I’m sorry to hear about your youngest. If it’s any consolation, I have Asperger’s and I have been able to live a better than normal life. (I am always grateful for the help I received) Social skills are still a problem, but I can work successfully as a teacher, so I must not be that bad. I understand your concern, and it seems you understand the idea of multiple factors of causation. I think the FDA was terrified of people refusing vaccination out of pointless fear. Vaccination is certainly not a sufficient cause for autism, and probably is not always necessary, but it still may be a contributing factor.

Semanticleo,

I hold an M.S. in Chemistry and I have completed plenty of coursework on the toxicity of the heavy metals. I was honored to have had straight As in ever organic chemistry class I took. Perhaps this will be enough.

Methyl mercury and the organomercury compounds are extremely nasty and have demonstrable neurotoxic effects. These are collectively known as Minamata disease, after a tragic mass poisoning at Minamata Bay, Japan. (Do they have vastly increased autism? I’d expect it if your theory was true.)

However, ADA was correct to point out that mercury is not the most toxic element, and that mercury’s toxicity is greatly enhanced with an organic group attached. Mercury amalgam is very safe – Zinc amalgam is actually a preferred cleanup method for mercury spills. Thallium, cadmium, beryllium are all extremely toxic metals. As the most toxic substance, I believe botulism toxic holds that title. How could you forget cyanide? That’s not considering the radioisotopes (Some Polonium-210 with your vodka, comrade?) or carcinogens (pick your favorite) Your statements are without merit here.

Yes, Thiomerosal has a ethylmercury group, but that is bound to a sulfide link to sodium benzoate. Hydrogen sulfides are actually known as mercaptans (for mercurium captan) for their affinity for mercury ions. This is not the same free ethylmercury. I’ve got to get going so I make it to work, so you’ll have to wait on any detailed toxicology/toxicokinetics studies.

I appreciate your good wishes and I hope you will let me respond in kind. Don’t worry about offering advice or comfort to your brother and sister-in-law. It sounds like they are doing a great job with your nephew. If you agree, tell them! Honest encouragement and feedback is the best advice you can give them. They may seem like an unusual family to you but no one has the perfect family.

To me, the most important thing you said is that your nephew has something he’s interested in. Being interested in something is not only a sign of intellect but it’s also something you can use to build a relationship. Consider joining your nephew in watching planes — not only would it let you get to know each other but shared experiences and interests might help him with socialization skills.

Hopefully it wouldn’t be that difficult for you to do. I think planes are fascinating, don’t you? Maybe you could find some “How Things Work” videos on planes, a DVD set on how to fly a plane, or if you don’t live nearby perhaps you could visit the same internet websites on planes. I bet your nephew would love watching and talking about them with you, either in person or via email or phone. Getting autistics to share interests and activities with others is a good tool to increase socialization.

Finally, a shared interest might also create a special bond between you and your nephew, and that’s the best gift you could give your brother and sister-in-law.

As with many people with Asperger’s, he is very intelligent but social interactions are extremely problematic for him. He has huge difficulties living in the present. He focuses almost exclusively on “what’s next” and becomes extremely upset when plans change.

Another problem for my brother and sister-in-law is that they have only the one son and find it extremely difficult to ascertain what problems are related to the autism versus just being a typical, jerky teenager. I feel so helpless to be of any comfort to them, especially to offer advice.

At any rate, I am well aware of many of the challenge you and your family face on a daily basis. May the Lord bless and keep you all.

The bottom line remains that their is not a causal link between thimerasol and autism, there is no difference in rates between populations that received thimerasol-preserved vaccination and those that did not and removal of the thimerasol has not reduced autism rates.

The cause-effect mechanism is mysterious but my guess is that people who have autism spectrum disorders (which seem to primarily damage the left side of the brain) therefore find it easier to succeed in right-brained activities like math and music. In addition, the studies and anecdotal evidence you reference support that there is a genetic component involved.

Some time ago, the WSJ ran an article linking autism with parents who had children later in life and had strong math/engineering/accounting backgrounds.

I realize this is strictly anecdotal evidence, but my brother had two roommates who were also accounting majors (all three went on to become CPA’s). All three men had sons when in their thirties, two had boys with autism, the other had a severely disabled son.

This theory may bear further investigation.

You fail the smell test, at least as a smeller.

Who is debunking the thimerosol link to autism?

Is there any objective source providing that ‘research’?

Please don’t tell me medical orgs are objective.

In no way do they want the entire medical and pharmaceutical establishment to found in any way,
liable.

Why was it removed?

“While the review found no evidence of adverse effects caused by thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor local hypersensitivity reactions (as explained above), the assessment determined that the use of thimerosal as a preservative in vaccines might result in the intake of mercury during the first six months of life that exceeded recommended guidelines from EPA. The amounts, however, do not exceed the recommended guidelines set by FDA, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the World Health Organization. Of note, such guidelines contain safety factors and are meant as starting points for evaluation of mercury exposure, not absolute levels above which toxicity can be expected to occur.”

http://www.fda.gov/ola/2000/vaccines.html

Yes, that is the alarmist federal agency known as
the FDA.

There are several good articles at the following.
Strangely the CDC article confirming Evidence
of Harm has been scrubbed.

http://www.thimerosal-news.com/

You people are just to naive to be believed.