The Facts ABout Mercury and Autism

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THE FACTS:

1.

Mercury is hazardous to humans. The use of a toxic poison as a

preservative is undesirable, unnecessary and should be eliminated

entirely.

2.

For decades, ethylmercury was used extensively in medical products

ranging from vaccines to topical ointments as preservative and an

anti-bacteriological agent.

3.

Manufacturers of vaccines and thimerosal, (an ethylmercury compound used

in vaccines), have never conducted adequate testing on the safety of

thimerosal. The FDA has never required manufacturers to conduct adequate

safety testing on thimerosal and ethylmercury compounds. Current

evidence suggests thimerosal is neither " safe nor effective " when used

as a preservative in vaccines.

4.

There are over 1500 studies and papers documenting the hypoallergenicity

and toxicity of thimerosal (ethylmercury) have existed for decades.

5.

The United States is in the midst of a tragic epidemic of autism. An

analysis of the US Department of Education data from 1992-1993 in

comparison to 2000-2001 indicates that there has been an average

increase of 644% among all US children. In addition, 13 states have

reported an almost infinite or infinite increase in autism from

1992-1993 in comparison to 2000-2001. A review of children in US schools

indicates that approximately 1 in 9 children in the US is currently

disabled by the US Department of Education Statistics (see attachment).

Recent studies in the Journal of the American Medical Association and

Pediatrics have confirmed the autism epidemic is real and not due to

changes in diagnosis, populational changes nor is it explained by other

factors.

6.

At the same time that the incidence of autism was growing, the number of

childhood vaccines containing thimerosal was growing, increasing the

amount of ethylmercury to which infants were exposed threefold.

7.

A growing number of scientists and researchers believe that a

relationship between the increase in neurodevelopmental disorders of

autism, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, and speech or language

delay, and the increased use of thimerosal in vaccines is plausible and

deserves more scrutiny. In 2001, the Institute of Medicine determined

that such a relationship is biologically plausible, but that not enough

evidence exists to support or reject this hypothesis. Recent studies

have confirmed the association between the use of thimerosal and autism

has moved from " biologically plausible " to a " biological certainty "

(Boyd Haley). Recent work by Dr. Mark Geier and Geier in the

Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons and Experimental Biology and

Medicine have shown strong epidemiological evidence for a causal

relationship between thimerosal and neurodevelopmental disorders in

children.

8.

The FDA acted too slowly to remove ethylmercury from over-the-counter

products like topical ointments and skin creams. Although an advisory

committee determined that ethylmercury was unsafe in these products in

1980, a rule requiring its removal was not finalized until 1998.

9.

The FDA and the CDC failed in their duty to be vigilant as new vaccines

containing thimerosal were approved and added to the immunization

schedule. When the Hepatitis B and Haemophilus Influenzae Type b

vaccines were added to the recommended schedule of childhood

immunizations, the cumulative amount of ethylmercury to which children

were exposed nearly tripled.

10.

The amount of ethylmercury to which children were exposed through

vaccines prior to the 1999 announcement exceeded two safety thresholds

established by the Federal Government for a closely related substance -

methylmercury. While the Federal Government has established no safety

threshold for ethylmercury, experts agree that the methylmercury

guidelines are a good substitute. Federal health officials have conceded

that the amount of thimerosal in vaccines exceeded the EPA threshold of

0.1 micrograms per kilogram of bodyweight. In fact, the amount of

mercury in one dose of DTaP or Hepatitis B vaccines (25 micrograms each)

exceeded this threshold many times over. Federal health officials have

not conceded that this amount of thimerosal in vaccines exceeded the

FDA's more relaxed threshold of 0.4 micrograms per kilogram of body

weight. In most cases, however, it clearly did. As evidence of the

growing concern of the adverse effects of mercury, the FDA has recently

changed its permissible dose of oral methylmercury from 0.4 microgram to

0.1 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day.

11.

The actions taken by the HHS to remove thimerosal from vaccines in 1999

were not sufficiently aggressive. As a result, thimerosal remained in

some vaccines for an additional two years. Thimerosal remains in several

vaccines and with the addition of the influenza vaccine now being

recommended for infants, children are exposed to more thimerosal today

than ever before.

12.

The CDC's failure to state a preference for thimerosal-free vaccines in

2000 and again in 2001 was an abdication of their responsibility. As a

result, many children received vaccines containing thimerosal when

thimerosal-free alternatives were available.

13.

Thimerosal should be removed from all of these vaccines. No amount of

mercury is appropriate in any childhood vaccine.

14.

The CDC in general and the National Immunization Program in particular

are conflicted in their duties to monitor the safety of vaccines, while

also charged with the responsibility of purchasing vaccines for resale

as well as promoting increased immunization rates.

15.

