Autism May Be Caused By "Chemical Exposures"

For years now, scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and elsewhere have said that autism is probably a purely genetic disorder, and that the dramatic increase in numbers was due to better diagnostics, wider reporting and greater awareness -- and not because of any environmental factors.

Those days are over now.

Today, I received an email from an official in the Office of CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding (rumored to be on her way out in January), "Office of Enterprise Communication," replying to my questions on what the agency is doing to look into the reportedly high rate (1 in 28) of Somali children with autism in Minneapolis.

The responses I got from the CDC (and the Minnesota Department of Health) were thorough, thoughtful, and quite lengthy. They will be published in their entirety shortly at www.ageofautism.com.

But one of the last questions answered by the CDC really stuck out.

I cannot recall anything quite like it from any Federal agency when asked a question about the possible causes of autism.

Instead of the usual, tired, "it's just better diagnostics" mantra one routinely gets from most public health authorities (and prominent author-pediatricians), this particular person at the CDC chose to tell the refreshing truth -- and it is something that I have been saying for quite some time, myself.

Here is the question I posed to CDC:

If it is determined that Somali children in Minnesota do in fact have higher rates of autism than non-Somali children in Minnesota, and that they also have higher rates than Somali children in Somalia, will CDC officially concur that autism, at least in these cases, must necessarily have an environmental component?

And here is part of the reply:

While it is important to understand if autism is affecting any group of children disproportionately, it is also important to keep in mind that there are likely multiple causes of the autism spectrum of disorders. Most scientists agree that today's research will show that a person's genetic profile may make them more or less susceptible to ASDs as a result of any number of factors such as infections, the physical environment, chemical exposures, or psychosocial components.

The idea that "chemical exposures" (vaccine related or otherwise) might cause autism still brings virtual apoplexia to certain scientific circles. Let's hope they all take a deep breath and consider the CDC's wisdom.

Thank you, Centers for Disease Control.

Thank you for your candor, your courage, and your ability to admit that there is no such thing as a genetic epidemic.

Comments

[Kim Stagliano - Huffpost Blogger]

A Somali parent sent me this to share:

This thanksgiving has a significance meaning for Somali parents that have children with autism and live in Minnesota. For years our children have been diagnosed with a disorder that we never heard of.

When a mom is pregnant and anyone asks what are you having a boy or a girl. Her response is “I don’t care as long as it is healthy”. No parent wants to hear that there is anything wrong with their child. When one becomes a parent, god blesses them with courage, strength and wisdom so that they can guide and raise their children. We have been standing strong because of those blessings.

Autism not only takes all of those dreams from parents but it locks your beautiful child into a world where he is not able to express needs. Going to a grocery store without a meltdown, saying mom when he sees you, asking for a glass of water, being able to change routines with no problems seem so effortless, but are so grueling for a child with autism.

These dreams have been taken away from so many Somali families in Minnesota.

This thanksgiving day, we are thankful to David Kirby. David listened to Somali parents with an open ear, looked at us with kind eyes and went to work with a sharp mind.

We will forever be thankful to David and Ariana Huffington.

We wish you all a happy thanksgiving.

Name; A Thankful Somali Parent!

[2sonswithautism]

Convinced mother of 3sons says there is undeniable evidence. Mothers must demand their own vaccine schedule, for religous reasons: the religion of "WE DO NOT HOLD STOCK IN PHARMA COMPANIES. Don't whisper...we can no longer be marketed to , we will not give "Pharma Co's " our babies, our aging, our boomers, our young to perpetuate their industry..­..........

My pedatrician suggested that my 3rd son,unaffected physically by autism should require another chicken pox. vac.. Because simply "they", now believe the first dose is not as effective without this second dose; and yes even OUr DR. had vaccinated her own children..
WHY? She believes in THEIR MARKETING.. I DO NOT.SO WAIT THE FIRST ROUND REALLY WASN'T WHAT "THEY " SAID IT WAS. Go FIgure. MUltiply that in dollars and sense what a great new product line ,LET'S TRY IT AGAIN VACCINE...
We passed on pox ,flu vaccine especially; reccomended for a child with asthma.....That one too ? Especially reccomending a vaccine with only one strain that maybe will combat whatever flu that shows up.1 of 800 or so known flus...........
Mothers baby number 3 was not vaccinated in their order it happened on my terms... almost a 14- 15 month later...which then delayed other rounds. Simply not affected by autism Thanks to Mr. Kirby for his unwavering committment to this cause. PHARMA HAS CAUSed our numbers to rise......and soon our voices will be convicingly heard.

