News and Updates
SAFEMINDS ADVOCATES FOR AN ENERGY POLICY THAT HAS MERCURY-REDUCTION AS ITS PRIMARY GOAL
Scott Laster, SafeMinds Environmental Committee
Coal naturally contains high amounts of mercury. When coal is burned in coal power plants to produce electricity, it creates two sources of mercury exposure: a) mercury emissions into the atmosphere and b) mercury in coal-combustible by-products (CCBs) such as fly ash
Recent research has implicated air-borne mercury as a contributing factor to autism. A 2008 Texas study found a significant increase in risk of autism diagnosis related to proximity to coal plants or other industrial mercury emitters (see Proximity to Point Sources of Environmental Mercury Release as a Predictor of Autism Prevalence). A 2006 San Francisco study found an association between autism and the amount of mercury in the air. See the SafeMinds Environmental Autism and Mercury flyer for more details.
“Clean Coal” will never be clean. Existing technologies can reduce airborne mercury emissions up to 90%. However, these technologies will not eliminate mercury air pollution or the concentrated mercury present in Coal-Combustion By-Products (CCBs) produced by coal-fired power plants. There is currently more regulatory focus on reducing mercury emissions. Whereas it is crucial to reduce mercury emissions with the best-available technology, technology does not provide a means to remove 100% of the mercury from emissions. Further, there is a concern that the technology used to reduce mercury emissions may result in an increased amount of mercury in Coal Combusion By-products (CCB’s, a.k.a. CCW “Coal Combustion Waste). And as the recent coal-ash spill in Tennessee demonstrated, CCB’s are a large and lightly-regulated source of exposure to mercury and other toxic chemicals.
Long-term solutions are needed to shift energy production away from coal-fired power plants to cleaner non-mercury polluting technologies, like solar and wind technology. SafeMinds has written its policy statement for a mercury-free energy policy (download HERE) that calls for the elimination of coal-based energy generation via the use of natural-gas energy generation in the near-term (due to its much lower mercury content), with a long-term transition to non-mercury energy generation technologies such as solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, nuclear, and hydroelectric.
GMC Rules Against Wakefield et al., Yet Medical Establishment Agrees Further Study of GI Disease in Children with Autism Is Top Priority
JANUARY 27, 2010 SAFEMINDS PRESS RELEASE
Today the General Medical Council (GMC), the regulatory body for doctors in the UK, made findings of fact in connection to a complaint filed by journalist Brian Deer. The complaint alleged conflicts of interest and unethical research against Dr. Andrew Wakefield, Dr. John Walker-Smith and Dr. Simon Murch relating to their 1998 case series published in the Lancet. As a result of these findings, the GMC will now determine the severity and appropriate sanctions, which could go so far as the loss of their licenses to practice medicine. Download full release here.
Autism - CDC Avoids the Elephant in the Room
A study released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that autism prevalence has increased a staggering 57% from the 1994 rate of 1 in 150 to 1 in 110 for children born in 1998. SafeMinds is extremely dissatisfied with CDC’s lack of commitment to
researching environmental causes and the timing of their announcement. Download full release.
CDC Study Expected to Announce 1 in 100 Autism Rate—A Startling 50% Jump in Just Two Years. Evidence Points to an Environmental Trigger. SafeMinds calls for more targeted environmental research and vaccine safety studies to begin immediately.
DECEMBER 16, 2009 SAFEMINDS PRESS RELEASE
Atlanta, GA – Researchers report that autism has risen to an epidemic rate of 1 in 100 children in a study to be released on Friday by the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network office of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), This rate represents a 50% increase between the two birth cohort years of 1994 and 1996 and mirrors a recent study released by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which found a rate of 1 in 91 children, 1 in 58 boys. Read more.
Is Your Baby Crawling On Carpet Made Of Coal Ash?
Deirdre Imus (SafeMinds Board Member), Huffington Post, 11/23/09
People are getting fed up with the broken promises made by bureaucrats who say one thing and do another. They consistently use our children and their "future" as props to advance their agendas on a variety of issues but are equally consistent in doing "too little, too late" when it comes to taking the necessary actions that will actually give those children a healthy future. Read more.
