New Study Shows Possible Link Between Environmental Mercury and Autism – What About Vaccine Mercury?
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Researchers at the University of Texas showed that the closer a family lives to a power plant or industrial facility, the higher the risk of autism. Autism rates decreased by 1 to 2 percent for every 10 miles that a child lives away from such mercury sources. They also found that for every 1000 pounds of mercury released by such facilities, autism rates in the surrounding area increased by 2.6 to 3.7 percent.
Many researchers believe that the most likely reason for the increase in autism is some sort of combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental chemical exposure. This study adds credibility to that theory.
Even though mercury was removed from virtually all vaccines in 2002, parents who had their children vaccinated prior to 2003 are worried if vaccine mercury could have harmed their child. Many studies have shown that no harm was done from vaccine mercury. Some studies do show a possible link between the mercury and autism and other problems (See Resources in The Vaccine Book).
What does this issue mean for parents who are vaccinating their infants and children now? First, make sure your doctor is using 100% mercury-free vaccines. The only place mercury is still found in large quantities is in some brands of the flu shot and some older versions of the plain tetanus and diphtheria/tetanus shots. A few shots use mercury in manufacturing, then go through a filtering process that removes 99% of it, leaving a tiny little trace amount of mercury. These shots include one brand of the DTaP vaccine, some brands of the flu shot, and the newer plain tetanus or diphtheria/tetanus shots.
As long as a parent knows to avoid these sources of mercury, you can get the entire routine childhood vaccine schedule 100% mercury-free. There is a flu shot that is 100% mercury-free. Two brands of DTaP don’t contain any mercury. And the plain tetanus and diphtheria/tetanus shots that do contain mercury aren’t part of the normal vaccine schedule. So, when it comes to making vaccine decisions, you can take any fears of mercury out of the equation.
Click here to read more on this story out of the University of Texas.
Many researchers believe that the most likely reason for the increase in autism is some sort of combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental chemical exposure. This study adds credibility to that theory.
Even though mercury was removed from virtually all vaccines in 2002, parents who had their children vaccinated prior to 2003 are worried if vaccine mercury could have harmed their child. Many studies have shown that no harm was done from vaccine mercury. Some studies do show a possible link between the mercury and autism and other problems (See Resources in The Vaccine Book).
What does this issue mean for parents who are vaccinating their infants and children now? First, make sure your doctor is using 100% mercury-free vaccines. The only place mercury is still found in large quantities is in some brands of the flu shot and some older versions of the plain tetanus and diphtheria/tetanus shots. A few shots use mercury in manufacturing, then go through a filtering process that removes 99% of it, leaving a tiny little trace amount of mercury. These shots include one brand of the DTaP vaccine, some brands of the flu shot, and the newer plain tetanus or diphtheria/tetanus shots.
As long as a parent knows to avoid these sources of mercury, you can get the entire routine childhood vaccine schedule 100% mercury-free. There is a flu shot that is 100% mercury-free. Two brands of DTaP don’t contain any mercury. And the plain tetanus and diphtheria/tetanus shots that do contain mercury aren’t part of the normal vaccine schedule. So, when it comes to making vaccine decisions, you can take any fears of mercury out of the equation.
Click here to read more on this story out of the University of Texas.
Labels: Vaccines and Autism
posted by Dr. Bob Sears @ 4:53 PM
10 Comments:
At April 30, 2008 7:56 PM ,
Genevieve said...
Thanks for the post and for the book! It has been one of the best parenting resources I have purchased so far. However, I struggle to make a decision regarding which DTaP to try and get. Do I use the brand with trace amounts of Mercury and less Aluminum or use the brands with alarming amounts of Aluminum but trace amounts of Mercury? What would you do?
At May 2, 2008 11:03 AM ,
Dr. Bob Sears said...
I happen to use Daptacel - the medium AL level one, but with no mercury trace and no cow's blood used. But I could go either way - I think the lowest AL brand (Tripedia) is also a fine choice. The trace mercury in there is so miniscule that the lower AL may be worth it.
At May 5, 2008 9:07 AM ,
Catherina said...
http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/?p=791
The observed correlation seems to be an artefact of population density.
At May 16, 2008 7:11 PM ,
tkline said...
I read an interesting news article regarding vaccines today. The article included an interview with the former head of the NIH and she had very interesting things to say about vaccines and how they may affect certain subgroups. In my opinion this interview gives another reason to consider delaying or separating vaccines.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/12/cbsnews_investigates/main4086809.shtml
At May 28, 2008 4:13 AM ,
Anonymous said...
Dr Sears-
You should be ASHAMED of your vaccine book given the epidemic of measles outbreaks now storming this country. There is no proof your bizarre vaccine schedule has prevented one single case of autism, but are you willing to apologize to the first parents whose child dies from measles because they followed your book and delayed vaccination? ARE YOU? I've had it with parents thinking you somehow know more than the CDC or AAP about this and making big $$$$ off it to boot. You should retire now and cash it in if you won't be a real pediatrician.
At May 30, 2008 9:29 AM ,
Classy Mommy said...
thanks again for the informative post. appreciate you sharing the research info and vaccine PI information (ingredients) in a way that is easy for parents to understand and decipher.
At June 14, 2008 6:48 AM ,
David said...
Shameful that you persist in the implication of vaccines/mercury in the etiology of autism when it has been extensively researched and found to be false. There is no real controversy about this - there are only people unwilling to admit that their pet theory was wrong.
At June 14, 2008 8:58 PM ,
antivax said...
Mercury is poison and a poison is a poison no matter how small. Even your pets shouldn't be inoculated at all. And that is not a theory. OK for those who don't believe. Tell me about the benefits of mercury and other contaminants of vaccines not to mention chemically denatured and genetically engineered bacteria, proteins and viruses to your child's brain and even to you as well. Otherwise, stop pretending to be wise and smart. Vaccines prevent health!!!!
At August 6, 2008 2:42 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Dr Sears,
My daughter is five years old and has not had any immunizations. My husband and I were thinking of getting her vaccinated for tetanus. Do you know of any single tetanus preservative-free vaccines for children? We do not want her to have pertussis because she has already had the disease. Also, is there a better brand to use?
Thanks
At August 6, 2008 11:30 PM ,
Anonymous said...
One thing that people are forgetting, mercury was removed in 2002 from almost all shots...however, the expiration date for a lot of the remaining vaccines that were on the shelf (to be used up), those expired in 2007. We will not know the real story for quite some time. We must wait to see the full effect of removing mercury from the shots. It will take years to see the decline in autism. I am a true believer in the connection here. All you have to do is look at the time-line, the symptoms, and the treatment to see that "autism" is really mercury poisoning.
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