New Study: Mercury, Other Toxins May Cause Autism

A new study was just published on the damaging effects of methylmercury on unborn children. It warns that mercury pollution and other environmental toxins may have caused neurological harm -- including ADHD and autism -- in up to 1-in-10 kids in the world, according to the website Science Daily.

The study, published in the International Journal of Environment and Health, says that the methyl form of organic mercury (found in fish) can harm fetuses at levels that, until now, have been considered to be completely safe.

The finding "suggests that we should take a precautionary approach to this and similar compounds to protect unborn children from irreversible brain damage," Science Daily writes.

"The researchers say that neurodevelopmental disorders of possible environmental origin affect between 5% and 10% of babies born worldwide, leading to dyslexia, mental retardation, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, cerebral palsy, and autism," according to the website.

"Researchers believe that the medical world has underestimated the risk of brain damage associated with exposure to this compound (methylmercury) as well as numerous others," it adds.

The researchers also found that even very small amounts of methylmercury can cause damage to the developing brain, and to a much greater degree than it would in adult brains.

One study author, Philippe Grandjean, of the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston, and the University of Southern Denmark in Odense, explained how methylmercury is moved rapidly around to many parts of the body, including the brain. After mercury reaches the brain, "Serious problems will ensue if important developmental processes are blocked, as there will be only one chance for the brain to develop," the website said.

For almost four years, I have been reporting on the possible connection between mercury (in the environment, and in vaccines) and autism -- often despite deep opposition and even ridicule from some quarters.

My research has focused largely on ethylmercury -- the other organic form of the metal, which is used in the vaccine preservative thimerosal. There is some evidence to link it to many neurodevelopmental disorders.

Meanwhile, at least three peer-reviewed studies (including one funded by the CDC and published in an NIH journal) have shown an association between inorganic mercury (i.e., from coal) and an increased risk for autism. And recent Federal data show that the percentage of Americans with detectable levels of inorganic mercury in their blood increased eightfold between 2000 and 2004.

And now, we see a published study on a possible association between autism and methylmercury.

My point is, if one type of mercury can produce autism and ADHD, then why couldn't all three: ethyl, methyl and inorganic? (And now watch the Pharma People blame the Fish People who will blame the Coal People).

A University of Washington study compared injected ethylmercury with ingested methylmercury in infant primates. Researchers found that the vaccine form of organic mercury (ethyl), quickly began converting into inorganic mercury once it crossed the blood-brain barrier, whereas the fish form (methyl) tended to wash in and out of the brain before it could convert to inorganic mercury.

In fact, the vaccine-exposed monkeys had two-to-four times more inorganic mercury deposited in their brains as did the "fish-exposed" monkeys.

Why is this important? Because inorganic mercury, once it gets inside the brain, tends to stay trapped there for decades. Moreover, the same University of Washington team previously showed that inorganic mercury is deposited in certain brain cells, called glial cells. It activates these cells, sometimes after a delayed period of up to six months.

Meanwhile, autopsy studies on autistic brains done at Harvard and Johns Hopkins clearly showed neuro-inflammation associated with activation of glial cells (an avenue for further research).

Many children were exposed to thimerosal prenatally (in the form of Rho-D immune globulin and/or the flu shot), and also at birth, two months, four months, six months, a year, and so on -- during a critical and vulnerable period of the brain's development (which does continue after birth).

If small amounts of methylmercury from fish can cause permanent brain damage in unborn children, and if ethylmercury from vaccines has two-to-four times more potential for causing brain damage in primates, then isn't time to get rid of thimerosal (in flu shots, in adult vaccines, and in the millions of childhood doses shipped overseas each year?)

"Until there is enough evidence to rule out effects of certain chemicals on the developing nervous system," Grandjean and the other study authors concluded, "a cautious approach would involve strict regulation of suspected developmental neurotoxicants and prudent counseling of expectant mothers regarding exposures to untested substances."

Is thimerosal a "suspected neurotoxicant?"

Here is what one manufacturer has to say:

This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Another company says that chronic or acute exposure can cause, "constriction of visual fields, impaired hearing, emotional disturbances, spastic movements, incontinence, groaning, shouting, dizziness," and other problems sometimes found in autism.