Confusion Ensues as IACC Adopts Vaccine Research Objective
By theresa wrangham
As someone who regularly listens and/or attends meetings of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), I was stunned and confused by the statements made by IACC public member Alison Singer in the Autism Science Foundation’s recent press release regarding vaccine research adopted by the IACC on November 10th. Read more.
IACC Continues to Debate Vaccine Objectives in Updating Autism Research Agenda
by theresa wrangham
The October 23rd meeting of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) produced little in the way of progress in updating the IACC's strategic plan for autism research. This was largely due to lack of direction provided to IACC scientific panel chairs and the 2 hours identified in the agenda to complete the task. Read more.
Rat On a Hot Tin Plate: New Evidence Shows Ethyl Mercury from Vaccines Causes Abnormal Brain Development in Infants
By SafeMinds Board Member Mark Blaxill for Age of Autism
As we enter the heart of flu season, industry pressure to rehabilitate thimerosal (the ethyl mercury-based vaccine preservative) has been escalating. Just last week, The Wall Street Journal ran an opinion piece blaming swine flu vaccine shortages on the demand for mercury-free formulations. Read more.
Counting on Autism Society of America to Make Touchdown on Vaccine Safety Research at IACC
By Theresa Wrangham - AGE OF AUTISM - SEPTEMBER 22, 2009
As the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) prepares for their upcoming Scientific Workshops at the end of the month to inform the updating of their Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorders Research, a series of conference calls to prepare for the workshops are being conducted and are open to the public on a listen only basis. Read full article.
Read 9/24/09 update following IACC Panel Meeting.
The Wise Monkeys – What Federal Agencies Share with Ancient Proverb
by theresa wrangham - september 24, 2009
As I shared earlier on Age of Autism the results of the CDC's stakeholder meeting for the novel H1N1 “swine” flu vaccine and Monday's media advisory meeting, I am reminded of the Three Wise Monkeys. Read more.
10 Sources of Mercury You Can Do Something About - Vaccines
By Katie Weisman for the SafeMinds Environmental Committee - september 24, 2009
Part 1: “I thought they took the mercury out of vaccines.” Unfortunately, too many people are unaware that many vaccines, including some for children, still contain significant amount of thimerosal. Thimerosal is the ethyl-mercury preservative that has been used in vaccines since the 1930’s; thimerosal has been used so long that it predates the FDA and, in fact, has never been properly safety tested as a result. Read more.
Hazardous Injections Rally
Tired of all the lies about how safe the Flu Shot is? Tired of the lies of its toxicity? Like to play dress up? Then we have just the rally for you! Moms Against Mercury, National Autism Association, and SafeMinds, invite you to join us on Wednesday, October 21st, in Atlanta, GA, at the CDC. Read more.
Critical Safety Questions Remain Unanswered as CDC Embarks on Final Public Meeting on Swine Flu Vaccine
safeminds press release - September 8, 2009
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will host an H1N1 stakeholder’s meeting at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C. from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the 10th and finishing 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the 11th. Results from the previous 10 citizen/public engagements and from online dialogues will be reported at this meeting and discussion will focus on how pandemic swine flu vaccine will be made available to the public. Read more.
Upcoming Scientific Workshops for National Autism Research Agenda
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) will be holding a two-day Scientific Workshop on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 and Thursday October 1, 2009 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Bethesda, MD. Read more.
Environmental Research Gets Short-Shrift in National Autism Research Agenda
By Theresa Wrangham
The public comment period concerning the update of the National Institutes of Health Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee’s (IACC) strategic plan for autism research closed last week. Now, additional information on the upcoming science workshop has been revealed. Read more.
