NewsMine — nature-health — health — Viewing Item

Toxic mercury in environment causing autism { March 17 2005 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-autism17mar17,1,3169057.story?coll=la-headlines-nation&ctrack=1&cset=true http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-autism17mar17,1,3169057.story?coll=la-headlines-nation&ctrack=1&cset=true THE NATION Possible Mercury, Autism Connection Found in Study Texas school districts with the highest level of the toxic metal had the highest rate of the disorder, researchers say. By Thomas H. Maugh II Times Staff Writer March 17, 2005 Texas researchers have found a possible link between autism and mercury in the air and water. Studying individual school districts in Texas, the epidemiologists found that those districts with the highest levels of mercury in the environment also had the highest rates of special education students and autism diagnoses. The study does not prove that mercury causes autism, cautioned the lead author, Raymond F. Palmer of the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, but it provides a "provocative" clue that should be further investigated. "Mercury is a known neurotoxin," said Dr. Isaac Pessah of UC Davis' MIND Institute, who was not involved in the study. "It's rather intriguing that the correlation is so positive," meaning that there was a strong, direct relationship between mercury and autism levels. "It makes one worry." California has the highest environmental burden of mercury of any state in the country, and it also has what appears to be the highest rate of autism as well — although some critics attribute this perceived high rate to enhanced surveillance associated with the state's special education program. Autism is a severe developmental disorder in which children seem isolated from the world around them. There is a broad spectrum of symptoms, but the disorder is marked by poor language skills and an inability to handle social relations. The incidence of autism has grown dramatically over the last two decades, from about one in every 2,000 children to as high as one in every 166. Researchers have been hard-pressed to explain the increase, but many believe mercury to be the culprit. The purported link between autism and mercury has been a subject of intense debate. In the past it has centered primarily on the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal, which was once widely used in vaccines. Many parents have argued that thimerosal causes autism because their children seemed to develop the neurological disorder shortly after they received childhood vaccinations. That link has been largely discredited, and researchers are beginning to look at the potential effects of the metal from other sources. Mercury is routinely released from power plants burning fossil fuels, and it spreads widely in air and water. Much of the fish consumed in some regions is contaminated with mercury. In California, gold mining was a big mercury source, and there are many mercury hot spots near mines and downstream, such as in Clear Lake. In the new study, Palmer and his colleagues used Environmental Protection Agency data about the release of mercury in 2001 in Texas' 254 counties and correlated that with the number of special education cases and autism diagnoses in the 1,200 school districts. Texas is fourth in the amount of mercury released into the environment annually, trailing California, Oregon and West Virginia. The study, which will appear in the journal Health & Place, found that for every 1,000 pounds of mercury released into the environment, there was a 43% increase in special education services and a 61% increase in the autism rate. The exception to the rule was Brewster County, which had a high autism rate but did not report significant mercury levels to the EPA. When Palmer investigated, however, he found that the county had been home to one of the largest mercury mines in the nation. "Perhaps [the mercury] just stays in the environment forever. We don't know," Palmer said. More work will be required to determine whether mercury is the agent that causes the disorder. Palmer is expanding his studies to look for historical correlations — attempting to determine, for example, if increases in the rate of autism over time can be associated with increases in mercury release. Dr. Irva Hertz-Picciatto and her colleagues at the MIND Institute, meanwhile, have begun a potentially more definitive study in which they are measuring the levels of mercury and other toxic metals, such as cadmium and lead, in children with autism to see if they are higher than in healthy children. Results will be available in a couple of years.

antibiotics babies cancer cellphones colawars diet drugs obesity smoking toxins 1 in 3 americans have high blood pressure 1 in 3 kids 00 develop diabetes { June 15 2003 } 12 dangerous dietary supplements Acupuncture helps arthritic knees Alzheimers cases top 13m by 2050 { August 19 2003 } Americans searching for pain relief { May 9 2005 } Americans sicker than brits with more on health care { May 3 2006 } Americans want universal health care Antidepressants linked suicides { October 27 2003 } Antioxidant rich foods preserve vision Avoid drugs for migraine relief { May 4 2006 } Beef business creates anti vegan study { February 21 2005 } Black health worst condition { October 12 2003 } Bran diet lowers risk of heart disease Breastfeeding fights arthritis Breastfeeding fights diabetes in mother Britain leads the world in anti depressants Britiain US worst western nations for children Burger king down Carpal tunnel from mouse not keyboard { June 17 2003 } Chlorine in pools damages lungs Cholesterol drugs not having effect Cholesterol inhibitors in garlic identified Chopsticks can be harmful Dangerous dietary supplements { April 7 2004 } Dark chocolate aids blood flow { August 29 2004 } Dark chocolate health benefits { June 1 2004 } Depression pills { May 7 2002 } Doctors calls for national health insurance { August 12 2003 } Doctors rally around universal health care Drinking can shrink the brain { December 8 2003 } Excercise generates new stem cells and vessels { September 5 2007 } Exercise helps elderly mental sharpness Exercise helps the brain work better Facts on soy { April 13 2004 } Faster aging with obesity and smoking { June 15 2005 } Fats not increase stroke risk { October 3 2003 } Federal warning on tuna mercury danger { December 11 2003 } Fiber benefit found { May 2 2003 } Floride linked low iq { August 25 2003 } Garlic study may give herb a boost German doctor cures aids with garlic and olive oil { November 29 2005 } Girls meat milk dioxin warning Green tea may prevent hiv { November 10 2003 } Headphones use causes hearing loss Heavy lifting protects heart Heavy social drinkers show brain damage High blood pressure up { July 9 2003 } High lead found in boston water { April 28 2004 } Hormone treated beef is dangerous to human health { October 16 2003 } Hospital tries to remove mcdonalds from premises Indians heart attack Irradiated meat Lead scare prompts EPA review of rules { July 23 2004 } Loud music can damage lungs Mcdonalds closes 175 { November 8 2002 } Mcdonalds fries contain potential allergens Mcdonalds lawsuit dismissed { January 22 2003 } Mcdonalds lied again about its french fries Mcdonalds meat fries { May 24 2001 } Mcdonalds trans acids Medical injuries kill 32000 annually Milk and redmeat inflamation { September 29 2003 } More evidence vegetarian diet may stop cancer Ms vd Neurologist helps people understand migraine triggers { April 27 2006 } New study says slouching is better sitting Nine heart risk factors { August 30 2004 } Pills no proven to provide benefits from vegetables Prozac may stunt growing bones Salmon dye must be labeled { May 2 2003 } Salmonella [pdf] Sanitation is greatest medical milestone { January 18 2007 } Seeds of dementia sown in midlife health diet lifestyle Soy best for lowering cholesterol Soy thyroid function Stress can cause common cold or cancer Study links drinking brain tissue loss Supplements work Survey finds millions new drug abusers Sushi tuna found to have dangerous mercury levels { January 23 2008 } Toddlers tv watching linked to attention deficit { April 5 2004 } Tomato juice may stave off heart troubles { August 22 2004 } Toxic mercury in environment causing autism { March 17 2005 } Trans fats worse saturated fats { July 9 2003 } Uncooked foods healthier { July 17 2000 } Us health care spending surges again { January 9 2004 } Vegan sues mcdonalds over french fries again { February 17 2006 } Vitamins and calcium help pms symptons { June 17 2005 } Watching TV causes hormone imbalance { June 28 2004 } Wifi may endanger childrens health { April 22 2007 } Files Listed: 91

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site 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://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.