Is mercury-containing flu shot an "untested substance?" Here's what the label for Fluvirin says:

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Influenza Virus Vaccine (FLUVIRIN®). It is also not known whether Influenza Virus Vaccine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Influenza Virus Vaccine should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

No wonder parents are confused about vaccines today. On one hand, people at Harvard and elsewhere are calling for "strict regulation" of suspected neurotoxins, while mercury-containing flu shots are being urged upon pregnant women and infant children at the mall (and now the voting booth).

If mercury, in any of its forms, causes autism, then we should be keeping it as far away from women and children as humanly possible, in my opinion.

Comments

[Josephius]

David,

It's nice you read the layman's version of the paper, published on ScienceDaily, but you need to read the actual study (and as a someone trying to make a point, you really should have done that first. Stick with primary sources!). The authors' DID NOT report a mechanism associated with methylmercury ingestion that leads to autism. What they suggest, in a single sentence in the entire study, is that neurological disorders may ensue from fetal exposure to excessive levels of methylmercury, including a number of purported disorders, including autism. Again, this research does nothing to link autism with methylmercury. The authors are only listing neurological disorders that have been suggested by others. That's it!

So, as usual, you've found more 'evidence' to support your position, rather than develop a theory based on the totality of information. This is NOT science.

[Josephius]

Also, please, please, please re-read the Burbacher paper. You mis-interpret the results over and over. The researchers did not design the experiments to determine that ethylmercury was metabolized into inorganic mercury after passing through the blood brain barrier. There was no use of radiolabeled mercury atoms used, and they did not ascertain where they originated from. And based on several other studies involving monkeys and humans, the range in mercury levels found in measured samples is extensive (varies extensively between subjects) regardless of test conditions (fish consumption in one group, proximity to mercury emissions in a group, immunization schedule, and others). Because the Burbacher group was limited to a small number of test subjects (41 monkeys divided among varying experimental and control conditions) variability was to be expected. And since the experimental design, again, did not include the proper controls, the fact that there is "correlation" suggested in the discussion section should be taken with a grain of salt. Certainly, the scientific community is not at all impressed with the work or their conclusions; a fact that is evident by the fact that no other groups have been compelled to validate and/or expand upon their earlier work.

[typicalpol]

Hey good news!

Bush wants to relax regulations on pollutants from the energy companies before leaving office.

[nowGo4ward]

The long list of unknowns about and even longer list of deliverately forgotten or buried experience with mercury exposure is very disturbing.

Thank you, Mr. Kirby, for increasing public awareness on this issue.

[TShore]

People worried about exposure to methylmercury by eating fish can estimate their dose by entering weight, fish choice and serving size into the calculator at www.gotmercury.mobi. Eating mercury-laden fish is the number one way that people get methylmercury into their bodies. The affects of mercury poisoning on fetuses and children is chilling. And even more so that albacore, sushi tuns and light tuna that contain mercury is the number two fish consumed in the U.S. after shrimp. Not sure how seafood lobbyists can sleep at night saying that mothers and children should eat lots of fish because the so-called benefits outweigh the risks of mercury exposure.

[Josephius]

There are numerous benefits to eating fish during pregnancy.

Biological concepts 101: listen up class!

Not all species fish have high methylmercury levels. I'll say it again. Not all fish. Keystone, top-tier predators do. Excessive methylmercury stored in tissues occurs through a process called bioaccumulation. As little fish are ingested by medium fish, and they by bigger fish, it is the top-teir predatory fish that have accumulate substances, including (but not limited to) methylmercury.

Fish like tuna, shark, tile fish, and swordfish will have high levels of methylmercury in them.

Others, for example, the salmonid family, do not. These include salmon and trout. Other fresh water fish are OK too.

All fish are not created equal (just ask the fish that fact). Do not generalize and erroneously deprive your children of very beneficial nutrients.

Class dismissed.

[Josephius]

I wonder why cultures who's' diets are based on fish do not have higher rates of autism. Minamata...the Faroe Islands....Asian and Mediterranean cultures. Huh, seems to be a little bit of a disconnect here.

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/faroe605/mercury.html

Anyone care to explain this one?

[usna73]

David, I'm glad to see you publish the statement;This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.

The origin of this warning is in fact from Sigma Aldrich. In fact, The Eli Lilly Comapny repeatedly ignored these warnings when making vaccines which contained the preservative Thimerosal, the underlying compound chemicals having been purchased from Sigma Aldrich.

