kim

Carmon, Honestly, in the beginning, that diagnosis was so important and frightening to me. Now I could care less what someone calls it. I used to feel that the stigma attached to TS was unfair, since my boys didn't tic like what I had seen on TV. I have since come to realise, what's unfair, is the kids that do tic like what you see on TV, and the sensationalism and lack of understanding surrounding it. My understanding is, as Chemar points out, that vocal and motor tics have to be present for one year. If you shoulder shrug and have a vocal tic for a breif period of time in the same year, and then no vocal, but two motor tics 12 months from the last vocal, you lose your diagnosis of TS? I just don't think I care to waste time, trying to track that type of thing. This comes from a Mom of two boys, that I would consider to be quite mild in the tic dept. though. I used to wish I could say they had PANDAS when someone had a really noticable tic, it sounded better. Shame on me. I have never had their titers tested, but was told my youngest son was a carrier. Neither ever had an explosive onset of symptoms though. If you can rule out other causes of the tic's with this Dr., wonderful, but I hope you will find ways to improve your son's overall health, and in that process help in reducing/eliminating the tics. (I would have taken offense at that remark a few years ago, as I really didn't think there was anything really wrong with my kids health back then.) Afterall, this was just a genetically inherited disorder, with no connection to frequent strep and other illnesses, red hot ears, aching from head to toe, itchy skin/loaded with allergies, bedwetting, food sensitivities, sleep problems, tummy aches, self limited diet. This is to name a few things we have dealt with btwn the two boys, that now, I see as part of a much bigger picture, but the neurologist sure didn't...Pediatrician either. From the stories that have been shared here, I sometimes feel like we could be one virus, infection, environmental exposure, testosterone or histime surge etc. away, from life altering tics, and should that happen, I want to be armed with as much knowledge as possible. In the mean time, like most here, I am trying to make as many changes as I can to take the stress off of the boys immune system. They are both doing great at the moment. So glad you decided to post. I read so many studies that say "further reseach is needed," and then I see the study is from 1992. Maybe our best hope of research is sharing what's working, and what isn't, right here. Sorry if I got off track and did a little vent. It's something that gets triggered when someone says Neurologist, and that probably isn't fair. I hope yours is a little more open minded than mine was, and respects your questions/opinions. Glad to hear she ordered two tests for you, at least! I thought my oldest son's thyroid levels were a little low, although in range. He's 13. Maybe we could compare notes, when your son's tests come back? I get copies of every test that's done now, as they can come in handy and you don't have to wait if another Dr. wants copies. Kim

Andy, I'm glad you brought this up. I wanted to ask you if your son's ammonia levels were ever tested through standard lab testing or always with an OAT test. My youngest son was one pt. below the reference range for ammonia. Dr. Shaw has said that you need to test orotic acid, as ammonia levels are too unstable. I have one test with a fairly high marker for yeast, yet his ammonia level was low. What do you make of that? Food IgG showed highest sensitivities to peanut and cow's milk. We have removed peanut butter and we're doing enzymes. His dark circles are gone for the first time in many years. However, as usual I'm not sure if it's the vitamins, the probiotic, zinc or what, that has made the difference. Bed wetting is also resolved. Any thoughts?

Chemar, Thanks for your assistance! I hope you don't get booted for being associated with Lisa and I

Lisa, Sometimes I think someone is trying to tell me something with the trouble I have with the computer and these forums at times. Did we BOTH do something bad on braintalk ??? Oh well, not giving up now. If I get back in, I'll let you know how I did it, and thanks for your info too! Kim

Andy, You just summed up the other side of the lively debate Thanks! Kim

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: March 2, 2006 Contact: Rita Shreffler, NAA (Nixa, MO) 417-818-9030 Wendy Fournier, NAA (Portsmouth, RI) 401-632-7523 New Study Supports Mercury-Autism Link as Documents Surface Showing CDC's Refusal to Reduce Mercury Exposure Through Routine Shots in 1999, Says NAA National Autism Association Calls for Senate Investigation of CDC Malfeasance in Extending Use of Mercury in Kids' Vaccines Nixa, MO - The National Autism Association (NAA) today joined other advocacy organizations in calling for Senate investigations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding its failure to remove thimerosal (mercury) from pediatric vaccines when given the opportunity in 1999. This comes following a study released this week showing reduced autism diagnoses coincide with the reduction of mercury-containing vaccines given to children. The study, conducted by Mark Geier, M.D. and David Geier and published in the peer-reviewed Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, shows reduced autism rates since the removal of mercury from most childhood vaccines. These findings bolster voluminous studies and data confirming that increased use of mercury-containing vaccines in the 1980's and 1990's led to an epidemic of neurological disorders among American children. In July of 1999, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a joint statement advising mercury be removed from childhood vaccines "as soon as possible." Newly uncovered documents reveal that just weeks after the PHS/AAP recommendation, vaccine maker Smith Kline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline) wrote to the CDC suggesting a significant reduction of mercury exposure to children through use of the thimerosal-free DTaP vaccine, Infanrix, which could meet the U.S. demand at least until mid-2000. The CDC's refusal to accept this offer has left many in the autism community outraged. "Hundreds of thousands of children were denied access to thimerosal- free shots because of the CDC's inexplicable decision to leave the mercury in," stated NAA President Wendy Fournier. "This dereliction of responsibility to our children's health is unacceptable. Congress must ensure this agency is held accountable for its role in the autism epidemic." Joining the call for Senate hearings regarding CDC's handling of the issue, environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. stated in an article this week, "It's time for the CDC to come clean with the American public. Its tactics of deception and obfuscation are jeopardizing the credibility of the entire vaccine program, and therefore posing an enormous danger to public health." For more information, go to www.nationalautism.org

