Lawsuits accuse companies of mercury poisoning

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Lawsuits accuse companies of mercury poisoning

Apr 04, 2002 16:30 PST

By ERIN McCLAM, Associated Press

ATLANTA (April 4, 2002 11:05 a.m. EST) - The families of nine autistic

Georgia

children are suing several companies, claiming that mercury exposure from

dental fillings, vaccine preservatives and power plants caused or worsened

the

disability.

The lawsuits filed Tuesday and Wednesday name four drug makers, two dental

industry groups and Georgia Power Co. as defendants.

Autism, caused by a neurological disorder, can severely impair development.

A

similar suit was filed last month in California.

The latest suits blame the drug companies - American Home Products,

GlaxoKline, Armour Pharmaceutical and & - for producing

pediatric vaccines with the mercury-laden preservative thimerosal.

Thimerosal has been removed from most vaccines. The National Academy of

Sciences has said scientists are still unable to determine whether there is

a

link between the preservative and disorders in children.

Glaxo spokeswoman Pekarek stressed there is an " absence of real

scientific evidence to demonstrate there is any harm caused by thimerosal-

containing vaccines. "

The suits blame the American Dental Association and Georgia Dental

Association

for endorsing amalgams, a type of dental filling containing mercury. Mercury

is

a highly toxic but naturally occurring element.

Federal health officials are studying the safety of amalgams. But ADA chief

counsel Sfikas said no evidence suggests they lead to autism or are

otherwise unsafe.

" We continue to believe these lawsuits are without merit, " Sfikas said.

The Georgia dental group declined comment but said it would follow the ADA's

lead in legal proceedings.

The suits also claim Georgia Power Co.'s fossil fuel-burning plants sent

more

than 60 toxins into the air in Georgia, including heavy metals like mercury.

A spokeswoman for the electric utility declined comment until company

lawyers

could review the suit.

The suits seek unspecified damages that plaintiffs' attorney Khorrami

speculated could total more than $100 million, and payment for medical

expenses

and the children's lost potential wages.

No human studies have proven that mercury from amalgams or from the

preservative causes autism in children, said Boyd Haley, chairman of the

University of Kentucky chemistry department and a mercury toxicity expert.

But the potential risk should lead the ADA to stop endorsing amalgams, he

said.

" I think it's a common-sense factor, " he said. " Thimerosal is the best

suspect

for the huge increase in autism, and maybe other neurological disorders.

Just

because you have a committee of dentists saying it's a safe level doesn't

make

it right. "

Copyright © 2002 AP Online