Yahoo News - Toxins Linked to Autism, ADHD (Text)

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Yahoo News - Toxins Linked to Autism, ADHD

Thu Feb 5,11:48 PM ET

THURSDAY, Feb. 5 (HealthDayNews) -- Exposure to certain

neurodevelopmental toxins, including the vaccine additive

thimerosal, may increase the risk of autism and attention-deficit

hyperactivity disorder, says a study in the April issue of Molecular

Psychiatry.

This research is the first to offer a possible explanation for

possible causes of these two increasingly common childhood disorders.

The researchers found that exposure to toxins such as ethanol and

heavy metals (including lead, aluminum and the ethylmercury-

containing preservative thimerosal) interrupt growth factor

signaling. This adversely impacts methylation reactions such as the

transfer of carbon atoms. Methylation is critical to proper

neurological development in infants and children.

" 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, " researcher and pharmacy professor Deth of

Northeastern University says in a prepared statement.

" 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, " Deth says.

Starting in 2000, the United States and Europe largely phased out

thimerosal, often used as a preservative in multi-dose units of

vaccines for diseases such as hepatitis, whooping cough, tetanus and

diptheria.

Now, most vaccines in the United States and Europe contain only

trace amounts of thimerosal. However, multi-dose flu vaccines still

contain thimerosal. The same is true of many larger, multi-dose

vials of vaccines shipped to and used in developing countries.