To get into BioChat goto www.drneubrander.com <http://www.drneubrander.com/> and then click on the Chat/Forum tab and download the BioChat software Thursday March 2, 9:00pm EST Dr. Anju Usman Dr. Usman is director of True Health Medical Center in Naperville, Illinois. She specializes in the treatment of biochemical imbalances in children with Autism and ADD. She has been involved in research involving copper/zinc imbalances, metallothionein dysfunction, and heavy metal detoxification. She has educated parents and professionals in the US and abroad focusing on the biomedical and DAN approach to treating Autism. Dr. Usman received her medical degree from Indiana University. She completed a residency in Family Practice at Cook County Hospital, in Chicago, Illinois and is board certified in Family Practice.

I was reading Giselle's post on Braintalk about her son's sleeping problem, and noticed she said she was using Kirkman TD magnesium. I just read a post signed by Larry/Kirkman Labs, that informed a poster that Kirkman's Magnesium Sulfate Cream is a product used for sulfation, and should not be considered a magnesium supplement as the percentage of magnesium absorbed is very low. He says with the magnesium cream, the amount absorbed is so small that it is considered negligable. Considering 400 mg. daily requirement. I haven't seen Giselle here for a while, and just thought this might be important, if this is what she is relying on for mag. supplementation. Cheri, if Giselle doesn't respond can you pass this info, on to her. I can't seem to sign into Braintalk. I have requested the reset of password twice, as old one just won't work, and it says information sent, but I get nothing in my email. I checked the Kirkman site, and Magnesium Sulfate is the only form of TD magnesium I see, maybe I missed something? Thanks! Kim

Matt, I had thought about the flavored supplements too when I typed that. At one time I had some info. on a place that sold supplements with natural flavors. Can't seem to find it now. If anyone needs it, I can look harder though. I bumped up a thread with some of Claire's wonderful information. You can read through these too, as they are the threads that came up when I typed "compounding" in the search box. I think the one I bumped may be most helpful though. http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?...&hl=compounding The expense of the tests, Drs. and supplements can be quite a load, can't they. I only hope I live to see the day that these disorders are recognised as something more than a mysterious genetic mishap, with no hope for improvement than a medication to mask symptoms. (That's my polite version. I'd probably be banned from the bd. if I stayed on that subject ) anyway, hope this helps! Kim oops, that link doesn't work. If you want to read more threads, just type compounding in the Enter Key word box-search topic, in the left hand bottom corner.

