It's the floride, I tell you, the floride.

Not Fluoride, manganese. Or something else that junk science can get to a jury in a raid on a deep pocket.

Hey, Lou, it must be Windows. The correlation is almost perfect and what else do we need. I go round up some experts and you start the paperwork for a lien on Gates' house.

It's the iPod halo effect, it's so strong that it streches out into the past.

I'm not buying the "there is no epidemic" story, at least not completely. And I know two close friends who both have "PDD" kids; I don't see much humor to mine here.

I know that when I was a kid (say, 1970) I hardly ever ran into any kids who were "PDD" or mildly handicapped or whatever other term one might use. At least, not nearly as often as one does today. Why is that? And that has nothing to do with expanding diagnoses, since I wasn't a doctor then, and I'm not one now. Where were all these kids, if the true rate of autism hasn't changed?

I still find the evidence of a possible connection to mercury poisoning (via various channels, not just vaccine) to be pretty compelling. And if that is indeed the case, and if recent changes designed to eliminate mercury exposure to the baby, such as the newer restrictions on pregnant moms eating tuna and the lack of thimerasol in all vaccines, lead to a much-decreased rate of PDD-related syndromes over the next 10 years, then I'm not sure what other conclusions one could draw.
An amazing coincidence, perhaps?

Jeff:

When I was a kid I was. You grow out of it.

Jeff: Seriously, the alien abduction people present reasoned, well-supported arguments compared to the immunization-causes-autism people. Worse, the latter loonies might do real harm if enough people were to take them seriously and not have their kids immunized. Even if the theory were true, immuization would be a good deal, and the theory ain't true.

Actually, I doubt that reasoned argument is worth anything here, but the experiment you posit has been run. The Danes got rid of their themerisol in 1992 and have seen no change in their incidence of autism. None. Zip. Zero. Nada. It's not the themerisol. There has been no explosion of new cases, there have simply been new and newly relaxed diagnoses included in the DSM.

Same with ADD and "dyslexia"--it's all about making sure parents, teachers, etc., can assign blame.

David -

Thanks for the info. I've heard of the Dane thing before, and it is interesting, but not having reviewed it in detail, I can't really comment on it. And it doesn't disprove that mercury in general, not just thimerasol, might be a major factor. I'm not looking for an argument via this blog -- few things are more tedious -- but I am stunned by your rather cavalier dismissal of some pretty compelling evidence on neurotoxins.

Let's ground ourselves in some facts:
Mercury is a neurotoxin. Babies under 1 year old have weak immune systems. Introducing any type of toxin into a person is a health risk. Introducing the same level of toxins into a person with a weakened immune system is an even bigger health risk. The symptoms of PDD-related syndromes are exactly the same as mercury poisoning. There is not now, nor has there ever been, a known safe level of ethyl mercury consumption (in thimerasol). Different people can tolerate different levels of "bad stuff" like toxins.

So let's stipulate there are an awful lot of well-known contradicting facts surrounding the idea that any vaccine containing any form of mercury could possibly be 100% harmless.

Yet you throw all this aside based on a few studies sanctioned by, and vindicating, those who would be most liable -- in the U.S., the FDA, AMA, vaccine producers, and even individual doctors? Liable for BILLIONS of dollars? How convenient for them.

Sounds like "fox guarding henhouse" to me. YMMV.

From the FDA's own thimerasol site:
"However, depending on the vaccine formulations used and the weight of the infant, some infants could have been exposed to cumulative levels of mercury during the first six months of life that exceeded EPA recommended guidelines for safe intake of methylmercury."

And "Lacking definitive data on the comparative toxicities of ethyl- versus methylmercury, FDA considered ethyl- and methyl-mercury as equivalent in its risk evaluation." This is science?

Also from that same FDA page, the 2004 commission investigated the "... hypothesis that vaccines, specifically the MMR vaccines and thimerosal containing vaccines, are causally associated with autism". I haven't read that whole study, but as stated, this doesn't test for the possibility that overall mercury exposure, of which thimerasol would just be a fraction, causes autism and PDD-related disorders.

Also, from the section entitled "Guidelines on Exposure to Organomercurials" on that same page, you'll find info like:
"fetuses were found to be more sensitive to the effects of methylmercury than adults"
and
"Sensory and motor neurologic dysfunction and developmental delays were observed among some children who were exposed in utero to lower levels of methylmercury." Those symptoms match pretty well with PDD-related disorders.

And let's not forget about all the recent troubles with FDA-approved drugs being yanked from the market lately, and the controversy when that senior scientist (forget the name) quit over safety concerns a few months ago. It's a bureaucracy; why would I trust it to watch over my family's health?