There is inadequate research regarding ethylmercury neurotoxicity and

nephrotoxicity.

16.

There is inadequate research regarding the relationship between autism

and the use of mercury-containing vaccines.

17.

To date, studies conducted or funded by the CDC that purportedly dispute

any correlation between autism and vaccine injury have been of poor

design, under-powered, and fatally flawed. The CDC's rush to support and

promote such research is reflective of a philosophical conflict in

looking fairly at emerging theories and clinical data related to adverse

reactions from vaccinations.

For more information please visit www.safeminds.org

<http://www.safeminds.org/>

Table A:

Summary Comparison of Characteristics

of Autism & Mercury Poisoning

Mercury Poisoning

Autism

Psychiatric Social deficits, shyness, social withdrawal Social deficits,

social withdrawal, shyness Disturbances Depression, mood swings; mask

face Depressive traits, mood swings; flat affect Anxiety Anxiety

Schizoid tendencies, OCD traits Schizophrenic & OCD traits;

repetitiveness Lacks eye contact, hesitant to engage others Lack of

eye contact, avoids conversation Irrational fears Irrational fears

Irritability, aggression, temper tantrums Irritability, aggression,

temper tantrums Impaired face recognition Impaired face recognition

Speech, Loss of speech, failure to develop speech Delayed language,

failure to develop speech Language & Dysarthria; articulation problems

Dysarthria; articulation problems Hearing Speech comprehension

deficits Speech comprehension deficits Deficits Verbalizing & word

retrieval problems Echolalia; word use & pragmatic errors Sound

sensitivity Sound sensitivity Hearing loss; deafness in very high

doses Mild to profound hearing loss Poor performance on language IQ

tests Poor performance on verbal IQ tests Sensory Abnormal sensation

in mouth & extremities Abnormal sensation in mouth & extremities

Abnormalities Sound sensitivity Sound sensitivity Abnormal touch

sensations; touch aversion Abnormal touch sensations; touch aversion

Vestibular abnormalities Vestibular abnormalities Motor Disorders

Involuntary jerking movements – arm flapping, ankle jerks, myoclonal

jerks, choreiform movements, circling, rocking Stereotyped movements -

arm flapping, jumping, circling, spinning, rocking; myoclonal jerks;

choreiform movements Deficits in eye-hand coordination; limb apraxia;

intention tremors Poor eye-hand coordination; limb apraxia; problems

with intentional movements Gait impairment; ataxia – from

incoordination & clumsiness to inability to walk, stand, or sit; loss of

motor control Abnormal gait and posture, clumsiness and incoordination;

difficulties sitting, lying, crawling, and walking Difficulty in

chewing or swallowing Difficulty chewing or swallowing Unusual

postures; toe walking Unusual postures; toe walking Cognitive

Impairments Borderline intelligence, mental retardation - some cases

reversible Borderline intelligence, mental retardation - sometimes

" recovered " Poor concentration, attention, response inhibition Poor

concentration, attention, shifting attention Uneven performance on IQ

subtests Uneven performance on IQ subtests Verbal IQ higher than

performance IQ Verbal IQ higher than performance IQ Poor short term,

verbal, & auditory memory Poor short term, auditory & verbal memory

Poor visual and perceptual motor skills, impairment in simple reaction

time Poor visual and perceptual motor skills, lower performance on

timed tests Difficulty carrying out complex commands Difficulty

carrying out multiple commands Word-comprehension difficulties

Word-comprehension difficulties Deficits in understanding abstract

ideas & symbolism; degeneration of higher mental powers Deficits in

abstract thinking & symbolism, understanding other's mental states,

sequencing, planning & organizing

(iv)

Unusual Stereotyped sniffing (rats) Stereotyped, repetitive behaviors

Behaviors ADHD traits ADHD traits Agitation, unprovoked crying,

grimacing, staring spells Agitation, unprovoked crying, grimacing,

staring spells Sleep difficulties Sleep difficulties Eating

disorders, feeding problems Eating disorders, feeding problems Self

injurious behavior, e.g. head banging Self injurious behavior, e.g.

