Vaccinations and Autism are Not Linked
A recent study which will be published in February’s edition of the journal Pediatrics proves that the form of mercury in vaccination preservatives can not be linked to autism, though some advocacy groups argue otherwise.
Thimerosal, the preservative referenced in the study contains ethyl mercury. This allows the vaccines to be distributed in multi-dose containers.
Prior to 1999 some scientists assumed that ethyl mercury and methyl mercury were similar, and that the health risks from the preservative were similar to the effects of mercury poisoning from eating fish. Due to these assumptions vaccine manufacturers and the federal government eliminated the use of ethyl mercury in vaccines. Many blamed the mercury-containing-preservative for childhood autism.
This decision was premature, and since this decision was made, scientists have been trying to prove those assumptions incorrect. Dr Michael Pichichero of the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y, the co-author of the study claims that thimerosal should be permitted in vaccines because these vaccines are cheaper to produce making them more accessible to much of the world.
The recent study has proven that the two types of mercury vary greatly, and as Dr. Pichichero says, “It takes a certain amount of time and a certain concentration [of mercury]“¦to make it into the brain.” The mercury in these vaccines leaves the system entirely too quickly to do any damage.
The research team led by Pichichero studied 216 healthy Argentinean infants from R. Gutierrez Children’s Hospital in Buenos Aires. In Argentina the use of thimerosal in vaccines is not prohibited. The infants were divided into three age groups and were tested prior to vaccination and after they were immunized at their 6 month, 2 month or newborn checkups. Stools and urine were also tested for mercury.
These tests revealed that the amount of mercury found in the blood was about one-tenth of the amount that was predicted in 1999, and it stays in the blood for even less than one-tenth of the time predicted, according to Pichichero. The mercury in the stools stayed slightly longer than the mercury in the blood, and there was not a significant amount of mercury in the urine.
The blood tests revealed the half-life of the ethyl mercury in the thimerosal was 3.7 days, as opposed to methyl mercury which can damage nerves ““ its half-life is 44 days. The short half-life of ethyl mercury prevents toxic build-up.
Prior to this study, and because autism is often discovered when children are toddlers, many have blamed childhood immunizations for the onset of the disease. One in 150 children has autism according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts have known for years that genes play an important role in this syndrome that leads to difficulties in social interaction, among other things. These experts have tried for years to prove that childhood immunizations are not the cause of autism. In 2004 the U.S. Institute of medicine denied this link and suggested researchers look for the real cause.
The findings of the study were released earlier than planned due to ABC’s plan to debut a new television show, “Eli Stone” later this week. The premiere episode is due to feature a lawyer who argues that a vaccine caused a child’s autism. ABC has been asked by the American Academy of Pediatrics to cancel the show; however ABC has refused.
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