10 Sources of Mercury You Can Do Something About:
Dental Amalgams
By Katie Weisman for the SafeMinds Environmental Committee
According to the EPA, dentists in the United States use approximately 34 tons of mercury per year. Silver fillings aren’t primarily silver and never have been. Since they were developed in France in the early 1800’s, their main ingredient has always been mercury. Today’s amalgam typically consists of about 50% elemental mercury alloyed with varying amounts of silver, tin, copper and zinc. Amalgam releases mercury vapor continuously throughout the time it is in your mouth. The amount of vapor released is increased by chewing (when the fillings are located on the occlusal surfaces), by tooth brushing and by consuming hot liquids. Approximately 80% of the mercury vapor will be absorbed into your body where it will deposit itself in your nervous system, kidneys, liver and thyroid gland. Read more.
CDC Sponsors Public Engagement on Swine Flu Vaccine, Science Deemed Secondary to Policy Decisions and Questions Remain
By Theresa Wrangham
As the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) holds the first round in a series of public engagement sessions designed to promote public discussion on how pandemic swine flu vaccine will be made available to the public, many questions remain unanswered in terms of the safety of the vaccine being developed. Read more.
"Can You Hear Me Now?!"
What will it take for Dr. Tom Insel to hear the message coming at him from all directions? It's time for real vaccine safety research.
By Katie Wright
I first read the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) member roster and thought why does the National Institute for Deafness have a seat on an autism research committee? Then again, maybe there was common ground! Maybe Dr. James Battey of the National Institute on Deafness should take over IACC entirely because he is an expert on the hearing impaired, a condition that seems to affect almost every member of IACC. Read more.
10 Sources of Mercury You Can Do Something About
Fish Consumption
By Katie Weisman for the SafeMinds Environmental Committee
Most of us know that fish can contain mercury and that eating too much of certain species can harm your health. But, do you know how to eat fish safely to protect yourself and your family? Read more.
IACC DEAF ON CRITICAL VACCINE RESEARCH AS REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS ISSUED
By Theresa Wrangham
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) issued a Request for Information (RFI) as they begin to Update their Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Research, while failing at their recent joint meeting with the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) on July 15th to take on statutorily required autism research. Read more.
Are Federal Research Dollars Being Spent Wisely?
From Autism file magazine by Safeminds board members theresa wrangham and vicky debold
Autism…it is everywhere. Almost everyone knows an affected person, and if they don’t, they know about it because of media coverage and the fact that we now have a president who has made autism research a priority. Formerly, autism was a condition that rarely occurred; the statistic was 1 in 10,000 individuals. More recent statistics proclaim that 1 child in 150 is affected. The rise constitutes a national health emergency requiring commensurate research funds to bring much needed answers and support to affected individuals and their families. The heightened awareness resulting from autism’s rise brings with it observations and questions relating to accountability regarding the infusion of millions into autism research. Download full article.
Action Alert: Make Sure Your Representatives Attend
July 10, 2009 Rep. Maloney and Rep. Smith to Host a Second Autism Congressional Briefing an Update on Federal Autism Research and Treatment Initiatives
David Kirby, investigative journalist and author of The New York Times bestseller Evidence of Harm, Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic – A Medical Controversy, will inform Members and their staff about developments regarding environmental factors in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and the “Seven Studies to Watch” – Plus, changing ASD demographics post-thimerosal reduction. Mr. Kirby will also be joined by Mark Blaxill, SafeMinds Director, Editor-at-Large of Age of Autism, and co-author of a forthcoming book on the roots of the autism epidemic, who will address the policy and public health implications of the autism crisis.
Read more.
Dr. Jill James Publishes on Research Funded by SafeMinds
Dr. Jill James of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences recently published an article entitled Cellular and mitochondrial glutathione redox imbalance in lymphoblastoid cells derived from children with autism in the FASEB Journal. This project was funded by SafeMinds.
Click here to read the article abstract.
Latest Autism Gene Findings . . . Not Much
By SafeMinds Board Member Mark Blaxill
There’s a familiar rhythm to the most prominent autism gene hunt publications. Their authors hype their newly minted study aggressively in the media. The prestigious journals that publish them lend their imprimatur to press releases that say, “this study is a big deal.” The findings sound impressive in the press release (and the authors get plenty of time on camera and in leading newspapers to tell us how truly impressive they are). Read more.
