Study: Autism Not Caused by Mercury in Vaccines

[Guest guest]

Have you seen this one? I know that some don't believe that vaccines caused

their child's autism. Many of us do, and aren't swayed by the skewed and

deceptive studies. They neglect to mention in this article that at the same

time they supposedly removed thimerosal from childhood vaccines, they

recommended that infants 6 months old get the flu shot which does contain

mercury.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,320801,00.html

Study: Autism Not Caused by Mercury in Vaccines

Monday , January 07, 2008

LOS ANGELES — Autism cases in California continued to climb even after a

mercury-rich vaccine preservative that some people blame for the neurological

disorder was removed from routine childhood shots, a new study found.

Researchers from the state Department of Public Health found the autism rate in

children rose continuously during the 12-year study period from 1995 to 2007.

The preservative thimerosal has not been used in childhood vaccines since 2001,

but it is used in some flu shots.

Doctors say the latest study adds to existing evidence refuting a link between

thimerosal exposure and autism risk and should reassure parents that the

disorder is not caused by vaccinations. If there was a risk, they said, autism

rates should have dropped between 2004 and 2007.

The findings show " no evidence of mercury poisoning in autism " since there was

no decline in autism rates even after the elimination of thimerosal, said Dr.

Fombonne, an autism researcher at Montreal Children's Hospital who had no

role in the research.

Some advocacy groups blame thimerosal for the impaired social interaction

typical of autism. Nearly 5,000 claims alleging a vaccine-autism link have been

lodged with the U.S. government, which is deciding whether victims should

receive compensation from a government fund.

Dr. Geschwind, a neurologist at the Geffen School of Medicine at

the University of California, Los Angeles, said the focus now should be on

exploring the causes of autism such as possible genetic links.

" Something else must be at play and we need to know what that is if we're really

serious about preventing autism, " said Geschwind, who had no connection with the

study.

For their study, California public health officials calculated the autism rate

by analyzing a database of state-funded centers that care for people with autism

and other developmental disorders.

They found the prevalence of autism in children aged 3 to 12 increased

throughout the study period. For example, 0.3 per 1,000 children born in 1993

had autism at age 3 compared with 1.3 per 1,000 children born in 2003. Similar

trends were found in other age groups.

" These time trends are inconsistent with the hypothesis that thimerosal exposure

is a primary cause of autism in California, " the researchers wrote.

Results were published in January's issue of the journal Archives of General

Psychiatry. The study did not explore why there was an increase in autism cases.

Federal statistics show about one in 150 children in the United States have

autism, higher than previous estimates. Researchers say it is unclear if the

increase is due to changes in how the disorder is classified or whether it is an

actual spike.

Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication skills.

There is no cure, but early therapy can lessen the severity.