Scientists Link Mercury-based
Preservative in Childhood Vaccines to Autism
The
June 10, 2004 Belfast Telegraph reported that scientists link preservatives
in child vaccines to autism. The study showed that a mercury-based
preservative (thimerosal) used in some childhood vaccines was linked to
autism-like damage in the brains of mice. The latest study, published in the
journal Molecular Psychiatry, found that mice susceptible to autoimmune
disease which were exposed to low doses of ethylmercury showed behavioral
and neurological changes in the brain.
The researchers for this
study performed at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia
University, said that exposure to thimerosal in their animal model affected
the behavior of the genetically susceptible mice, caused abnormalities in
the brain and increased its size. The team, led by Dr. Mady Hornig, noted
that over the past 20 years there had been a "striking increase", at least
10-fold since 1985 - in the number of children diagnosed with autism
spectrum disorders.
This recent study come on
the heels of another report in which the Institute of Medicine (IOM) stated
that there was no link between thimerosal and autism. Barbara Loe Fisher
president of the National Vaccine Information Center was quick to criticize
the IOM report by saying, "This report is a case of political immunology
masquerading as real science. With it, the Institute of Medicine takes a
step toward weakening its reputation as an independent body capable of
making an objective scientific analysis of complex medical risk issues which
are influenced by government policy and industry profits.'' |