Boyd E. Haley, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of
chemistry and has published important studies about mercury (eg, 1-3). One of
his team's finding documented that a major phenomenon in Alzheimer's-like
pathologies could be induced by physiologically occurring levels of mercury (1).
A recent essay is titled "Aluminum in vaccination-associated cognitive decline,
motor neuron disease, autism" (4). That essay prompted an insightful comment
from Dr. Haley, wherein he reports that vaccine-levels of aluminum exacerbate
the pathologic potential of vaccinal thimerosal:
Dr. Haley explained, "Note that aluminum alone does not cause the abnormal
biochemistry and production of neurofibillary tangles as does mercury (and only
mercury) due to the specific interaction of mercury at specific sulfhydryl sites
in specific enzymes/proteins known to be affected dramatically in Alzheimer’s
disease. However, in our studies on neurons in culture we found that aluminum
at levels found in vaccines dramatically enhanced the toxicity of thimerosal and
mercury cation thereby decreasing the level of mercury required to have the
toxic effects."
Importantly, some vaccines including many flu shots still contain thimerosal,
and many contain one or another of the aluminum compounds used as adjuvants.
Thus we repeat: aluminum at levels present in vaccines increases the toxicity of
thimerosal, which is ~49.6% ethylmercury by weight. Thus when an infant,
toddler, or pregnant woman is injected with a vaccine or a combination of
vaccines containing aluminum compounds and thimerosal, the likelihood of adverse
effects is increased.
Perhaps we should ask, Why care?
Many media reports assure us that no evidence links thimerosal with neurologic
harm. For instance, Melissa Healy of the Los Angeles Times expresses a popular
notion by writing, "Many argue that environmental exposures -- in particular, to
preservatives used in certain vaccines -- are a key factor in the development of
autism. But a wide range of comprehensive investigations has failed to find such
a link." (5) Unfortunately, Melissa Healy's glib statement is misleading.
However, at least three major studies have found thimerosal injections to be
associated with developmental disabilities including autism. Two researchers at
Stony Brook medical school found that male infants injected with thimerosal via
hepatitis B vaccinations (a) were nine times as likely to be enrolled in special
education services, and (b) were three times as likely to have autism -- when
compared with male infants who had not been so vaccinated (6-7). Importantly,
these findings are consistent with the original CDC study (Verstraeten et al
1999) wherein early live thimerosal injections were associated with autism, PDD,
language problems, sleep disorders, and tics (reviewed in 8).
Furthermore, other peer-reviewed studies have documented some of the mechanisms
by which aluminum and mercury induce pathologies seen as neurodeneneration (eg,
10-14, 15-17).
Noteworthy: in a recently published study, researchers dared mention that "The
demonstrated neurotoxicity of aluminum hydroxide and its relative ubiquity as an
adjuvant suggest that greater scrutiny by the scientific community is
warranted." (14)
Similarly, "Although Thimerosal has been recently removed from most children's
vaccines, it is still present in flu vaccines given to pregnant women, the
elderly, and to children in developing countries." (17)
Needless to say, I and others are perplexed. Why do most vaccinologists and many
health officials proclaim the safety of vaccines containing aluminum compounds
and/or thimerosal? Why do reporters such as Melissa Healy and spokespersons for
the CDC and FDA turn our attention away from peer-reviewed studies demonstrating
adverse effects from aluminum and thimerosal?
Why must myriad children and their families live with adverse effects of
vaccinations whose ingredients cause neurodegeneration and developmental
disabilities?
References:
1. Mercury vapor inhalation inhibits binding of GTP
to tubulin in rat brain: similarity to a molecular lesion in Alzheimer diseased
brain
Pendergrass JC, Haley BE, Vimy MJ, Winfield SA, Lorscheider FL.
Neurotoxicology. 1997;18(2):315-24.
Hg2+ interacts with brain tubulin and disassembles microtubules that maintain
neurite structure. Since it is well known that Hg vapor (Hg0) is continuously
released from "silver" amalgam tooth fillings and is absorbed into brain, rats
were exposed to Hg0 4h/day for 0, 2, 7, 14 and 28 d at 250 or 300 micrograms
Hg/m3 air, concentrations present in mouth air of some humans with many amalgam
fillings. Average rat brain Hg concentrations increased significantly (11-47
fold) with duration of Hg0 exposure. By 14 d Hg0 exposure, photoaffinity
labelling on the beta-subunit of the tubulin dimer with [alpha 32P] 8N3 GTP in
brain homogenates was decreased 41-74%, upon analysis of SDS-PAGE autoradiograms.