[BlackJAC]

And the confirmation bias persists.

[CraigWilloughby]

And so, too, do your pointless comments. Do you have anything pertinent to add to the conversation, or are you going to just continue to take pot-shots from the sidelines?

[Paradym]

Do you have any independent, peer reviewed, double-blind studies that are accepted as consensus that there is any link between autism and vaccines? This myth has been debunked. I really do understand your vehement reluctance to accept this; it would be so difficult to accept that the cause of a disorder of my child could possibly be even remotely related to a genetic quirk. I would want to blame something imposed upon my child by government. I would want to blame a huge industry protecting their interests. I might think that there was resistance to exposing the facts. But I would hope that I am mature and intelligent enough to be open to the possibility that, despite what I may believe, the evidence does not support my feelings or what may be popular. The research is solid that there is no link. Anecdotes, belief, books by journalists, group mentality - none of these change what is true. Many rally for a conspiracy that Big Pharma, the government, scientists, doctors all are aligned to generate a conspiracy against the children of our country. You can theorize who might profit from this, but do you consider all those who might profit from exposing what you believe? The simple concept of competition would suppose that anyone who could blow this cover-up wide open with tangible evidence would reap huge benefits. The fact that no one has should speak volumes about the legitimacy of the premise.

[BlackJAC]

Every time this subject is broached, the automatic response is Vaccines Cause Autism. This claim is backed up by, at best, circumstantial evidence based solely on sequence of events; by that logic, cancelling BAYWATCH caused 9/11. Any new discoveries since are either heralded as reinforcing that claim if favorable or summarily dismissed as part of some conspiracy if unfavorable, usually at the behest of someone who has undisclosed motives rather than a related medical degree. I don't know if this is due to the universal dislike we all have of being jabbed with a needle or some need to believe that bad luck is directed rather than random, but making definitive claims without hard evidence in any direction is dangerous because we don't know that much about the brain to begin with. If hard evidence shows it's vaccines, then so be it, but jumping to that conclusion on the say-so of a mountebank is not helping anyone.

"I am not a doctor."
--Jenny McCarthy, italicized for emphasis in LOUDER THAN WORDS by same

[rbuck]

My wife works in a field where about 50% of her clients are autistic and since we are having our first child we have been doing more extensive research. First, there has not been any scientific study that has linked autism with vaccines.

One of the most common things we hear is that the parents had the child vaccinated and the in the next couple of days they began to act funny and then were eventually diagnosed with autism. This is mainly due to the difficult nature of diagnosising a infant/toddler with autism. The truth is that there were probably subtle signs (child lining up toys rather than playing with them, not responding to their name, not seeming to have self awareness, or perceverating on certain items) that the parents did not understand and simply dismissed as strange behavior but are in fact indicators for autism.

Though it seems strange, other parents have said that it as if someone "flipped a switch" on their child who hadn't been vaccinated either recently or at all. While I don't dismiss the theory that vaccinations could possibly trigger the condition in a predisposed child, I feel that that we need to have some rigorous scientific study to validate that theory.

[CraigWilloughby]

Well, there are a number of parents who had children who could speak before vaccinations. My son was 18 months old. He had a respectible vocabulary, was walking. His last words to me for 6 years were "Go Bye Bye." A few hours after his vaccination, he started running a 105 fever, screaming, arching his back and was completely unconsolable. After bringing him to the ER (his ped said that what we were experiencing was perfectly normal. Perfectly normal my ass!!), the CAT scan showed that he had a swollen brain. He stopped talking for 6 years, and he stopped walking until he was almost 3 years old.

Similar circumstances happened to a child who was recently awarded by the NVICP for a vaccine injury. Her name was Hannah Poling.

This can happen, and has happened, to children. I appreciate the respectful post, but you're not hearing the whole story.

