Mercury and Chelation by Dr. James Coplan MD
In 2001[1] the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences reviewed the research on the alleged relationship between thimerosal-containing immunizations, and developmental disabilities. They concluded that although the hypothesis of immunization-induced developmental disabilities was "biologically plausible," there was "inadequate evidence to accept or reject a causal relationship between exposure to thimerosal from vaccines and the neurodevelopmental disorders of autism, ADHD, and speech or language delay."In 2001, [2]The American Academy Pediatrics (AAP) stated: "To date, there are no published studies linking mercury exposure to the development of ASD or demonstrating that children with ASD have had greater exposure to mercury than have unaffected children...Hair analysis is not recommended for biomonitoring, because false elevations may occur if the specimen is not carefully collected. Provocative chelation tests for mercury have not been scientifically validated and are also not recommended. Several chelating agents, including succimer, dimercaprol, d-penicillamine, and N-acetylcysteine, have been shown to accelerate mercury elimination from the body. However, there is no evidence that chelation therapy will improve developmental function when given to treat mercury toxicosis. Moreover, chelating agents can have significant toxicity (e.g., hepatotoxicity) and precipitate allergic reaction. Chelation therapy is therefore not recommended for the purpose of improving neurodevelopmental function in children with ASD. " The following statement appears in Pediatrics, the official journal of the AAP: "There is no chelating agent approved by the FDA that is effective for methylmercury or ethylmercury poisoning." [3]
Following the 2001 IOM report, several large scale epidemiologic studies[4, 5] have failed to demonstrate a correlation between thimerosal exposure from childhood immunizations and the risk of developing autistic spectrum disorder. These data have been reviewed in Pediatrics, the official publication of The American Academy Pediatrics,[6] with the conclusion "Studies do not demonstrate a link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and ASD." In a follow-up review in 2004 [7] the IOM concluded "the evidence favors rejection of a causal relationship between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism." They went on to state "Because chelation therapy has potentially serious risks, the committee recommends that it be used only in carefully-controlled research settings with appropriate oversight by Institutional Review Boards protecting the interests of the children who participate."
There have been at least two recorded deaths in children during intravenous chelation. (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05237/559756.stm; Philadelphia Enquirer 3/3/06, A20)
In summary:
There is no generally accepted, scientifically valid evidence to show that mercury exposure from immunizations causes autistic spectrum disorder
There is no generally accepted, scientifically valid evidence to show that chelation alters the outcome for children with autistic spectrum disorder. Intravenous chelation has been associated with at least two instances of sudden cardiac death in children.
REFERENCES
1. Stratton, K., A. Gable, and M. McCormick, eds. Immunization safety review: Thimerosal-containing vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders. 2001, Institute of medicine, The National Academy of Sciences: Washington, DC.
2. Committee on Children With Disabilities, Technical Report: The Pediatrician's Role in the Diagnosis and Management of Autistic Spectrum Disorder in Children. Pediatrics, 2001. 107(5): p. e85-.
3. Goldman, L.R., M.W. Shannon, and the Committee on Environmental Health, Technical Report: Mercury in the Environment: Implications for Pediatricians. Pediatrics, 2001. 108(1): p. 197-205.
4. Verstraeten, T., et al., Safety of thimerosal-containing vaccines: a two-phased study of computerized health maintenance organization databases. Pediatrics, 2003. 112(5): p. 1039-48.
5. Madsen, K.M., et al., Thimerosal and the occurrence of autism: negative ecological evidence from Danish population-based data. Pediatrics, 2003. 112(3 Pt 1): p. 604-6.
6. Parker, S.K., et al., Thimerosal-containing vaccines and autistic spectrum disorder: a critical review of published original data. Pediatrics, 2004. 114(3): p. 793-804.
7. Meadows, M., IOM report: no link between vaccines and autism. FDA Consum, 2004. 38(5): p. 18-9.