The identical neurochemical lesion of similar or greater magnitude is evident in
Alzheimer brain homogenates from approximately 80% of patients, when compared to
human age-matched neurological controls. Total tubulin protein levels remained
relatively unchanged between Hg0 exposed rat brains and controls, and between
Alzheimer brains and controls. Since the rate of tubulin polymerization is
dependent upon binding of GTP to tubulin dimers, we conclude that chronic
inhalation of low-level Hg0 can inhibit polymerization of brain tubulin
essential for formation of microtubules.
2. Reduced levels of mercury in first baby haircuts
of autistic children
Holmes AS, Blaxill MF, Haley BE.
Int J Toxicol. 2003 Jul-Aug;22(4):277-85.
Reported rates of autism have increased sharply in the United States and the
United Kingdom. One possible factor underlying these increases is increased
exposure to mercury through thimerosal-containing vaccines, but vaccine
exposures need to be evaluated in the context of cumulative exposures during
gestation and early infancy. Differential rates of postnatal mercury elimination
may explain why similar gestational and infant exposures produce variable
neurological effects. First baby haircut samples were obtained from 94 children
diagnosed with autism using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, 4th edition (DSM IV) criteria and 45 age- and gender-matched
controls. Information on diet, dental amalgam fillings, vaccine history, Rho D
immunoglobulin administration, and autism symptom severity was collected through
a maternal survey questionnaire and clinical observation. Hair mercury levels in
the autistic group were 0.47 ppm versus 3.63 ppm in controls, a significant
difference. The mothers in the autistic group had significantly higher levels of
mercury exposure through Rho D immunoglobulin injections and amalgam fillings
than control mothers. Within the autistic group, hair mercury levels varied
significantly across mildly, moderately, and severely autistic children, with
mean group levels of 0.79, 0.46, and 0.21 ppm, respectively. Hair mercury levels
among controls were significantly correlated with the number of the mothers'
amalgam fillings and their fish consumption as well as exposure to mercury
through childhood vaccines, correlations that were absent in the autistic group.
Hair excretion patterns among autistic infants were significantly reduced
relative to control. These data cast doubt on the efficacy of traditional hair
analysis as a measure of total mercury exposure in a subset of the population.
In light of the biological plausibility of mercury's role in neurodevelopmental
disorders, the present study provides further insight into one possible
mechanism by which early mercury exposures could increase the risk of autism.
3. Mercury toxicity presenting as chronic fatigue,
memory impairment and depression: diagnosis, treatment, susceptibility, and
outcomes in a New Zealand general practice setting (1994-2006)
Wojcik DP, Godfrey ME, Christie D, Haley BE.
Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2006 Aug;27(4):415-23.
In a group of 465 patients diagnosed as having chronic mercury toxicity (CMT),
32.3% had severe fatigue, 88.8% had memory loss, and 27.5% had depression. A
significant correlation was found between CMT and the Apo-lipoprotein E4
genotype (p=0.001). An investigation into an additional 864 consecutively seen
general practice patients, resulted in 30.3% having evidence consistent with CMT,
and once again a significant correlation was found with the APO-E4 genotype
(p=0.001). Removal of amalgam mercury fillings when combined with appropriate
treatment resulted in a significant symptom reduction (p<0.001) to levels
reported by healthy subjects.
4. Aluminum in vaccination-associated cognitive
decline, motor neuron disease, autism
Teresa Binstock; Sept 28, 2009
http://www.generationrescue.org/binstock/090928-aluminum-als-alzheimer-autism.htm
5. Autism's genetic roots examined in new
government-funded study
Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times
September 30, 2009
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/09/autisms-genetic-roots-probed-by-new-governmentfunded-study.html
6. Hepatitis B triple series vaccine and
developmental disability in US children aged 1-9 years
Gallagher C, Goodman M. Toxicol Environ Chem 2008 90(5):997-1008.
{free online}
http://fourteenstudies.org/pdf/hep_b.pdf
7. Hepatitis B vaccination of male neonates and
autism
CM Gallagher, MS Goodman
Annals of Epidemiology
Vol. 19, No. 9 ABSTRACTS (ACE)
September 2009: p. 659
Stony Brook University Medical Center, NY
PURPOSE: Universal newborn immunization with hepatitis B vaccine was recommended
in 1991; however, safety findings are mixed. The Vaccine Safety Datalink
Workgroup reported no association between hepatitis B vaccination at birth and
febrile episodes or neurological adverse events. Other studies found positive
associations between hepatitis B vaccination and ear infection, pharyngitis, and
chronic arthritis; as well as receipt of early intervention/special education
services (EIS); in probability samples of
U.S. children. Children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) comprise a growing
caseload for EIS. We evaluated the association between hepatitis B vaccination
of male neonates and parental report of ASD.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study used U.S. probability samples obtained from
National Health Interview Survey 1997–2002 datasets. Logistic regression
modeling was used to estimate the effect of neonatal hepatitis B vaccination on
ASDrisk amongboys age 3–17 years with shot records, adjusted for race, maternal
education, and two-parent household.