[AutismNewsBeat]

Have the Polings actually collected any money from their claim?

[ObjectiveAutismDad]

My son was also developing normally until about 18 months of age. He had exactly 40 week gestation, 2:45 minute labor and delivery with no drugs of any kind, was breast fed for the first 6-8 months, hit all his milestones ahead of schedule, was a very happy and engaging baby, spoke ahead of schedule and had developed about 10 functional words. At 18 months everything stopped; he didn't get past those 10 words for about 3 more years. He also started developing ear infections at 4 months and was on anti-biotics almost constantly until he was about 5 years old -- when we took him off dairy; and he hasn't had one since (he's 17 now); he had a course of 10 days of anti-biotics just before his DPT to which he had a bad reaction.

[Gatogorra]

Who'd have guessed? David Kirby and some of the original activist parents must feel as if they'd been trapped in some nightmare game of "telephone". Years ago, they said into the pipe, "Autism may relate to increased vaccinations"-- just to hear back from medical authorities various skewed versions of the original warning: "Autism is fate, release vaccinations from liability"; "Autism is geeks mating-- fleece taxpayers for useless gene studies", etc. What a surprise to finally hear some semblance of what you've been saying all along.

I'm concerned that now another research circus is going to begin, with lots of stalling to study defunct pesticides and other anything-b­ut-vaccine­s chemicals.

[motionview]

"scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and elsewhere have said that autism is probably a purely genetic disorder"

My understanding is that the CDC position has been that autism has a combination of genetic and environmental causes. Can you please provide a link to the CDC saying that autism is a purely genetic disorder?

For those of you still hammering on thimerasol, it has been phased out of vaccines since 2001 with no decrease in autism rates.

And as a reminder, Harvard researchers have identified the autism genes: http://harvardmagazine.com/harvard-in-the-news/researchers-identify-autism-genes

[CraigWilloughby]

See, that is a common misconception that Thimerosal has been removed. 1. It hasn't. It is still in many vaccines in "reduced" amounts and is still in most flu vaccines at full dosage. 2. No one is really quite sure what year this supposed removal was to have happened. The removal was slated to begin in 1999, but as late as 2005, there were still many TCV's that were still within shelf life and still being used. I've read reports that showed them still in use as late as 2006.

The autism genes? These genes only show up in less than 2% of the autism population, so there is a slight flaw in that theory, too.

[AutismNewsBeat]

A Feb., 2002 spot check of doctors' clinics showed that only 2% of scheduled pediatric vaccines still contained thimerosal. The fact is, today's five year olds have been subjected to far, far less thimerosal than kids born in the 90s.

Mercury is a naturally occurring element, found in nearly everything we eat and drink, including breast milk. The trace amount found in vaccines is much less than you receive in a tuna fish sandwich.

If vaccines caused autism, don't you think the correlation would show up in the dozen or so epi studies done over the last 10 years?

[ddanimal]

They are phasing out thimerosal slowly so as not to create a strong, easily detectable "signal" that it causes autism. If the thimerosal was removed suddenly, all at once, it would be easy to determine its effect.

The CDC and FDA want to keep the danger hidden and underestimated, so they perist in allowing thimerosal, and remove it as slowly as possible.

[mijumom]

Could environmental factors alter genes thus leading to increased rates of autism?

[ddanimal]

Exactly. This is another point conveniently ignored by the CDC. Genetics and environment are not exclusive causes. There are genes that make individuals more or less sensitive to environmental exposures. For example, some genetic defects can make an individual more sensitive to mercury exposure. Does this mean the disease is genetic or environmental?

The CDC and FDA are simply hiding their tracks. They probably have the data that shows exactly what is causing autism, but wont release it.

Scientists at the FDA and CDC are unethical and lie about anything and everything. They dont give a damn about public health. The FDAs decisions regarding prescription drugs and food additives is proof of that.

[Olerist]

Thanks David

guess the CDC learned something when they reviewed the Poling's records.

Too bad we might never know what that was other than glimpses such as this current statement.

[Paradym]

I want to preface with my sincere and deep sympathy for the families dealing with autism. I do not work for nor advocate for anything related to the pharmaceutical or chemical industries. I wait tables and go to college.

