Summary of Science Demonstrating the Harmful Nature of Mercury in Vaccines
Epidemiological Research
EARLY THIMEROSAL EXPOSURE & NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL OUTCOME AT 7 TO 10 YEARS
New England Journal of Medicine; 9/27/07, vol. 357 no. 13
William W. Thompson, Ph.D., Cristofer Price, Sc.M., Barabara Goodson, Ph.D., David K. Shay, M.D., M.P.H., Pattie Benson, M.P.H., Virginia L. Hinrichsen, M.S., M.P.H, Edwin Lewis, M.P.H., Eileen Eriksen, M.P.H., Paula Ray, M.P.H., S. Michael Marcy, M.D., John Dunn, M.D., M.P.H., Lisa A. Jackson, M.D., M.P.H., Tracy A. Lieu, M.D., M.P.H, Steve Black, M.D., Gerrie Stewart, M.A., Eric S. Weintraub, M.P.H., Robert L. Davis, M.D., M.P.H., and Frank DeStefano, M.D., M.P.H., for the Vaccine Safety Datalink Team
It has been hypothesized that early exposure to thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative used in vaccines and immune globulin preparations, is associated with neuropsychological deficits in children. 1047 children between the ages of 7 and 10 years were enrolled and administered standardized tests assessing 42 neuropsychological outcomes. Exposure to mercury from thimerosal was determined from computerized immunization records, medical records, personal immunization records, and parent interviews. Information on potential confounding factors was obtained from the interviews and medical charts. The association between current neuropsychological performance and exposure to mercury was assessed during the prenatal period, the neonatal period (birth to 28 days), and the first 7 months of life.
Among the 42 neuropsychological outcomes, boys receiving thimerosal were 2 ½ times more likely to have motor and phonic tics, which can be debilitating. Additionally, this study revealed that children receiving thimerosal were more likely to have deficits in attention, behavior control and verbal IQ.
AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ‘AUTISM AS MERCURY POISONING’ HYPOTHESIS
International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine 20 (2008) 135-142
David Austin
Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
Abstract. Where direct experimental research into a causal hypothesis of a disease is impossible due to ethical and practical considerations, epidemiological inference is the accepted route to establishing cause. Therefore, to examine the autism as mercury poisoning hypothesis, this paper reviews the existing scientific literature within the context of established epidemiological criteria and finds that the evidence for a causal relationship is compelling. Exposure to mercury (via vaccines and maternal dental amalgam) in utero and during infant years is confirmed; mercury poisoning is known to cause symptoms consistent with autism; animal modeling supports the link and, critically, mercury levels are higher in both the urine and blood of autistic children than in non-autistic peers. Analogous to epidemiological evidence of the smoking-lung cancer relationship, a mercury-autism relationship is confirmed. The precautionary principle demands that health professionals not take an action if there is suspicion that the action may cause severe or lifelong health effects: it does not require certainty. Therefore, given the severity, devastating lifelong impact and extremely high prevalence of autism, it would be negligent to continue to expose pregnant and nursing mothers and infant children to an amount of avoidable mercury.
NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS, MATERNAL RH-NEGATIVITY, AND RHO(D) IMMUNE GLOBULINS: A MULTI-CENTER ASSESSMENT
Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2008 Apr;29(2):272-80.
Geier DA, Mumper E, Gladfelter B, Coleman L, Geier MR.
The Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, MD
BACKGROUND: Many formulations of Thimerosal (49.55% mercury by weight)-containing Rho(D) immune globulins (TCRs) were routinely administered to Rh-negative mothers in the US prior to 2002. OBJECTIVES: It was hypothesized: (1) if prenatal Rho(D)-immune globulin preparation exposure was a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) then more children with NDs would have Rh-negative mothers compared to controls; and (2) if Thimerosal in the Rho(D)-immune globulin preparations was the ingredient associated with NDs, following the removal of Thimerosal from all manufactured Rho(D)-immune globulin preparations from 2002 in the US the frequency of maternal Rh-negativity among children with NDs should be similar to control populations.