bump for Matt

http://tinyurl.com/rzbz6 Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Wed Mar 1, 12:10 AM ET Correspondence newly obtained under the Freedom of Information Act raises troubling new questions about CDC's role in the Thimerosal scandal. Thimerosal is the mercury-based vaccine preservative that has been linked to epidemics of neurological disorders, including autism, in American children born after 1989. Responding to scientific studies linking dangerous levels of mercury to a range of health disorders, the CDC in July 1999 recommended that the nation's vaccine makers eliminate Thimerosal as a preservative, "as soon as possible." But the newly released documents show that behind the scenes CDC was quietly discouraging Thimerosal's removal. In a July 1999 letter, vaccine producer SmithKline Beecham tells CDC that it is ready to produce non-Thimerosal DTP (Diptheria/Tetanus/Pertussis) vaccines immediately and has sufficient inventories to supply the entire U.S. market during the remainder of 1999 and the first half of 2000, by which time other vaccine manufacturers would have their Thimerosal-free DTP vaccines on line. Thimerosal-laden DTP vaccines containing 25 micrograms of mercury apiece were then being administered to American infants at two months, four months and six months -- far exceeding EPA's recommended safe level for mercury. Had CDC accepted SmithKline's offer, it could have immediately reduced the mercury exposures to vaccinated six-month-old children by 40%. However, in November, CDC mysteriously sent a letter back rejecting SmithKline's offer. Then, ************************ Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Joins A-CHAMP Demand for Senate Investigation of CDC's Failure to Remove Mercury From Vaccines Newly Disclosed Documents Show CDC Ignored Industry Offers of Mercury-free Vaccines Despite Agency's Own Safety Warning New York, NY - Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. today joined Advocates for Children's Health Affected by Mercury Poisoning (A-CHAMP), in demanding Senate investigations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) obstruction in removing mercury from children's vaccines. This joint announcement comes following the disclosure of correspondence showing the agency declined the opportunity to provide mercury-free vaccines within months of the 1999 recommendation by the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to remove the neurotoxin thimerosal (mercury) from pediatric vaccines "as soon as possible." You can read the 1999 PHS/AAP Joint Statement <http://www.a-champ.org/documents/CDCthimerosalremoval.pdf> by clicking HERE <http://www.a-champ.org/documents/CDCthimerosalremoval.pdf>. Newly obtained documents reveal that three weeks after the PHS/AAP statement, SmithKline Beecham (SB), now GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), sent a letter to the CDC echoing thimerosal worries, and indicated that the DTaP vaccine was of particular concern. The vaccine maker offered a partial solution with thimerosal-free Infanrix, stating that it could be produced to meet the U.S. demand at least through the first half of 2000, bringing the AAP, CDC, and PHS "much closer to their stated objectives of thimerosal free vaccines in the U.S." You can read the SmithKline Beecham letter <http://www.a-champ.org/documents/SKBtoCDC7_31_99.pdf> by clicking HERE <http://www.a-champ.org/documents/SKBtoCDC7_31_99.pdf>. The CDC's response in November, 1999 declined SB's offer, indicating it would "continue to provide the States with a choice among currently licensed brands of DTaP." You can read the CDC's letter in response to the SmithKline Beecham letter <http://www.a-champ.org/documents/CDCtoSKB11_26_99.pdf> by clicking HERE <http://www.a-champ.org/documents/CDCtoSKB11_26_99.pdf>. "The CDC failed to make child safety its priority", said Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "When manufacturers offered to supply vaccines that could substantially reduce the amount of mercury infants and children were given via vaccination, the agency basically said 'thanks but no thanks.' The Senate must fulfill its oversight responsibility to determine the propriety of the CDC's actions after the discovery that mercury content in vaccines exceeded safety guidelines, placing children at risk of neurological injury." Regarding the CDC's apparent failure to heed its own mandate to provide safer pediatric vaccines, A-CHAMP Vice President Bobbie Manning commented, "Even when handed the opportunity to prevent unnecessary mercury exposure, this agency failed its obligation to keep children out of harm's way." A-CHAMP has provided substantial evidence to Senate and Congressional offices over the last year regarding thimerosal toxicity and the CDC's handling of relevant data. "We have been patiently waiting for action," said John Gilmore, A-CHAMP Board Member. "If Congress does not respond, parents will mount a campaign for an independent investigation of CDC conflicts of interest that permitted an entire generation of children to be injured."

“Early Downward Trends in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Following Removal of Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines” http://www.jpands.org/vol11no1/geier.pdf --------------------------------- Study Shows Decline in Neurodevelopmental Disorders After Removal of Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines Two Unrelated Government Databases Show Same Downward Trend in Autism Cases A new study published today (3/1/06) shows that the rate of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) in children has decreased following removal of thimerosal, a preservative containing the neurotoxin mercury, from American childhood vaccines. The study, published in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, a peer reviewed journal, by Dr. Mark Geier and David Geier examined two independent databases maintained by the government – one national and one state.

Carolyn/Matt, Thanks so much for the response. Your courage and wisdom, never fail to amaze me Carolyn. I sure hope the achy legs and head aches, pass quickly for you. Did you ever have base line tests? Or had you already supplemented magnesium when you had your first RBC? Matt thanks for posting your daughters results too. A poster from another group was just talking about Met. ION profile and said her pediatrician had been on the phone with the lab, and was thinking of recommending this test for other kids in his practice that had eating issues, after she brought the results in, ordered from another Dr. Can I ask, if your daughter has limited diet tendencies? Obviously, it provides a ton of other info, but I'm especially interested in this area, as it's a much bigger problem than tics, for my youngest son. I remember a post of Claire's where she talked about what Carolyn just said. She had a compounded vitamin made up, and was unable to keep using it, as a level changed. There are some places that sell flavored liquid supplements, of a lot of things. Might be worth checking into? Just thought I would mention that I have read several times that zinc is best absorbed given alone, ususally rec. to give it at night. Zinc picolinate is said to be one of the the most absorbable forms. I see from your first post in Dec. that 5HTP was suggested, and now it is recommended on this test. Did you ever start using it? Also, vit D.... Bonnie's vits. don't contain vitamin D. With the new study that was done on it, I'm thinking of supplementing it, especially during the cloudy, winter months. Was interesting to see that recommended. I sure hope others will post the results of tests they may be doing. I feel like these forums and sharing of info. are SO important. Kim