I am also a skeptic. While I am exasperated at all the garbage we put into our environment and food, and hence our bodies, and I do think it very possible that all these contaminants can and do have detrimental effects on our health, I am also reasonable enough to point to causation only when there is evidence for it.

Is mercury poisonous? Yes, above a certain level. Should thimerosal have been used in vaccines? Most likely not. Is thimerosal the root cause of autism. No. All the evidence and research show no link between vaccines and autism. It's simply a conspiracy theory based upon fear and ignorance. And those that choose not to vaccinate their children put the rest of the population at risk for epidemic outbreaks of disease.

I know all the evidence won't change the mind of a believer, but perhaps those that aren't sure will be moved to do actual research and find out for themselves the facts and findings over the past 20 years regarding this subject, and especially what vaccines are and how they work.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

As long as people think like you do, there will be no research and actual conclusion as to what causes autism.

Mercury...­."poisonou­s above a certain level"....really? What level is that? If you're so certain, please by all means, open a thermometer and drink some. I'm sure that minimal "level" won't be harmful.

I couldn't disagree with you more. In the 80's there were about 10 vaccines, now there are 35, and the autims rate has skyrocketed. By your logic, this is NOT a coincidence?

Maybe you should check who FINANCES the "evidence" that makes you believe that injecting our children with harmful chemicals that settle in brain tissue and do irreperable damage in their growing stages. I am going to get my son vaccinated today and am scared to death as this vaccine is made with formaldahyde. I know, I know... it's harmless.... so by all means, please go home tonight and take a shot of it....although you may have to go to your local funeral home to get it.

The medical industry prays for people like you.... just do as they say and question nothing.

[CraigWilloughby]

"Mercury..­.."poisono­us above a certain level"....really? What level is that? If you're so certain, please by all means, open a thermometer and drink some. I'm sure that minimal "level" won't be harmful."

Except that they no longer have thermometers that contain mercury. The FDA and EPA said that it was too dangerous of a substance...

But, it's ok to put it in the Vaccines....doesn't hurt anybody (rolling my eyes).

[zizyphus]

As a mother of an adult with Aspergers, if I had it to do over again, I would not have had any of my children immunized for anything. I would take my chances with the diseases, over the drugs. My son experienced cri du chat after his first shots at two weeks - DPT shots....if only I could turn back time. But I went ahead, following pediatrician's recommendations to continue the series, only eliminating the pertussis part.

My advice to young parents is to do lots and lots of research before making your decision. It is irrevocable.

[AutismNewsBeat]

"I couldn't disagree with you more. In the 80's there were about 10 vaccines, now there are 35, and the autims rate has skyrocketed. By your logic, this is NOT a coincidence?"

Actually, the numbers of antigens used in vaccines have been declining over the years. And in the 80s, children with Asperger's and PD-NOS weren't counted as "autistic". You're comparing apples and oranges.

So you might want to reconsider that last comment.

[mfb]

HuffPost's Pick

I'm sorry, Paradym, but this statement is simply ignorant. You clearly haven't read "all the evidence and research" because if you did, you wouldn't make unequivocal statements like this. Epidemiological studies show mixed evidence regarding the connection between autism, neurodevelopmental disorders and vaccines. Animal models in mice, hamsters, rats and monekys show UNEQUIVOCAL evidence of developmental damage from thimerosal and vaccines.

What you clearly have absorbed is the propaganda that keeps getting turned out on this issue by the CDC and the vaccine manufacturers. The "true believers" here are those who believe blindly that Merck, the FDA and the CDC are doing a peachy job managing vaccine safety. People who make aggressive claims about evidence really have an obligation to review the evidence on ALL sides, not just the official talking ponts, before you opine.

[zizyphus]

Why don't you read about the ingredients in vaccines and think about whether you want all those chemicals and contaminants injected into your bloodstream.

You may not know that the original polio vaccines were released without testing onto the public, and it was known then they were contaminated with monkey virus SV-40, but were released anyway to observe what would happen to people over time. Don't take my word for this, but as always, do your own research.

The debate continues whether SV-40 causes cancer in humans.

[AutismNewsBeat]

What "contaminants" are you talking about? Anti-freeze? Ether? Formaldehyde?

