Mercury in vaccines: why it CAN NOT cause autism
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Remember Julie Fletcher`s post about the link between autism and mercury? Here `s a study that supports her urge to “get over it.”
Thimerosal is a mercury-containing substance used as a preservative for vaccines. It was feared that vaccination can actually cause mercury-related disorders including autism. That`s why since 1999, thimerosal was banned from childhood vaccines in the US.
This study followed up 216 babies in Argentina, where thimerosal is still being used in kids. Their results show that children`s bodies actually get rid of ethyl mercury – the kind found in thimerosal – very fast. The half-life– the time it takes for the body to get rid of 50% of the substance – of ethyl mercury in these kids is 3.7 days. The half-life of the dreaded methyl mercury that`s found in contaminated fish is 44 days – about 12 times more! The fast elimination rate of mercury from thimerosal prevents the build up of this substance and makes it unlikely to cause autism. In fact, the incidence of autism has continued to increase despite removal of thimerosal from children`s vaccines.
These results are actually good news because there is no need to change the manufacturing process of childhood vaccines, thus making them cheaply available to children in less developed countries.
Sources:
6 Responses to “Mercury in vaccines: why it CAN NOT cause autism”
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- Babies Online Blog » Blog Archive » April 2 was World Autism Day
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Anne S says...
First of all, it should be a crime to inject mercury, those poor kids in Argentina, what a sin.
Secondly, the study just released did not explain where all the mercury went. The half-life shows that ethyl mercury leaves the blood faster then methyl. But they did not account for all the mercury. This study does not show that the mercury is excreted.
We however can take a guess where the mercury goes, thanks to Burbacher’s previous study which shows that more ethyl mercury accumulates in the brain then methyl mercury.
Julie Fletcher says...
Thanks for the link, Science-Mom.
in reply to the mercury debate: More mercury is found in certain seafood than in vaccines. While we can elimintate these seafood items from our diet without much impact, eliminating vaccines is opening a door to invite epidemics of more resistant disease to future generations.
I welcome a debate! I think this would be very enlightening to all who participate, for us to learn the views from all sides! Can we discuss?
Mick says...
If you are referring to the Feb. 8th study that was released exonerating ethyl mercury of any possible link to Autism and ASD’s, you really need to read the actual study. The study measured ethyl mercury clearance from fecal matter, urine and blood. This was a good start with regards to detecting how ethyl mercury is eliminated from the body. Most, if not all, toxins are removed in the same manner. Funny thing about mercury; it crosses the blood brain barrier and deposits into brain tissue (as well as the aluminum adjuvent). The study did not take this into account, nor measure hair samples which would have been critical in truly determining if ethyl mercury is linked to ASD’s. In research that has measured hair samples the findings reveal that autistic children have a much lower rate of elimination with respect to hair samples i.e. more mercury in their brain tissue. Children who are not autistic had much greater levels of ethyl mercury elimination from their respective hair samples. Read the actual study before you report your agenda.
Mick says...
Evidence that ethyl mercury accumulates in brain tissue and that blood Hg levels may not be a good indicator of risk of adverse effects.
Comparison of Blood and Brain Mercury Levels in Infant Monkeys Exposed to Methylmercury or Vaccines Containing Thimerosal
Thomas M. Burbacher,1,2,3 Danny D. Shen,4 Noelle Liberato,1,2,3 Kimberly S. Grant,1,2,3 Elsa Cernichiari,5 and Thomas Clarkson5
The authors declare they have no competing financial interests.
The large difference in the blood Hg half-life compared with the brain half-life for the thimerosal-exposed monkeys (6.9 days vs. 24 days) indicates that blood Hg may not be a good indicator of risk of adverse effects on the brain, particularly under conditions of rapidly changing blood levels such as those observed after vaccinations. The blood concentrations of the thimerosal-exposed monkeys in the present study are within the range of those reported for human infants after vaccination (Stajich et al. 2000). Data from the present study support the prediction that, although little accumulation of Hg in the blood occurs over time with repeated vaccinations, accumulation of Hg in the brain of infants will occur. Thus, conclusion regarding the safety of thimerosal drawn from blood Hg clearance data in human infants receiving vaccines may not be valid, given the significantly slower half-life of Hg in the brain as observed in the infant macaques.