LJWorld.com weblogs Dangerous Ideas
Posted
by Paul Decelles
January 8, 2008 at 12:59 p.m.
Mercury and Autism: when is enough enough?
Today's Lawrence Journal World carried a report of a California study the says that autism is not related to mercury exposure from childhood vaccines. This study from my way of thinking is pretty convincing especially in light of independent studies that come to the same conclusion.For a number of years, some scientists and advocacy groups have been concerned that a mercury containing compound called thimerosal might be the cause of an increase in autism and perhaps other neurological disorders. What I found interesting in the Journal World's report was this comment by Geraldine Dawson from a group called Autism Speaks which advocates for autism research:"The bulk of the evidence thus far suggests that mercury is not involved, but I think parents still have many questions ... I think until parents are satisfied, we need to continue to examine the question."Now granted parents are generally the prime advocates for their children, as well they should be, but in terms of research Dawson's comments leads to a big question. Given the limits on research dollars, should we keep chasing after a hypothesized association between vaccines containing thimerosal and autism which the available epidemiological evidence says is weak at best given current vaccine protocols?How many parents do we have to satisfy? All of them? Some people will simply persist in not believing any amount of scientific research. Now don't get me wrong-mercury in the environment is an important issue and the effects of mercury on health are clear-but why should autism researchers be distracted because a few parents choose to discredit the science?Related Links:EPA mercury fact sheetCDC Mercury and Vaccine Fact SheetMercury Exposure and Child Development OutcomesMercury and Autism: A damaging delusionWhat parents should know about Thimersol and Vaccines
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mom_of_three (anonymous) says…
I think your quote from Geraldine Dawson is taken a little out of context. Prior to the quote you use, it also says
"Geraldine Dawson, the chief science officer for the advocacy group Autism Speaks, called the California research "a very important study," and said all possible causes - genetic and environmental - need to be explored aggressively."
So it isn't just mercury the group is looking at, but all causes.
mom_of_three (anonymous) says…
I understand your point, Marion, and I agree. Pick the cause which gets the attention.
But I think the article above misuses the quote.
pdecell (Paul Decelles) says…
Mom,
In looking at this issue I was amazed at the tenacity of some of these advocacy groups and the little industry of somewhat problematic treatments based on the presumed link between thimerosal and autism.
The first part of Dr. Dawson's quote is great, but the part I chose to highlight gets at an area where science and advocacy intersect. Some times when science gives answers people don't like, they attempt to discredit the scientist's motives and what happens in an advocacy group gets to be a political tussle rather than about science or even about honest advocacy.
I predict that the thimerosal controversy isn't going away and scientists and advocates will continue to be distracted by it until parents and politicians learn to become better at sorting out science based conclusions from false claims.