head banging Visual Poor eye contact, impaired visual fixation Poor

eye contact, problems in joint attention Impairments " Visual

impairments, " blindness, near-sightedness, decreased visual acuity

" Visual impairments " ; inaccurate/slow saccades; decreased rod

functioning Light sensitivity, photophobia Over-sensitivity to light

Blurred or hazy vision Blurred vision Constricted visual fields Not

described Physical Disturbances Increase in cerebral palsy; hyper- or

hypo-tonia; abnormal reflexes; decreased muscle strength, especially

upper body; incontinence; problems chewing, swallowing, salivating

Increase in cerebral palsy; hyper- or hypotonia; decreased muscle

strength, especially upper body; incontinence; problems chewing and

swallowing Rashes, dermatitis/dry skin, itching; burning Rashes,

dermatitis, eczema, itching Autonomic disturbance: excessive

sweating, poor circulation, elevated heart rate Autonomic disturbance:

unusual sweating, poor circulation, elevated heart rate

Gastro-intestinal Gastroenteritis, diarrhea; abdominal pain,

constipation, " colitis " Diarrhea, constipation, gaseousness, abdominal

discomfort, colitis Disturbances Anorexia, weight loss, nausea, poor

appetite Anorexia; feeding problems/vomiting Lesions of ileum &

colon; increased gut permeability Leaky gut syndrome Inhibits

dipeptidyl peptidase IV, which cleaves casomorphin Inadequate

endopeptidase enzymes needed for breakdown of casein & gluten Abnormal

Biochemistry Binds -SH groups; blocks sulfate transporter in intestines,

kidneys Low sulfate levels Has special affinity for purines &

pyrimidines Purine & pyrimidine metabolism errors lead to autistic

features Reduces availability of glutathione, needed in neurons,

cells & liver to detoxify heavy metals Low levels of glutathione;

decreased ability of liver to detoxify heavy metals Causes

significant reduction in glutathione peroxidase and glutathione

reductase Abnormal glutathione peroxidase activities in erythrocytes

Disrupts mitochondrial activities, especially in brain Mitochondrial

dysfunction, especially in brain Immune Dysfunction Sensitivity due to

allergic or autoimmune reactions; sensitive individuals more likely to

have allergies, asthma, autoimmune-like symptoms, especially

rheumatoid-like ones More likely to have allergies and asthma; familial

presence of autoimmune diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis; IgA

deficiencies Can produce an immune response in CNS On-going immune

response in CNS Causes brain/MBP autoantibodies Brain/MBP

autoantibodies present Causes overproduction of Th2 subset;

kills/inhibits lymphocytes, T-cells, and monocytes; decreases NK T-cell

activity; induces or suppresses IFNg & IL-2 Skewed immune-cell subset

in the Th2 direction; decreased responses to T-cell mitogens; reduced NK

T-cell function; increased IFNg & IL-12

(v)

CNS Structural Pathology Selectively targets brain areas unable to

detoxify or reduce Hg-induced oxidative stress Specific areas of brain

pathology; many functions spared Damage to Purkinje and granular

cells Damage to Purkinje and granular cells Accummulates in amygdala

and hippocampus Pathology in amygdala and hippocampus Causes abnormal

neuronal cytoarchitecture; disrupts neuronal migration & cell division;

reduces NCAMs Neuronal disorganization; increased neuronal cell

replication, increased glial cells; depressed expression of NCAMs

Progressive microcephaly Progressive microcephaly and macrocephaly

Brain stem defects in some cases Brain stem defects in some cases

Abnormalities in Neuro-chemistry Prevents presynaptic serotonin release

& inhibits serotonin transport; causes calcium disruptions Decreased

serotonin synthesis in children; abnormal calcium metabolism Alters

dopamine systems; peroxidine deficiency in rats resembles mercurialism

in humans Possibly high or low dopamine levels; positive response to

peroxidine (lowers dopamine levels) Elevates epinephrine &

norepinephrine levels by blocking enzyme that degrades epinephrine

Elevated norepinephrine and epinephrine Elevates glutamate Elevated

glutamate and aspartate Leads to cortical acetylcholine deficiency;

increases muscarinic receptor density in hippocampus & cerebellum

Cortical acetylcholine deficiency; reduced muscarinic receptor binding

in hippocampus Causes demyelinating neuropathy Demyelination in brain

EEG Causes abnormal EEGs, epileptiform activity Abnormal EEGs,

epileptiform activity Abnormalities/ Causes seizures, convulsions

Seizures; epilepsy Epilepsy Causes subtle, low amplitude seizure

activity Subtle, low amplitude seizure activities Population Effects

more males than females Male:female ratio estimated at 4:1

Charact-eristics At low doses, only affects those geneticially

susceptible High heritability - concordance for MZ twins is 90% First

added to childhood vaccines in 1930s First " discovered " among children

born in 1930s Exposure levels steadily increased since 1930s with

rate of vaccination, number of vaccines Prevalence of autism has

steadily increased from 1 in 2000 (pre1970) to 1 in 500 (early 1990s),

higher in 2000. Exposure occurs at 0 - 15 months; clinical silent

stage means symptom emergence delayed; symptoms emerge gradually,

starting with movement & sensation Symptoms emerge from 4 months to 2

years old; symptoms emerge gradually, starting with movement & sensation

The information provided on this page is for educational and

informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or

medical advice. NAA strongly believes that everyone should do their own

research into the causes of autism spectrum disorders.