Does all of this prove that mercury is at fault? No. It does, however, establish a certain level of suspicion that must be overcome by something more than a few studies, studies designed only to exonerate thimerasol itself, not to address the general problem of mercury.

David and Jeff,

The Danish study turns out to be a terrible study when you look at it.

I posted a piece in response to supportvaccination.org on my site today that describes the fatal flaws in the Denmark studies and another study that the IOM and CDC use to exonerate thimerosal from contributing to neurodevelopmental disorders.

http://tinyurl.com/c723q

I would love it if you would take a look at it.

My evaluation of the studies does not prove that vaccines cause autism. It does show that the studies that most people rely upon to prove that thimerosal does not have any relationship autism, don’t do anything of the kind.

Ginger Taylor, M.S.

http://www.fumento.com/disease/vaccines.html

Ms. Taylor:

There is no link between autism and themerisol and the claim that there is threatens harm to many more children and adults than any possible link. On your site, you note that: Therefore, parents like me have assumed that there probably is some sort of epidemiological link, and moved on with out them. As a therapist, you might want to consider how you would respond to a client who, with no evidence, became obsessed with that some third-party was responsible for all the bad things in her life.

David Cohen, AB, JD.

Here we go ... this is the problem. People who will now due to this foolish article will down play the true problem that exist. This article in my mind is worthless. Just another, how we can sweep away the issue under a rug.

I have a son with autism. Prior to my son reaching to the age of 3 years old, I had not a single clue of what autism was. We took him to 2 pediatricians, both of whom said he was fine and that my son was a late bloomer. The same crap I got from family members stating ... "don't worry, boys take longer to talk than girls".

Not until I saw, a news program concerning the rise in Autism and they listed the symptoms (most of which he matched).

- Him being non-verbal, the spinning, banging his head on the wall, the appearance of almost being deaf (due to unresponsiveness), the arm flapping, the lining up of toys in a straight line over and over again, the no making eye contact, and the list goes on.

As clear as day, it hit me what my son had. I was like a double edge sword. It was great that I now know what he has (I can now give it a name and others would understand) but it truly sucks that he has it. My wife was in denial. I don't blame her, who would want to know that their child has a mental defect (and that what it truly is).

I have read almost every article I can find on the subject. I am part of many different groups on the subject. All in hope that I can find a cure for my son.

But when, I see articles like this, it makes me angry. Trying to brush off or lightly coat this problem. After, I learned what the Autism spectrum was, I would spot an autistic child and even adults a mile away.

I know of at least 3 families, who due to contact via my children's school or my work, have autistic children. But they are in denial and don't want to take action. And now because of articles like this, they probably won't.

Sadly, no one has the cure or answer to what causes autism. This BS about, well in the UK from this time period compared to another time period there was no rise. That's just hogwash. Can someone explain to me why is it that based on some articles there are very few people with autism in the Amish community (here's the link http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050508-112601-3643r.htm )?

Ok, maybe you want to say ... well the Autism of today is not the same as of yesterday. Fine. But don't tell me that there isn't still a problem. And it's no just called Autism; it's called the autism spectrum disorder. Which means that a person can fall within a spectrum of this disorder. Some have it more severe than others. Thank God, my child is on the high functional end, meaning that he has it mildly. But nonetheless, he is autistic and has mental problems.

I would give my right arm (seriously) to have my son not have this. He's a great kid. But it hurts that as much love and affection that I have for him, he just gives me blank stares. I am accepting of him and all that he does, but I know society would rather ridicule and brush him aside.

For all those naysayers who claim that this is not an epidemic and a true problem. I would hope that you bear a child with autism (since it's not a problem) so that you can walk in my shoes. I'm willing to bet that the author of this article doesn't even have an autistic child.

ignorance:

That's a lovely sentiment, but what's it have to do with vaccinations, an imaginary epidemic or over-diagnosis?

I can only say how much I wish it was true that Autism isn't on the rise. I know a few people (myself included) that have children on the spectrum. I also don't remember anyone like my son when I was growing up. No one in my school. None of my friends siblings.

I do not know what the cause is. Searching for an answer "why" isn't my focus. I want help for him. I had hoped to find it here.

Right now he is in special preschool through our local school district. He receives speech and occupational theropy. According to everyone who works with him they tell me he is doing absoluty wonderful. It is hard for me to tell.

I don't know what to expect or what the next years hold. I do want him to live the best life that he possibly can. And I want everyone to truly understand that children on the autism spectum are amazing.

I am fortunate that my son is very loving. He loves to laugh and smile. He does seek out companionship. At this point he has a diagonsis of mild pdd-nos. Even still as a parent it is completely heartbreaking.