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* FEBRUARY 28, 2006 12:30 PM *CONTACT: Environmental Working Group <http://www.ewg.org> *(202) 667-6982 *Children's Drinks Contain Ingredients That Can Form Benzene FDA silent despite of knowledge of the problem Agency Trusted Industry to Change Formulas in 1990, Yet Still Finds Sodas with Benzene* http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/0228-07.htm WASHINGTON - February 28 - Today the Environmental Working Group (EWG) sent a letter to the FDA <http://www.commondreams.org/issues/toxics/20060228/letter20060228.php> requesting that the Agency notify the public about the presence of two ingredients in many popular children's drinks that can mix together to form the cancer-causing chemical benzene. The FDA last addressed this problem more than 15 years ago when it entered into a voluntary agreement with the beverage industry to reformulate its products to avoid the presence of this hazardous mixture. It appears, based on news reports and a sampling by EWG of popular children's drinks from retail outlets, that many manufacturers have not complied. List of drinks http://www.ewg.org/issues/toxics/20060228/list.php

Carolyn, Glad to hear it sounds like it's going well. Looks like you made good calls regarding the zinc, and now the iron. That's great. Are you still adding new foods? I'm also wondering if your tests, as in the RBC, ever showed a magnesium deficiency within the cell? I was always puzzled as to why the boys blood work showed calcium and magnesium at the high end of normal, yet it appeared the mag taurate was really beneficial. Then I read where the body will work hard to keep blood calcium levels "up" even if it needs to pull from bone to do it. This made sense as people with osteoporosis don't necessairly show low blood calcium, as far as I know. That still left the question of magnesium, and I'm assuming that it's present, but needs the taurine (or another form) to be utilized by the cell. There is a lively discussion going on, on the ASD solutions bd. regarding the Buttar/Cutler proticols. I'm learning a lot from that discussion, but just scratching the surface. Also, the alternative Dr. I took the boys to, was surprised that I wasn't interested in a challenge test for metals for the boys. This is something I read from Andy Cutler, but it was from 2000. http://www.tacanow.com/mercury.htm Q: My alternative doctor wants to do a DMPS challenge test. Is this safe? No. DMPS challenge tests and IV chelation with DMPS can be very dangerous—see www.dmpsbackfire.com A challenge test is when a doctor administers a large amount of chelator in a single dose, and then tests the urine for metals. Challenge tests in general aren't useful for diagnosing mercury toxicity because everyone has some mercury in them, and DMPS (or DMSA) will mobilize it. If DMPS is to be used, it should be administered orally, every 8 hours. And no one should take a chelator of any kind if they have dental amalgam fillings. Some doctors suggest doing the same sort of challenge test using a large oral dose of DMSA, or will suggest treatment with infrequent doses of chelator (once a day or every other day) This is also dangerous. Chelators should always be given in frequent, small doses (every 3-4 hours for DMSA, every 8 hours for DMPS). I'm assuming this line of thought, is the reason that your taking more of the low and slow approach. So Buttar's protocol is larger dose, which some feel leaves less room for problems with redistribution, and others feel that Cultler's is the safer way to go, as it isn't as taxing, with less chance of pulling too many minerals? Do I have this right? I know this is a complicated subject, and certainly don't expect you to explain in any detail, just wondering if I have the basics, or how much Andy's views may have changed in the last 6 years. Thanks for any input! Kim I see posts about those mysterous specs quite a bit. Will be really interesting to see what the lab turned up.

??? <Shari.Roan@latimes.com> LATimes Staff Writer February 27, 2006 http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-...0,2636594.story MATHEW BACON, 9, struggles with schoolwork, can't follow rules and sometimes becomes violent, beating up younger kids and striking out at his 5-year-old sister. He's been diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder, depression and ADHD. Christina Tamez battles mood swings, attention problems and tics. At 13, she's been diagnosed with bipolar depression, a condition recently exacerbated by puberty. In sixth grade, she began threatening suicide.

ellimac, I just wanted to add that my sons were taking clonidine and Orap was prescribed for my oldest son when he was about 8. The Orap/pimozide was prescribed by a neurologist at a teaching university hospital where I had taken him for a second opinion. Even at that time (5yrs. ago) Orap just didn't feel right, and I had literally done no reseach at that time (just a little reading was all that was required to be scared to death of pimozide, but....I may have had a different view if his tics would have been debilitating in any way.) We never did give it to him. We stopped clonidine shortly after starting Bonnie's vitamins. My oldest son also takes her fish oil, and we use Mag taurate occasionally, extra vitamin C and extra zinc. Both boys are taking a lot less than the allowable dose according to her dosing chart. We are also using Houston digestive enzymes and Culturelle probiotics. We have had basic blood work which Pediatrician ordered, blood test for IgG food sensitivities, a dysbiosis profile to detect bad bacteria and yeast overgrowth for youngest son(I obtained without a Dr.s signature) , thyroid function for oldest. If you decide to allow the blood test that this Dr. is asking for, you may want to ask him to look at your sons zinc/copper ratio. It appears that low zinc, high copper may be a problem with some/many? of our kids.

http://home.earthlink.net/~moriam/HOW_TO_hair_test.html I just came across this for the first time. Thought others might find it helpful, as I guess I really underestimated the information that could be gathered from this test.