METHODS: Maternal Rh-negativity was assessed at two sites (Clinic A-Lynchburg, VA; Clinic B-Rockville and Baltimore, MD) among 298 Caucasian children with NDs and known Rh-status. As controls, maternal Rh-negativity frequency was determined from 124 Caucasian children (born 1987-2001) without NDs at Clinic A, and the Rh-negativity frequency was determined from 1,021 Caucasian pregnant mothers that presented for prenatal genetic care at Clinic B (1980-1989). Additionally, 22 Caucasian patients with NDs born from 2002 onwards (Clinics A and B) were assessed for maternal Rh-negativity.
RESULTS: There were significant and comparable increases in maternal Rh-negativity among children with NDs (Clinic: A=24.2%), autism spectrum disorders (Clinic: A=28.3%, B=25.3%), and attention-deficit-disorder/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder (Clinic: A=26.3%) observed at both clinics in comparison to both control groups (Clinic: A=12.1%, B=13.9%) employed. Children with NDs born post-2001 had a maternal Rh-negativity frequency (13.6%) similar to controls.
CONCLUSION: This study associates TCR exposure with some NDs in children.
THIMEROSAL EXPOSURE IN INFANTS AND NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: AN ASSESSMENT OF COMPUTERIZED MEDICAL RECORDS IN THE VACCINE SAFETY DATALINK
J Neurol Sci. 2008 Aug 15;271(1-2):110-8. Epub 2008 May 15.
Young HA, Geier DA, Geier MR.
The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, United States.
The study evaluated possible associations between neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) and exposure to mercury (Hg) from Thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs) by examining the automated Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD). A total of 278,624 subjects were identified in birth cohorts from 1990-1996 that had received their first oral polio vaccination by 3 months of age in the VSD. The birth cohort prevalence rate of medically diagnosed International Classification of Disease, 9th revision (ICD-9) specific NDs and control outcomes were calculated. Exposures to Hg from TCVs were calculated by birth cohort for specific exposure windows from birth-7 months and birth-13 months of age. Poisson regression analysis was used to model the association between the prevalence of outcomes and Hg doses from TCVs. Consistent significantly increased rate ratios were observed for autism, autism spectrum disorders, tics, attention deficit disorder, and emotional disturbances with Hg exposure from TCVs. By contrast, none of the control outcomes had significantly increased rate ratios with Hg exposure from TCVs. Routine childhood vaccination should be continued to help reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases, but efforts should be undertaken to remove Hg from vaccines. Additional studies should be conducted to further evaluate the relationship between Hg exposure and NDs.
OCKHAM'S RAZOR AND AUTISM: THE CASE FOR DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROTOXINS CONTRIBUTING TO A DISEASE OF NEURODEVELOPMENT
Desoto MC.
Department of Psychology, University of Northern Iowa, Baker Hall, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0505, United States.
Neurotoxicology. 2009 May;30(3):331-7. Epub 2009 Mar 21.
Much professional awareness regarding environmental triggers for ASD has been narrowly focused on a single possible exposure pathway (vaccines). Meanwhile, empirical support for environmental toxins as a broad class has been quietly accumulating. Recent research has shown that persons with ASD have comparatively higher levels of various toxins and are more likely to have reduced detoxifying ability, and, that rates of ASD may be higher in areas with greater pollution. This report documents that within the state with the highest rate of ASD, the rate is higher for schools near EPA Superfund sites, t (332)=3.84, p=.0001. The reasons for the rise in diagnoses likely involve genetically predisposed individuals being exposed to various environmental triggers at higher rates than in past generations.
