimerosal present as a preservative in infant vaccines being used in

certain clinics. Also, in 2004 the influenza vaccine was recommended by

the CDC for infants 6 months of age and older. It would appear as if a

thimerosal free vaccine time-frame would be very hard to identify, if one ever

existed. I have read that the average age of autism diagnosis is near 44

months of age. Therefore, while it does seem reasonable to expect a

decrease in autism after 4 to 5 years of complete thimerosal removal,

assuming a consistent diagnostic protocol was used, it appears this has not

been accomplished. This means the Schechter-Grether study is likely somewhat

premature in reaching the conclusions reported in that enough time has not

passed for the expected decrease to occur and that they were quite optimistic

in identifying the dates of thimerosal reduction and underestimate

exposures occurring between 2002-4.

6. If, indeed, the complete removal of thimerosal

from vaccines was not followed in an appropriate time by a decrease in

autism then this would be solid proof that thimerosal was not causal for

autism. However, thimerosal has not been completely removed from vaccines

and thimerosal used at the original levels in the manufacturing of these

vaccines with “trace” amounts left in the vaccines when bottled. I don't

know what level “trace” is since it is not a term used in science to describe

an actual amount. Some called the 12.5 micrograms mercury in the older

vaccines a “trace” amount. Bottom line, the infants are still getting

some level of thimerosal, a “trace” amount that is free and an amount of

ethylmercury that is bound to the proteins that induce the immune response.

If vaccines are causing autism and it appears this is a strong possibility

based on the California

data and, if removing thimerosal added as a preservative really does not reduce

the autism rate then the causation is much more complex.

Consider the possibilities that:

A. Autism may be caused by a thimerosal modified protein that sets off an

immune response or causes some other biological reaction that can cascade with

injurious effects. Since the vaccines are manufactured with thimerosal

present in abundance it is quite likely that any cysteine containing proteins

would be modified with ethylmercury. Removal of most of the free

thimerosal (or just not adding it) would not decrease the level of any toxic

modified protein produced during the vaccines production that might be causal.

Removing the thimerosal added as a preservative would not decrease the amount

of this ethylmercury modified protein in those vaccines with “trace” thimerosal

levels.

B. That autism could be caused in susceptible individuals by very low

thimerosal or ethylmercury modified protein exposures due to their genetic

susceptibility or other factors (general health, gender). In this scenario

the higher thimerosal exposures are not required and the induction of autism is

not thimerosal concentration dependent at the old and new thimerosal vaccine

levels, but just requires a significant exposure level that is met by the

vaccines containing the lower “trace” amounts of thimerosal and past thimerosal

levels in vaccine production processes. Bottom line, if genetic susceptibility

is involved then causation of autism may not increase linearly with increased

thimerosal exposure. Causation may only require low thimerosal exposure or

exposure to modified proteins. It is possible that the reduction of

thimerosal as in the “trace” was just not enough to produce a safe vaccine.

Not all toxins work like alcohol and the old “dose makes the toxin” is not

always correct. As long as they are used, the mere use of “trace”

thimerosal in vaccines along with higher levels in the flu vaccine will always

prevent a conclusive answer to thimerosal's involvement in autism causation.

What should be studied is the “no exposure” versus the “exposed” populations

with regard to autism rates.

7. If indeed autism is rare among the non-vaccinated

Amish populations, as reported by Dan Olmstead, I find it an amazingly

oversight that the CDC and others responsible for infant health do not fund a

study in this area. This study could go both ways, if the Amish have

autism rates identical with the rest of the population the argument would be

over---neither vaccines nor thimerosal would be causal for autism, and I personally

would argue in this direction. If, however, the autism rates in the Amish

are exceptionally low then vaccines would have to be considered as a prime

suspect in causation with the presence of the highly toxic thimerosal the main

suspect.

If the results in the 2008 Schechter-Grether study hold up with time, and

complete removal of thimerosal does not cause a drop in autism rates and the

autism rates in non-vaccinated populations are low then something else in the

vaccines would have to be considered the major causation factor for autism.

However, without doing the non-vaccinated population studies there cannot be a

conclusive statement either way about either vaccines or thimerosal as being

causal for autism. The steadfast refusal of the CDC and others to support

such studies being done is part of the reason that many parents, scientists and

physicians have severe doubts about the sincerity of their efforts to resolve

this issue. This is how I think, when I review a paper submitted for

publication I always ask why an obvious experiment wasn't done. The study

of non-vaccinated populations is a very obvious experiment that the CDC and its

supporters appear to refuse to consider. This makes me suspicious that

this knowledge exists and is being suppressed because knowledge of the rate

among the non-vaccinated population would answer many questions.

Finally, the Schechter-Grether study may be good news to the vaccine

manufacturers and those who recommended and use the mandated vaccine program as

it serves as manufactured uncertainty about the thimerosal involvement in

autism causation. However, it presents a major concern to the parents and

families of infants since it implies that our vaccines, even with most of the

free thimerosal removed, may not be safe and that our CDC does not have a clue

about what to do make them safe. Common sense would lead most to attack

finding the cause of autism instead of trying to prove something besides

thimerosal is causal. The major question is “are our vaccines causing

autism”---only comparing the non-vaccinated to the vaccinated will answer this

question. Common sense would have lead to this comparison being done

first and being done 10-15 years ago. In the recent past I have

recommended that parents vaccinate their children with thimerosal free vaccines

as I considered them safe. If Schechter-Grether are correct, and

vaccines, but not thimerosal, correlate with increased autism rates, then I am

in error assuming vaccines are now safer with regards to autism risk than they

were 2000.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All

information provided or published by Unlocking Autism is for information

purposes only. Under Unlocking Autism Option

Policy you are responsible for the choice of any treatment or therapy

option or service provider. Specific treatment, therapy or services

should be provided to an individual only at the direction of the individual's

doctor, caregiver, or other qualified professional. References to any treatment

or therapy option, program, service or treatment provider are not an

endorsement by Unlocking Autism. References of treatments, therapies, programs,

services, and/or providers are not intended to be comprehensive statements. You

should investigate alternatives that may be more appropriate for a specific

individual. Unlocking Autism assumes no responsibility for the use made of any

information published or provided by Unlocking Autism.

www.unlockingautismstore.org

Visit

Foggyrock.com to connect with other individuals who share your heart and

passion for autism. Registration is quick and easy and allows you to

participate in forums, blogs, sharing photos, sending messages and access to

the latest news in the autism community.

www.foggyrock.com

Visit www.iABIDA.com, a free web communication

application that bring teams together, to provide a 360 degree view of special

needs individuals. See daily schedules, track daily behavior and graph the

progress, receive alerts about any changes, share pictures, videos or audio

files and allow parents or teachers to post quick notes to the team or

individuals.

Visit Children

Of Destiny at Welcome to Children of Destiny Every child has a destiny and God has a

plan for every child!

Get to know all our friends at Autism Collaboration -

www.autism.org

**************

Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.

(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)