ellimac, After quickly looking at strep pyogenes, I'm curious if your Dr. is giving, sort of a homeopathic dose? This is a complete guess, as I have no medical training or background. I also see where cholestyramine is sometimes used for high oxalates. I think I would come right out and ask this Dr. what his reasoning is for the use of these things, and what tests or experience he's basing it on, whether you stick with him or not, the use of these things and the reaction your son had, may be helpful to the next Dr. You can find information on homeopathic remedies on page 4 of the biochat notes. Just look down the first page of this forum until you see the thread titled Biochat notes. On the same page, you will find a section on oxalates. Here are the two discussions that your looking for: Tuesday September 13, 9:00pm EST Amy L. Lansky, PhD Over ten years ago, computer research scientist Amy Lansky began a journey to try and help her three-year-old autistic son Max. She found the answer in Homeopathy. As Max gradually made a complete recovery, she began to study this alternative therapy and eventually became a practitioner herself. Her best-selling Impossible Cure: The Promise of Homeopathy SUSAN OWENS Since completing her masters degree at the University of Texas in Dallas, Mrs. Owens has lectured widely in the U.S, including the Center for Disease Control and the National Institute of Health in Bethesda. She has also lectured as far afield as Scotland, England, Australia, and Norway. She brings into her lectures information she has gained from ten years of interacting with parents and doctors of children with autism while she maintained an intense study of the medical literature, including literature that we need to understand today's issues, but which got lost in earlier decades. This effort has been directed mainly at finding the basic science that can tell us how the sulfur system works: how it is integrated, how it matures, and how it interacts with other systems. Oxalates appear to be part of that system, but their role outside the role of binding to calcium and incidentally forming kidney stones, is little understood.

http://www.newstarget.com/018744.html In the world of health news, I'm not sure who's worse: Dishonest researchers or illiterate science reporters. But in this case -- lucky us -- we get both. The issue surrounds the reporting of a recent study on calcium supplements in post-menopausal women conducted by the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a U.S. government program. According to practically everybody in the mainstream press, the study shows little or no benefit of taking calcium supplements. Here's a sampling of the headlines you may have seen in the popular press:

ellimac, I did a google search of streppyogenal, and no results were found. Are you sure of the spelling? Here is some reading for you on cholestyramine. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-...G=Google+Search Was any testing done (blood, urine) besides allergy? Personally, whether it's a regular Dr. or an alternative Dr. I feel like it's so important to be as informed as possible, regarding treatments for our kids. Hope you will let us know how you decide to proceed. Kim

By MIKE STOBBE The Associated Press Tuesday, February 21, 2006; 8:12 PM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6022101460.html ATLANTA -- An influential federal advisory panel recommended Tuesday that U.S. infants be vaccinated against rotavirus, a common and potentially fatal cause of childhood diarrhea and vomiting.

The childhood food allergy mystery Cases are on the rise, and no one knows why BY ELLEN MITCHELL SPECIAL TO NEWSDAY February 21, 2006 http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-hsco...0,4166591.story The theory is that because U.S. children "use antibacterial soap, get antibiotics at the first sign of a runny nose and are vaccinated for every potential thing out there," their immune systems do not spend time producing anti-infectious responses to all the diseases they will never get. Instead, their immune systems may be "shunting their responses to produce things [anti-infectious responses] which are more allergic in nature," Edwards said. ************************** Artical about Dupont & POFA February 21, 2006, 2006 The Weinberg proposal http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/est...t_weinberg.html Michaels agrees with Weinberg that the letter is a sales pitch, but he adds that it originates from a "product defense firm" and is not about science. "What is doesn't say here is, 'We'll get the science right,'" he points out. "What it says is, 'We'll make sure the science comes out in a way you want it.'" Michaels calls the letter one of the best examples he has seen of what he calls a common business strategy: to create scientific doubt in order to stave off lawsuits and regulatory action.

