In fact, Burbacher reported
no ill health effects to monkeys when injected with thimerosal at 1990s levels. A figure, by the way, that would have little bearing on children born after 1999. Burbacher must have recognized the difficulty in obtaining thimerosal-containing vaccines when he did this study, since he chose to add thimerosal to vaccines that were never designed to contain thimerosal. Conditions may have allowed for premature dealkylation and generation of inorganic mercury species prior to injection.
Contrary to Wagnitz’s assertion, thimersosal is not 50% mercury. It is far, far less. While it’s true that it would have been accurate to describe thimerosal as 50% mercury by weight,
molecular weight is probably meaningless in terms of toxicity (which is determined by the biological effects of a chemical compound on a given organism). While the work of Burbacher does provide insight into the rates at which different forms of mercury are removed from a primate’s brain and bloodstream. As far as proof of toxicity, or specifics of mercury actually causing autism go, conclusions based on this research, seem about a solid as a paper cup.
...
A different picture? Sure, if one looks at all of them uncritically and tapes them together to form what would seem to be a rather clumsy hypothesis so far. But do the studies mentioned prove anything? Do they reject the null hypothesis that children who received mercury-containing vaccines are autistic at the same rate as those who received thimerosal-free vaccines? Remember, Wagnitz’s hypothesis appears to be that a “link” between mercury-containing vaccines and autism exists. Thimerosal was removed from most childhood vaccines by the end of 2001 (and possibly early into 2002) - five or six years ago. Rates of apparent autism diagnosis continue to rise. Do the studies referred to by Wagnitz demonstrate that (or even how) mercury in miniscule amounts in vaccines actually causes autism, despite the fact that autism diagnoses continue to increase well after its removal and reduction in childhood vaccines? While some of these studies may be interesting, what do they really have to offer in the way of scientific proof that mercury causes autism? Putting it all together, it looks like a nice hot cup of jack squat.
http://www.autismstreet.org/weblog/?p=107Thanks for playing again, but just like every time, YOU LOSE.
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