HEPATITIS B VACCINE AND THE RISK OF CNS INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATION IN CHILDHOOD
Yann Mikaeloff, MD, PhD, Guillaume Caridade, MSc, Samy Suissa, PhD and Marc Tardieu, MD, PhD
From Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Service de Neurologie Pédiatrique and Centre de Référence National des Maladies Inflammatoires du Cerveau de l’Enfant (Y.M., G.C., M.T.), INSERM U822 (Y.M., G.C.), and INSERM U802 (M.T.), Hôpital Bicêtre, Université Paris Sud 11, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France; and Division of Clinical Epidemiology (S.S.), McGill University and Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Canada.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Yann Mikaeloff, Service de Neurologie Pédiatrique, CHU Bicêtre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 78 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 94275 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre Cedex, France yann.mikaeloff@bct.aphp.fr
NEUROLOGY 2009;72:873-880
Background: The risk of CNS inflammatory demyelination associated with hepatitis B (HB) vaccine is debated, with studies reporting conflicting findings.
Methods: We conducted a population-based case-control study where the cases were children with a first episode of acute CNS inflammatory demyelination in France (1994–2003). Each case was matched on age, sex, and geographic location to up to 12 controls, randomly selected from the general population. Information on vaccinations was confirmed by a copy of the vaccination certificate. The odds ratios (ORs) of CNS inflammatory demyelination associated with HB vaccination were estimated using conditional logistic regression.
Results: The rates of HB vaccination in the 3 years before the index date were 24.4% for the 349 cases and 27.3% for their 2,941 matched controls. HB vaccination within this period was not associated with an increase in the rate of CNS inflammatory demyelination (adjusted OR, 0.74; 0.54–1.02), neither >3 years nor as a function of the number of injections or brand type. When the analysis was restricted to subjects compliant with vaccination, HB vaccine exposure >3 years before index date was associated with an increased trend (1.50; 0.93–2.43), essentially from the Engerix B vaccine (1.74; 1.03–2.95). The OR was particularly elevated for this brand in patients with confirmed multiple sclerosis (2.77; 1.23–6.24).
Conclusions: Hepatitis B vaccination does not generally increase the risk of CNS inflammatory demyelination in childhood. However, the Engerix B vaccine appears to increase this risk, particularly for confirmed multiple sclerosis, in the longer term. Our results require confirmation in future studies.
A REVIEW OF EVENTS THAT EXPOSE CHILDREN TO ELEMENTAL MERCURY IN THE UNITED STATES
Robin Lee,1 Dan Middleton,1 Kathleen Caldwell,2 Steve Dearwent,1 Steven Jones,1 Brian Lewis,3 Carolyn Monteilh,4 Mary Ellen Mortensen,2 Richard Nickle,1 Kenneth Orloff,1 Meghan Reger,1 John Risher,1 Helen Schurz Rogers,2 and Michelle Watters1
1Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; 2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; 3EDS, an HP Company, Plano, Texas, USA; 4TKC Integration Services, LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Environ Health Perspect 117:871–878 (2009).
Abstract
Objective: Concern for children exposed to elemental mercury prompted the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review the sources of elemental mercury exposures in children, describe the location and proportion of children affected, and make recommendations on how to prevent these exposures. In this review, we excluded mercury exposures from coal-burning facilities, dental amalgams, fish consumption, medical waste incinerators, or thimerosal-containing vaccines.
Data Sources: We reviewed federal, state, and regional programs with information on mercury releases along with published reports of children exposed to elemental mercury in the United States. We selected all mercury-related events that were documented to expose (or potentially expose) children. We then explored event characteristics (i.e., the exposure source, location) .
Data Synthesis: Primary exposure locations were at home, at school, and at other locations such as industrial property not adequately remediated or medical facilities. Exposure to small spills from broken thermometers was the most common scenario ; however, reports of such exposures are declining.
Discussion and Conclusions: Childhood exposures to elemental mercury often result from inappropriate handling or cleanup of spilled mercury. The information reviewed suggests that most releases do not lead to demonstrable harm if the exposure period is short and the mercury is properly cleaned up.
Recommendations: Primary prevention should include health education and policy initiatives. For larger spills, better coordination among existing surveillance systems would assist in understanding the risk factors and in developing effective prevention efforts.
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