Scientists study mercury's links to autism, Alzheimer's Monday, February 13, 2006 KATHERINE BOUMA <kbouma@bhamnews.com> *News staff writer http://www.al.com/living/birminghamnews/in...9370.xml&coll=2 * Between 2000 and 2004 the number of American babies born to mothers with unsafe levels of mercury increased from an estimated 60,000 to 320,000 and then 640,000. Mercury did not become hazardous or prevalent only in this decade. But now, scientists are looking at it from more angles than ever and finding more trouble than before. No one can say for certain what was the tipping point to make mercury a hot topic of this decade, but it is certain that across the nation, fish standards are being tightened, mercury bans are being enacted, and industrial sources are being challenged to clean up their stacks. Boyd Haley, an expert on mercury at the University of Kentucky, believes that the controversy over autism brought mercury to the top of many agendas. Haley, who believes that mercury will be ultimately linked to autism, Alzheimer's disease and other neurological problems, has been studying mercury in dental fillings for many years. But, he says, it took the unlikely event of a congressman's grandson's autism to get his work any attention. U.S. Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., has become a champion of parents and scientists who believe that autism is caused by mercury, most likely in a preservative used in childhood vaccines. Burton speaks before Congress and in other venues on the meteoric rise in autism rates in the United States, increasing 500 percent or more since the early 1990s. "It has sensitized people to the fact that exposure to very low levels of mercury to infants in utero or infants at birth can be disastrous," said Haley, a chemistry professor and researcher on mercury in the brain. Until 2002, mercury was present in most infant and childhood vaccines because it was used in the preservative thimerosal. Then in 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Public Health Service called for drug companies to voluntarily remove thimerosal from vaccines, after a federal study determined that children on the recommended vaccine schedule would exceed recommended mercury doses. Scientists are still studying a link between autism and thimerosal, which has not been proven. It is known that mercury can cause birth defects, including retardation and learning disorders. It can damage the brain and kidneys. In 2004, two important conclusions were announced. The FDA stated that five types of fish were unsafe for children and pregnant women. Most - tilefish, shark, swordfish and king mackerel - are not common in the American diet. But the list also included tuna, including the canned variety that is one of the top-selling American fish. Also that year, the EPA announced that, based on women's mercury levels, one in six pregnancies was exposed to mercury above its safe level. That may be the catalyst for much of the current interest in mercury, said Jackie Savitz director of the Campaign to Stop Seafood Contamination for Oceana. "Of all the chemicals we hear about - PCBs, mercury, chemicals that come from oil - mercury is the only one that is in our food supply at levels the government deems unsafe," Savitz said. "FDA has only issued an advisory about fish for one chemical." Power plant emissions Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury in the environment of the United States. From there, as well as other industrial sources such as chlorine plants, mercury enters the air and rains down into the streams. In recent years, so many state advisories have been issued against eating sport fish that in some states there are no streams where fish are considered safe for children or women in their childbearing years. Alabama's standard gets tougher this spring, when the Department of Public Health will issue new fish advisories. Some state scientists have said that past tests show that nearly every stream tested is likely to now fall into the danger zone. Environmental Management Commissioner Pat Byington said he was compelled to call for the tighter freshwater fish standard in Alabama after discovering that the state was acting under an older Food and Drug Administration rule instead of a more recent number from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In 2000, the National Academy of Sciences endorsed the EPA number, which may be what drew the increasing attention of many nonprofit health and environmental groups to mercury, said David Ludder, general counsel for the Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation that works on mercury issues in Alabama. At the same time, mercury has come under fire in dental fillings, where it can be as much as 50 percent of silver fillings. In recent years, many states, including Alabama, have considered bans on the silver fillings for children and pregnant women. Mercury accumulates up the food chain in animals and is extremely long-lived in the environment. So it's not likely that the issue that has become so prominent in recent years will be resolved quickly. Environmental groups have not been satisfied with the mercury reductions on industry and power plants proposed by the EPA. And they want fish warnings in the supermarkets. Others want the mercury out of dentistry. And they want everyone to keep watching the continuing studies on mercury. * What you can do to reduce your exposure to mercury*: Before taking an immunization, ask the doctor whether a shot contains thimerosal and if an alternative is available. Pay attention to advisories issued by the Alabama Department of Public Health before eating fish caught by friends or family in local lakes, rivers or coastal areas. The Food and Drug Administration advises that women and young children not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury. Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish. Albacore or "white" tuna has more mercury. The FDA recommends no more than 6 ounces a week. Sources: The Food and Drug Administration, the Alabama Department of Public Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics © 2006 The Birmingham News © 2006 al.com All Rights Reserved. The material in this post is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html http://oregon.uoregon.edu/~csundt/documents.htm If you wish to use copyrighted material from this email for purposes that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Original document was sent in MS Word, thus the odd format herein. Proposed bill can be enjoyed at url in cite 34. This post may be forwarded hither and yon. Teresa * * * * Limiting Mercury in vaccines SB06-099 to: John Evans <jevanslaw@aol.com> <john.evans.senate@state.co.us> cc: Bob Hagedorn © <SenBob@msn.com> Deanna Hanna (VC) <deanna.hanna.senate@state.co.us> Steve Johnson <steve.johnson.senate@state.co.us> Shawn Mitchell <shawn.mitchell.senate@state.co.us> Paula Sandoval <paula.sandoval.senate@state.co.us> Brandon Shaffer <brandon.shaffer.senate@state.co.us> Kiki Traylor <kiki.traylor.senate@state.co.us> fr: Teresa Binstock <binstock@peakpeak.com> Researcher in Developmental & Behavioral Neuroanatomy P.O. Box 1788 Estes Park CO 80517 As your committee considers SB06-099 (34), please consider several points: A. The CDC’s 1999 study found statistically significant associations between thimerosal injections and a range of neurologic problems, including but not limited to attention deficits, language problems, sleep disorders, tics, and autism (1). B. The CDC proceeded deliberately to dilute its own 1999 findings (eg, 2-5). C. “Pediatrics”, a journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, published the diluted-data rendition of the CDC’s findings as Verstraeten et al 2003 (6). D. FOIA evidence presented in court documents includes a CDC-IOM meeting transcript indicating that conclusions for the IOM’s second thimerosal hearing were predetermined by the CDC, which hired the IOM to orchestrate the IOM’s second thimerosal hearing (7, see also 8). Thus, public record indicates that the primary basis of rationales alleging thimerosal’s lack of adverse effects is rooted in CDC data that CDC employees diluted. Were a medical school researcher to deliberately dilute data, he or she would be promptly barred from the laboratory. Furthermore, recent U.S. history offers precedents in suppressing data damaging to financial interests and in the recruitment of physicians and researchers willing to cooperate with those same financial interests on behalf of hiding data showing adverse effects (eg, 9). Conclusion: The toxic load of pregnant women is increasing, as are the numbers of toxins in infants and others (eg, 10-27). Thus, thimerosal – which is 49.6% ethylmercury by weight (reviewed in 28) – ought not be added to the toxic load within the bodies of women, fetus, infants, and toddlers. I encourage this Senate committee and the Colorado legislature to pass legislation banning or severely limiting physicians’ and nurses’ ability to inject thimerosal, a known neurotoxin (eg, 29-33), into humans in Colorado. References: 1. CDC documents obtained by FOIA, critiqued by Mark Blaxill of Safeminds.org http://www.safeminds.org/Generation%20Zero%20Syn.pdf http://www.safeminds.org/Generation%20Zero%20Pres.pdf 2. http://www.safeminds.org/legislation/foia/simpsonwood.html 3. http://www.safeminds.org/research/past.html 4. http://www.generationrescue.org/mercury_myths14.html 5. http://www.momsonamissionforautism.org/ind...ds.critique.pdf 6. Verstraeten T et al. Safety of thimerosal-containing vaccines: a two-phased study of computerized health maintenance organization databases. Pediatrics. 2003 Nov;112(5):1039-48. 7. Closed Meeting Transcript of IOM - Immunization Safety Review Committee http://www.nomercury.org/iom.htm 8. Congressman David Weldon (R-Fla) speech to Autism One conference http://www.autisminfo.com/WeldonAutismOne2004.htm 9. Exposed: The Secret Corporate Funding Behind Health Research Academics and the media have failed dismally to ask the crucial question of scientists' claims: who is paying you? by George Monbiot Tuesday, February 7, 2006 by the Guardian/UK http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,1704107,00.html 10. Bosman J. Reporters Find Science Journals Harder to Trust, but Not Easy to Verify. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/13/business.../13journal.html 11. Marsee, K, TJ Woodruff, DA Axelrad, AM Calafat, and SH Swan. 2006. Estimated Daily Phthalate Exposures in a Population of Mothers of Male Infants Exhibiting Reduced Anogenital Distance. Environmental Health Perspectives, in press. http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/NewScience/...5marseeetal.htm 12. One in five women of childbearing age for mercury in a national survey have levels exceeding the EPA's recommended limit. The more fish they ate, --including store-bought fish, canned tuna and locally caught fish-- the higher their levels. An Investigation of Factors Related to Levels of Mercury in Human Hair. http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/press/report...n-of-factors-re 13. North American children remain at risk from environmental exposures. Data show a rising number of childhood asthma cases across North America. Lead levels have improved but paint hazards remain. Mexico faces large challenges in water and sanitation. Children’s health and the environment in North America. Published by North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation. 4 February 2006. http://www.cec.org/pubs_docs/documents/ind...english&ID=1917 14. A cocktail of harmful toxic chemicals has been found inside every person tested in a Canada-wide study. Many of the chemicals discovered in the bodies of Canadians are associated with cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive disorders, respiratory illnesses and harming the development of children. Toxic Nation. Pollution, It's in You! Published by Environmental Defence Canada. 19 January 2006. http://www.environmentaldefence.ca/toxicnation/home.php 15. Tap water in 42 states is contaminated with more than 140 chemicals lacking safety standards. Public health officials have not set safety standards for these chemicals, even though millions drink them every day. A national assessment of tap water quality. Published by Environmental Working Group. 20 December 2005. http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/findings.php 16. CDC's biomonitoring report reveals continued presence of several long-banned chemicals, such as PCBs and DDT, in people in the US. Children had higher levels than adults of phthalates and organophosphate pesticides. Disparities among racial/ethnic groups continue to be a concern, with Mexican Americans, Non-Hispanic Blacks and Non-Hispanic Whites showing different patterns of exposures to several chemicals. LDDI analysis – CDC biomonitoring. Published by The Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative. 