[CraigWilloughby]

Paradym, I appreciate the respect that your post shows us, but remember, all of the "evidence" you claim disproves a link doesn't actually disprove the link. This same evidence is what said that Autism is purely genetic. Similar evidence said there is no such thing as Gulf War Syndrome. Similar evidence said that Mercury Amalgams weren't dangerous. How many of those examples above have been disproven?

The problem, quite simply, is that all of the previous examples that "disproved" a condition like GWS or environmental autism or health problems because of dental amalgams were using Epidemiological data. I'm not knocking this data, but as you can see from my given examples, it can be wrong. This is why clinical studies, studies of susceptibility groups, etc. are so important.

This is also a huge admission. The CDC has been one of the leaders of those that say that Autism is purely genetic. So, this is step one in the admission that, yes, maybe there IS actually an epidemic happening.

[AutismNewsBeat]

Where has the CDC said autism is purely genetic? Do you mean autistic disorder specifically, or all ASDs?

[StrangerThanFiction]

I, PERSONALLY, WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHERE SEVERAL TEETH, THAT HAD SILVER FILLINGS, CRACKED! WITHIN A MONTH I STARTED THE VERY STEEP SLOPE TO DEATH...BRAIN DEATH! THE SILVER AMALGAM WAS BOUND WITH MERCURY SO THAT THE SOFT METAL WOULD STAY PUT IN THE TOOTH AND IT LEAKED MERCURY VAPORS.

I WAS ABLE, BEFORE MY TOTAL DEMISE, TO FIND A DOCTOR (AFTER MANY) TO DIAGNOSE ME AND PUT ME ON A DE-TOX PROTOCOL FOR MERCURY AND HEAVY METALS! WITHIN TWO WEEKS MY BRAIN STARTED FUNCTIONING AGAIN. IT ALLOWED ME TO REMEMBER WORDS, FORMULATE SENTENCES, REDUCED TREMORS, AND I COULD SEE BETTER AS THE MERCURY WENT TO MY RETINA AND CAUSED ME AT 49 TO HAVE CATARACTS!

THIMERISOL IS MERCURY...PLACED IN VACCINES AS A BINDER SO THAT THEY STAY IN THE BODY. MERCURY GOES STRAIGHT TO THE BRAIN, THUS CAUSING NEUROLOGICAL MALFUNCTIONS! HOW MANY CHILDREN NOW HAVE ADD & ADHD IN ADDITION TO AUTISM BECAUSE OF THIMERISOL IN THE MMR VACCINE!

DENTAL AMALGAMS AND OTHER TOXIC CHEMICALS USED BY DENTISTS ALSO CAUSE THESE SYMPTOMS...SUCH AS ALZHEIMERS, PARKINSON'S, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, AND CERTAIN ARYTHMIAS OF THE HEART!

YOU HAVEN'T A CLUE, MY DEAR...AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE LIVING HELL THAT THOSE OF US WHO SUFFER FROM THE END RESULT OF CORPORATE GREED HAVE BEEN THROUGH AS WELL AS THE PARENTS OF ALL OF THOSE DARLING CHILDREN!!!

[ObjectiveAutismDad]

David, again, Thank You Thank You Thank You. Your persistence and objectivity in this matter makes you one of the most special people in the world.

To Chinamam and USNA73, I couldn't agree more with both of your posts. Let's figure this out ASAP; and anybody that isn't helping bail water needs to be put out of the boat.

[usna73]

The CDC is too late. They helped burn down the house and now they arrive on the scene with a glass of water to pour on the embers. Sorry, Dr. Geberding must go,... and quickly.

Courage means doing the right thing, at the moment, reagrdless of the cost of personal sacrifice. I know courage Ms. Geberding, I have seen it,..... and this is not courage.

This is concession, purely politically calculated and self-serving because the Obama administration, with Mr. Daschle at HHS and a new Chairman for the Overisight Committee are coming to town.

Families like ours have suffered unbearable and irreparable damage while politics has invited and encouraged denials and posturing to oppose science and reason. The next time I am challenged on any level about my bearing witness to seeing my son mercury being posoined at the hands of the pharmaceutical industry, I'm going to react understandably and justifiably. It won't be pretty.

