Vaccines and Absence of Evidence of Safety
By Jim Thompson
The legal claim by George and Victoria Meade, for their son William, was recently dismissed by federal Special Master Smith-Campbell. See HERE . The parents’ claim was that William received vaccines with thimerosal which in turn caused brain injury and resulted in autism.
The federal ruling concluded that the evidence presented for William’s case did not prove a cause of injury resulting in autism. But it did not establish that the case evidence proved safety. And this is what really speaks to the concern of all families concerned about mercury and brain injury.
As background information--first, thimerosal contains mercury. Although a few states ban thimerosal in vaccines, it is still used in the majority of flu vaccines as a preservative in this country. The amount of mercury in a flu shot (one half milliliter dose), with thimerosal preservative, is about 25 micrograms. Twenty five micrograms is the amount of mercury in a half cup (four US fluid ounces) of mercury hazardous waste. See HERE.
Second, scientific literature for high level mercury poisoning has provided tragic accounts of acute (short term) effects of organic mercury on the brain. For a graphic comparison of a brain without neurological disease to a brain with up to 3,100 parts per billion total mercury, see Figure Number Three. For high level mercury poisoning, scientific literature also offers evidence of delayed neurological effects .
Third, for low level mercury poisoning, a term not used in the ruling, such as the level of mercury in the brain that is one thousand times lower than the 3,100 parts per billion in the above referenced acute poisoning case, the scientific literature is incomplete for chronic (long term) effects on the brain.
Now regarding the ruling, the Special Master Smith-Campbell acknowledges an expert’s opinion of two to three parts per billion in an infant brain as the estimated level of inorganic mercury resulting from vaccines with thimerosal (see page 133). However there is no consensus in the scientific literature for these levels regarding delayed damage. Nonetheless the Special Master decided to use data from a report by Lapham et al to address this.
So in addressing the issue of possible delayed damage from low level mercury poisoning, the Special Master misuses the term “no observable toxic effects” to compare between (1) the two to three parts per billion inorganic mercury estimated to be in the brain after a child receives vaccines with thimerosal, and (2) neonatal autopsy total mercury in brain levels of 50 to less than 300 parts per billion (see pages 83 and 137 of the ruling).
The use of this data by the Special Master, based on a report using histological examination methods on brains from 32 neonatal autopsies for children exposed in the womb to methylmercury, for this comparison is illogical and technically incorrect.
To say the least, any “no observable toxic effects” based on data from children’s brain tissue in Lapham et al could neither have been observed nor measured at a future time for those children. And it is technically impossible to use this data to extrapolate a “no observable toxic effects” level of mercury in brain tissue on to William or any other children of his age. Lapham et al reported on children that died relatively soon after birth.
Finally and most important, the word “safe” is absent from the Special Master Smith-Campbell ruling. There is no evidence stated in the ruling which proves that intentionally injecting vaccines with thimerosal preservative into children and pregnant women is safe. And there are no FDA numeric criteria, including the chronic toxicity effects of inorganic mercury exposures to the human brain, to establish what thimerosal levels in vaccines, if any, are safe.
So while the William Meade case ruling incorrectly rejected evidence of harm for low levels of inorganic mercury in a child’s brain--it is more important to note that it did not establish that the evidence proved safety regarding thimerosal and brain injury.
Jim Thompson is a registered professional engineer. He and his wife Susan live and work in rural South Dakota. Their first granddaughter Taylor Haug was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, verbal apraxia, motor disorder, and sensory integration disorder. Her loving memory has influenced his family’s decision to help protect children from vaccine injuries.
Forget the fish,they are poisoning the kids with the vaccines.
Posted by: One voice | March 24, 2010 at 08:19 AM
Re Post by cmo: "Do children have to be dead, and have to provide a good measurment of brain mercury to win their case ?"
"The use of this data by the Special Master, based on a report using histological examination methods on brains from 32 neonatal autopsies for children exposed in the womb to methylmercury, for this comparison is illogical and technically incorrect.
"To say the least, any “no observable toxic effects” based on data from children’s brain tissue in Lapham et al could neither have been observed nor measured at a future time for those children....Lapham et al reported on children that died relatively soon after birth."
Let me guess? The mercury exposure to these estremely vulnerable tiny developing fetuses was not considered the "cause of death"? The cause of death was attributed to some other cause, with absolutely no relation to the mercury exposure?
OR the cause of death was listed as related to the mercury exposure, but according to their analysis this was not considered evidence for potential long term permanent brain damage?
Irregardless, this study was cherry picked in the court's desperation to "disprove" causation of brain damage by mercury exposure to infants with developing brains, immature immune systems, highly limited detoxification capacity, and extremely small body weight in comparitive ratio to the mercury levels.
The outcomes of the vaccine court are pre-determined in order to protect the vaccine industry. It is a rigged Kangaroo Court and a disgrace to the judicial system. If this same evidence was presented to a jury, these people would have won their case. This is orchestrated complicity in the conspiracy to prevent the truth about vaccines from being exposed. This all stinks to high Heaven.