11 November 2005. http://www.iceh.org/LDDISummaryCDC.html 17. The first US study to test household dust for a new and wide variety of chemicals found disturbing evidence of toxic chemicals in ordinary homes across the country. This study shows that the US federal regulatory system has failed in protecting people from exposure to hazardous chemicals including toxic flame retardants, pesticides, and hormone disrupting chemicals. Sick of dust. Published by Safer Products Project. 24 October 2005 http://www.safer-products.org/page.php?p=dust 18. A European-wide family bloodtesting survey found a total of 73 man-made hazardous chemicals in the blood of 13 families (grandmothers, mothers and children) from 12 European countries. The highest number of chemicals was detected in the grandmothers' generation (63). However, the younger generation had more chemicals in their blood (59) than their mothers (49), and some chemicals were found at their highest levels in the children. Generations X. Published by World Wildlife Fund - UK. 6 October 2005 http://www.panda.org/campaign/detox/news_p...m?uNewsID=23635 19. Environmental contaminants in breast milk. Nickerson K. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2006 Jan-Feb;51(1):26-34. 20. Determination of organochlorine pesticide residues in the blood of healthy individuals. Charlier CJ, Plomteux GJ. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2002 Apr;40(4):361-4. 21. Tests on blood taken from the umbilical cords of nearly 30 new-born babies and from more than 40 new mothers revealed contamination in every sample of mother or baby blood tested. All umbilical cords contained a minimum of five of the 35 chemicals tested for, some contained as many as 14. Two of the mothers tested had 17 of the 35 chemicals in their blood. A present for life: Hazardous chemicals in cord blood. Published by Greenpeace International, World Wildlife Fund - UK. 8 September 2005. http://www.wwf-uk.org/news/n_0000001830.asp 22. A new study confirms that chemical exposure begins in the womb, as hundreds of industrial chemicals, pollutants and pesticides are pumped back and forth from mother to baby through umbilical cord blood. Laboratory tests of 10 American Red Cross cord blood samples found an average of 200 contaminants. The pollutants included mercury, fire retardants, pesticides and the Teflon chemical PFOA. In total, the babies' blood had 287 chemicals, including 209 never before detected in cord blood. The Pollution in Newborns. Published by Environmental Working Group. 14 July 2005 http://www.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden2/newsrelease.php 23. Children as young as nine years old are not only contaminated with a cocktail of hazardous man-made chemicals but can have higher concentrations of certain newer chemicals than older generations. Of the 104 chemicals analysed, 80 were detected - children were found to have 75 chemicals in their blood, 75 were found in parents and 56 in grandmothers. Contaminated: the next generation. Published by World Wildlife Fund - UK. 10 October 2004. http://www.wwf.org.uk/News/n_0000001359.asp 24. Very few women’s health concerns, including the effects of exposure passed from mother to fetus, are taken into account when government agencies or corporations set 'safe' exposure levels. A new report reveals how women and their families are exposed in homes and neighborhoods, at work, in the broader community, and across the state. Confronting Toxic Contamination in Our Communities: Women’s Health and California’s Future. Published by Women's Foundation of California. 10 October 2003. http://www.womensfoundca.org/fullreport10_7.pdf 25. Hooper K, She J. Lessons from the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): precautionary principle, primary prevention, and the value of community-based body-burden monitoring using breast milk. Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Jan;111(1):109-14. http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2003/5438/5438.html http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2003/5438/5438.pdf 26. Landrigan P et al. Chemical contaminants in breast milk and their impacts on children's health: an overview. Environ Health Perspect. 2002 Jun;110(6):A313-5. http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2002/110p...rigan-full.html http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2002/110p...110pA313PDF.PDF 27. Suzuki G, Nakano M, Nakano S. Distribution of PCDDs/PCDFs and Co-PCBs in human maternal blood, cord blood, placenta, milk, and adipose tissue: dioxins showing high toxic equivalency factor accumulate in the placenta. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2005 Oct;69(10):1836-47. http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bbb/69...9_1836/_article http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bbb/69/10/1836/_pdf 28. Bernard et al. Autism: a novel form of mercury poisoning. Med Hypotheses. 2001 Apr;56(4):462-71. 29. Baskin et al. Thimerosal induces DNA breaks, caspase-3 activation, membrane damage, and cell death in cultured human neurons and fibroblasts. Toxicol Sci. 2003 Aug;74(2):361-8 http://toxsci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/repri...61af3f4eff26c25 30. Waly et al. Activation of methionine synthase by insulin-like growth factor-1 and dopamine: a target for neurodevelopmental toxins and thimerosal. Mol Psychiatry. 2004 Apr;9(4):358-70. 31. Havarinasab S, Hultman P. Organic mercury compounds and autoimmunity. Autoimmun Rev. 2005 Jun;4(5):270-5. 32. Mutter J et al. Mercury and autism: accelerating evidence? Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2005 Oct;26(5):439-46. 33. Burbacher TM et al. Comparison of blood and brain mercury levels in infant monkeys exposed to methylmercury or vaccines containing thimerosal. Environ Health Perspect. 2005 Aug;113(8):1015-21. http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2005/7712/7712.html http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2005/7712/7712.pdf 34.SB06-099 http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics2006A/csl....file=099_01.pdf