My family sued these parties in U.S District Court pending the outcome in the U.S Court of Federal Claims( Omnibus Autism Hearings) for mercury poisoning our son.

Regardless of this outcome, I can hardly wait to see the finger pointing when the State of California finally sues the Big Pharma for the wanton and malicious behavior which resulted in unimaginable horror and pain, not to mention unfathomable costs the taxpayer will endure to pay for caring for the ranks of profoundly autistic adults.

I for one will never rest until justice is done aginst the money hungry perpetrators of this crime.

[ObjectiveAutismDad]

David, Thanks again for keeping us informed. And for adding your insight into this very troubling situation.

My son was diagnosed as PDD-NOS when he was 2 years old. That was in 1993. In 2001 we took him to Dr. Amy Holmes and got blood, stool and urine samples that showed very high levels of mercury and arsenic. We don't live near a coal plant and he never ate much fish. But he did get the full load of thimerosal laced vaccines and his mother did have a fair number of mercury fillings. Seven years later, and now with a full diagnosis of autism, we're still trying to get it out to little avail. One day soon enough people will be screaming about this issue that things will start to change. I hope we're seeing the beginnings of that.

[carpeE6]

I was studying this 20 years ago at the UNC at Wilmington. My undergraduate research and writings focused on the effects of red food coloring consumed by the expectant mother and possible damage to the unborn child. As a Special Education teacher for the past 20 years, I work with these children that have succumb to the environmental and chemcial ill effects of our world. I spoke to a father several years ago, battling a court case regarding the connection of vaccines and autism---his child never came home the same after receiving a vaccine.

Thank you for this article, your concerns and consideration is greatly appreciated by me. I love my students and can't think of being any other place, but in the classroom with them every day.

[foe2Hg]

BlackJAC-

You are missing the point--or maybe that is your point here--to muddy the waters?

Mercury in all its forms is toxic--read it here:

"Mercury in all of its forms is toxic to the fetus and children, and efforts should be made to reduce exposure to the extent possible to pregnant women and children as well as the general population." PEDIATRICS Vol. 108 No 1 July 2001, pp 197-205.

This is from AAP not EPA, though the health effects of mercury are discussed by both organizations. The increase in autism correlates with the increase in thimerosal. Unfortunately, mercury in all its forms has not been reduced and it really needs to be.


Teresa

[BlackJAC]

You are missing MY point: during this whole debacle, people were jumping to the conclusion that the cause of the problem was *vaccines,* period, through the logical fallacy of Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc ("Incident A happened after Action B, therefore Action B caused Incident A"). Nobody wanted to do any real investigation into it, preferring self-righteous finger-pointing and hysterical conspiracy theories under the mistaken notion that "creating awareness" is the same thing as "finding a viable solution." Credibility was measured not in academic degrees conferred but decibels achieved in shouting down anybody who dared suggest it was something other than vaccines; nude models were considered experts on the subject and not neurologists as sound bites became more important than science.

Had it not been for the influences of AMERICAN IDOL and Fox News on society, we could've had this info months ago and be closer to a cure.

[ObjectiveAutismDad]

"Nobody wanted to do any real investigation into it..."??? Who is "nobody"? The AAP and the CDC? I'll tell you that the parents of children with autism aren't "nobody". We've been clamoring for someone, anyone to look at our children. BTW, Dr. Poling is a neurologist.

[foe2Hg]

BlackJAC -

Your response here says a lot. Try talking science and without the sarcasm and maybe a real dialogue could ensue. Saying things like "nude models were considered experts on the subject " is uncalled for and certainly not true.

Vaccines are not off the table. They either have thimerosal or subsequently add to the issue of immune dysfunction--ie, live viruses, bacteria, aluminum.

Educate yourself :

http://www.safeminds.org/
http://www.generationrescue.org/studies.html

[BlackJAC]

So it's not the "filthy liquids" forced upon us by Big Pharmaceutical simply to line their pockets like we've been told all this time by Jenny McCarthy? Amazing what happens when you stop posturing for the cameras and start working the problem...

[ObjectiveAutismDad]

Jeez, next time read the article in full. And maybe take some basic logic classes: because A implies B does NOT mean that C does not imply B.

[BlackJAC]

I was saying "it's mercury poisoining" long before. Strangely enough, my posts on the subject kept getting deleted a la Galileo.