Make the environmental whores pay up. Now.

[chinamama]

Thank God, the veil of secrecy is starting to part....
I keep saying I don't care who caused it (well I do, but....) lets just figure it out, so we can save more children, and families from having to live in this hell that is autsim, and while we are at it, heal the ones that already have it!

[philistine]

"It's like looking for baby food without DDT. Seems like a no-brainer, but somehow it isn't."

Buy organic fruits and vegetables, and make your own baby food. Hand grinders are cheap and very easy to use.

[AutismNewsBeat]

DDT hasn't been used in the United States since the 70s. So you might want to check the sell by date on the baby food you are buying.

[amdachel]

For the CDC to admit ANYTHING about autism, except their worn-out mantra of "NO LINK TO VACCINES" is incredible. For years as autistic students have filled classrooms and whole schools, this agency has turned a blind eye. They've been counting these kids for over a decade and they still don't know if they're actually more of them. They throw up their hands over the cause and the cure. They've shown no interest in the fact that there's not a single study that can find a comparable autism rate among adults.
This is a huge admission. Will they next attempt to say "A person's genetic profile may make them more or less susceptible to ASDs as a result of ...chemical exposures ...EXCEPT FOR EXPOSURE TO THE TOXINS IN VACCINES"?
Anne Dachel
Media editor: Age of Autism

[sleeplessmom]

Oh David!!! This is incredible!! Thank you so very much for your persistence on this. Every little step is actually a huge one as far as I am concerned. It just gives me a little more confidence that we will find the truth, and hopefully in my lifetime.
Although my son is mainly non-verbal, I know that he thanks you too for your efforts in finding the cause so we can in turn find a cure for our kids and adults on the spectrum.

blindjester.... The one and only year my kids got a flu shot was the worse year ever for illnesses for them. You may want to keep this in mind. I am positive that the flu shot was the reason they were so ill. They got the one that was "so called" thimerisol free. It is hard to find them but it is worth it to call around everywhere in your region for one that has zero thimerisol. You can also have your clinic special order it, they will give you a hard time but push it on them. They more than likely will cave.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

The flu shot is one of the few that STILL contains thimerisol. Where did you find one without? I don't trust my pediatrician, so I do research by the manufacturer myself.


I asked my pediatrician if their vaccines contain thimerisol... she said they did not. Because I don't really trust her.... I space the vaccines out as much as I can. I am many months behind right now.... but I believe my son needs months to recover after a shot.... and allow his immune system to recover..... if it does.

I am going for a shot with him today....and am so scared and anxious.

I am of the belief that the pharma and medical industry has a great interest in getting us sicker... because it assures future profits for them....so I stopped listening to them years ago, and do most of my own research....and then go to the doctor informed and confident.

[jened]

Go girl! you space em out as far as you can-maybe just skip a shot or two or three. Your kid will be the better off for it. I'm so glad that in Canada we aren't as forced to get them (or as bloody many) as you guys are in the States. Your being a good mom- good luck with it all. jen

[sleeplessmom]

http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/11/the-only-thimer.htm
This is the only article I could find on this right now. I swear I found one not too long ago about a flu shot that has zero thimerisol. If someone else out there could help with this, please do so!

[blindjester]

I tried to get my kids flu shots a few weeks ago. They were rolling up their sleeves at a clinic when we found out the shots had thimerosol. We had to leave.

We couldn't find a clinic that was sure their shots didn't have thimerosol.

It's like looking for baby food without DDT. Seems like a no-brainer, but somehow it isn't.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Good for you! I will not get my son a flu shot ever.... becaues a) it's last year's bug, and 2) because the shot still contains thimerisol.

Think about all the people being injected with mercury and formaldahyde every year. How can they possible make them healthier when these chemicals really depress the immune system?

[ESerafina42]

Oh, God - shouldn't we all be DEAD then?

[AutismNewsBeat]

A banana contains 35 mics of formaldehyde. There are less than 2 mics total in any five scheduled childhood vaccines.

Our bodies make formaldehyde. It's naturally occurring and harmless at the concentrations found in our blood. Or in a banana.

Why are you spreading disinformation about vaccines? Don't you realize how destructive that is? How can we take anything else you say seriously?