RESULTS:Boyswho received the hepatitis B vaccine during the first month of life
had 2.94 greater odds for ASD (nZ31 of 7,486; OR Z 2.94; p Z 0.03; 95% CI Z
1.10, 7.90) compared to later- or unvaccinated boys. Non-Hispanicwhite boys were
61% less likely to have ASD(ORZ0.39; pZ0.04; 95% CIZ0.16, 0.94) relative to
non-white boys.
CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that U.S. male neonates vaccinated with hepatitis B
vaccine had a 3-fold greater risk of ASD; risk was greatest for non-white boys.
8. [Synopsis & review]
Blockbuster primate Study Shows Significant Harm
from One Birth Dose of a Mercury-containing Vaccine
By Mark Blaxill; Sept 30, 2009
http://tinyurl.com/y9dvzae
9. Blood-brain barrier flux of aluminum, manganese,
iron and other metals suspected to contribute to metal-induced
neurodegeneration
Yokel RA.
J Alzheimers Dis. 2006 Nov;10(2-3):223-53.
10: Aluminum complexing enhances amyloid beta
protein penetration of blood-brain barrier
Banks WA et al.
Brain Res. 2006 Oct 20;1116(1):215-21.
11: Some aspects of astroglial functions and
aluminum implications for neurodegeneration
Aremu DA, Meshitsuka S.
Brain Res Rev. 2006 Aug 30;52(1):193-200.
12: Nanomolar aluminum induces pro-inflammatory and
pro-apoptotic gene expression in human brain cells in primary culture
Lukiw WJ et al.
J Inorg Biochem. 2005 Sep;99(9):1895-8.
13. Long-term persistence of vaccine-derived
aluminum hydroxide is associated with chronic cognitive dysfunction
Maryline Couette et al.
Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry (2009) in press
14. Aluminum hydroxide injections lead to motor
deficits and motor neuron degeneration
Christopher A. Shaw; Michael S. Petrik.
Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry (2009) in press
15. Biochemical and molecular basis of thimerosal-induced
apoptosis in T cells: a major role of mitochondrial pathway
Makani S et al.
Genes Immun. 2002 Aug;3(5):270-8.
{free online}
http://www.nature.com/gene/journal/v3/n5/abs/6363854a.html
16. Thimerosal induces neuronal cell apoptosis by
causing cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor release from mitochondria
Yel L et al.
Int J Mol Med. 2005 Dec;16(6):971-7.
17. Thimerosal neurotoxicity is associated with
glutathione depletion: protection with glutathione precursors
James SJ et al.
Neurotoxicology. 2005 Jan;26(1):1-8.
Thimerosol is an antiseptic containing 49.5% ethyl mercury that has been used
for years as a preservative in many infant vaccines and in flu vaccines.
Environmental methyl mercury has been shown to be highly neurotoxic, especially
to the developing brain. Because mercury has a high affinity for thiol (sulfhydryl
(-SH)) groups, the thiol-containing antioxidant, glutathione (GSH), provides the
major intracellular defense against mercury-induced neurotoxicity. Cultured
neuroblastoma cells were found to have lower levels of GSH and increased
sensitivity to thimerosol toxicity compared to glioblastoma cells that have
higher basal levels of intracellular GSH. Thimerosal-induced cytotoxicity was
associated with depletion of intracellular GSH in both cell lines. Pretreatment
with 100 microM glutathione ethyl ester or N-acetylcysteine (NAC), but not
methionine, resulted in a significant increase in intracellular GSH in both cell
types. Further, pretreatment of the cells with glutathione ethyl ester or NAC
prevented cytotoxicity with exposure to 15 microM Thimerosal. Although
Thimerosal has been recently removed from most children's vaccines, it is still
present in flu vaccines given to pregnant women, the elderly, and to children in
developing countries. The potential protective effect of GSH or NAC against
mercury toxicity warrants further research as possible adjunct therapy to
individuals still receiving Thimerosal-containing vaccinations.