Popular Science Fiction is Little Comfort to Parents of Children with Autism
By SafeMinds President Theresa WranghamIt was very exciting to see autism take the spotlight on Larry King Live earlier this month. The offering of science fiction by Dr. Fisher and Dr. Wiznitzer in stating that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is listening to the concerns of families of children with autism; implying that autism screening, as recommended by AAP, is happening as early as 18 months; that there is value in having a child diagnosed with autism due to services and money that follow the diagnosis; there is no autism-vaccine link; and everyone’s favorite - autism is a highly genetic disorder is wearing a little thin. Read more.
SafeMinds Joins Rally Against Clean Coal
SafeMinds joined activists at Heron Pond Natural Area in North Denver, Colorado on April 1st, Fossil Fools Day, to protest the opening of Xcel Energy's Comanche 3 coal-fired power plant. Groups represented at the rally were WildEarth Guardians, Greenpeace, Sierra Club, SafeMinds, and Physicians for Social Responsibility. Read more.
Dowload SafeMinds Clean Coal Flyer
Revelations in Vaccine Safety
IOM, IACC & NVAC Meetings Expose Depth of Crisis of Faith in Nation’s Immunization Plan
By SafeMinds President Theresa WranghamWhat is the intersection on meetings held by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) and the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) last week? In short, vaccine safety and a whirlwind of activity. Read more.
Federal Vaccine Court Rules Against Autism Families.
Government’s Refusal to Fund Sound Science Stacks Deck Against Vaccine-Injured Children.
One more reason to distrust the government’s vaccine program, says SafeMinds
Autism advocacy organization SafeMinds regrets today’s ruling by the U.S Court of Federal Claims against three families who argued that vaccination contributed to their child’s autism. Read more.
Keeping Our Kids SafeBy SafeMinds Board Member Deirdre Imus from March 7, 2009 Huffington Post
If you are like most Americans, you have an expectation that our federal regulatory agencies will protect us from unsafe chemicals found in the products we use everyday. We expect our children's toys, baby bottles and drinking water to be safe. Read more.
SafeMinds Sponsors and Attends 25th International Neurotoxicology Conference
NIH & AUTISM: A Case Study in Barriers to Progress in Environmental Medicine
Medical practice for chronic illnesses has been slow to integrate the etiological principle that most human disease has an environmental component. Chronic disease medicine emphasizes diagnosis, intervention after symptom onset, and finding "disease genes." The environmental health disciplines emphasize pollution reduction and environmental remediation. Neglect of environmental considerations in healthcare for specific diseases has negative consequences by perpetuating preventable conditions and hindering development of effective treatments.
Read paper or download poster.
On Vaccinations: Consider the Source and Follow the Money
SafeMinds Board Member Deirdre Imus in The Huffington Post
Last month, Dr. Paul Offit, Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the vaccine industry's most outspoken activist, warned Huffington Post readers not to "risk going unvaccinated." Read more.
Toxic: What is Making American Children Sick?
WCBV-TV Boston features SafeMinds Board Member Mark Blaxill.
What is making American children sick? Cancer rates are climbing. Cases of autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and asthma are through the roof. Is the answer all around us – in the food our kids eat, the air they breathe, and the clothes they wear? Tonight, Chronicle investigates a provocative thesis about the American lifestyle and its effects on children's health. Watch video.
New Clues to Who Is Susceptible to Autism Via Vaccine Injury
December 20, 2008
by SafeMinds Board Member Scott Laster
A study titled "Familial Risk Factors in Autism" by Brimacombe et al was published in 2007 in the Journal of Child Neurology. The results of this study may have implications on the current debate over philosophical exemptions in New Jersey, and may yield important clues on how future public health policy might identify sub-groups that are susceptible to vaccine injury. Read more.
Mercury in toys, cameras, watches and other common household items
From the SafeMinds Environmental Committee
In November of 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a web site listing thousands of common household items that contain mercury, including popular infant toys, digital cameras, watches, DVD players and camcorders. Acknowledging the danger of mercury, both for the individual handling the product and the greater environmental toxic load, the EPA site recommends the use of mercury-free alternatives. Read more.
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