Posted by: Autism Grandma | March 24, 2010 at 05:29 AM
My prayers go out to all the families and children damaged by vaccines. As we come to the holiday of Passover which commemorates the Jewish people leaving the slavery in Egypt, I can only think what miracle do we need to remove the bondage of slavery, i.e. unlawful dangerous and damaging vaccination being givento our children.
As for me and all of my families, I will just say “No”.
Posted by: Mayer Eisenstein MD,JD,MPH | March 23, 2010 at 09:56 PM
I don't know how these facts can be ignored in the courtroom: mercury- even low levels of it- suppresses/alters the immune system (just search PubMed on mercury + immune suppression, it is a well-established consequence) coupled with the fact that the MMR is CONTRAINDICATED in anyone with a compromised immune system (it says so right on the package insert).
It's a One-two punch= MINA (Measles Induced Neural Autism syndrome, according to the Brighton Collaboration) or VAMP (Vaccine Associated Measles Panencephalitis)
AKA Autism
Posted by: Janet Sheehan | March 23, 2010 at 09:51 PM
did anyone else get a letter from there lawyers today that because of the rulings they will not pursue this any longer? when will our voices be heard? candace
Posted by: candace | March 23, 2010 at 05:37 PM
my son has aluminum, mercury and lead toxicities, and he also has "autism" this is not a coincedence!
Posted by: Jacqueline | March 23, 2010 at 03:01 PM
The FDA just warned doctors against using the Rotarix rotavirus vaccine found to contain a "pig virus" .. even though the FDA claims the "pig virus" is not known to cause illnes in humans and NO ADVERSE EFFECTS HAVE BEEN OBSERVED IN CHILDREN.
http://tinyurl.com/yb2ckhs
Using the Special Master's specious logic .. no observable toxic effects .. the "pig virus" shouldn't be enough to warrant a warning by the FDA.
Posted by: Bob Moffitt | March 23, 2010 at 02:50 PM
Could the Special Master be injected with mercury until his brain measures 3,100 ppb,
and then see how he is feeling? I assume they consider the material nearly harmless...
How can someone not win their case with a neuro-toxic material that the CDC and FDA refuse to test for safety for over 50 years?
Do children have to be dead, and have to provide a good measurment of brain mercury to win their case ?
Is there a proper mercury level for "winning autopsies"?
Posted by: cmo | March 23, 2010 at 01:33 PM
And to think they encouraged me to give them the flu shot because they were preemies. I later called and verified that we had the full dose of thimerosal in that first year of life. Never again will I allow them to inject my babies with those toxins. We are on the road to recovery here. Thanks for never letting this important issue die. Keep up the good work AoA.
Posted by: Trace | March 23, 2010 at 01:30 PM
We have to talk about the aluminum, too. Not quite as neurotoxic, I understand, but devastating to the developing brain nonetheless. We can't let them off the hook if they just take one neurotoxic heavy metal out and replace it with another.
And don't even get me started on the other toxic ingredients in vaccines but the heavy metals are a good starting point. From there we can talk about the live viruses, multiple vaccines/one visit, and various and sundry other ingredients that humans should never ingest, let alone inject.
Posted by: BJ | March 23, 2010 at 12:35 PM
This makes you wonder, why hasn't the government banned vaccines that contain Mercury in all states?
Posted by: Abbey | March 23, 2010 at 11:23 AM
Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2007 Dec;82(6):653-64. Epub 2007 Oct 31.
Heterogeneity in vaccine immune response: the role of immunogenetics and the emerging field of vaccinomics.
Poland GA, Ovsyannikova IG, Jacobson RM, Smith DI.
Mayo Vaccine Research Group and the Program in Translational Immunovirology and Biodefense, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Recent advances in the fields of immunology, genetics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and the Human Genome Project have allowed for the emergence of the field of vaccinomics. Vaccinomics encompasses the fields of immunogenetics and immunogenomics as applied to understanding the mechanisms of heterogeneity in immune responses to vaccines. In this study, we examine the role of HLA genes, cytokine genes, and cell surface receptor genes as examples of how genetic polymorphism leads to individual and population variations in immune responses to vaccines. In turn, this data, in concert with new high-throughput technology, inform the immune-response network theory to vaccine response. Such information can be used in the directed and rational development of new vaccines, and this new golden age of vaccinology has been termed "predictive vaccinology", which will predict the likelihood of a vaccine response or an adverse response to a vaccine, the number of doses needed and even whether a vaccine is likely to be of benefit (i.e., is the individual at risk for the outcome for which the vaccine is being administered?).
The field of adversomics and vaccinomics have not been researched enough.
Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2009 May;28(5):431-2.
Adversomics: the emerging field of vaccine adverse event immunogenetics.
Poland GA, Ovsyannikova IG, Jacobson RM.
Mayo Vaccine Research Group, the Program in Translational
Even more the complete composition of vaccines should be addresed.
Posted by: ml | March 23, 2010 at 11:16 AM
Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Jan 5.
Genetic Effects on Toxic and Essential Elements in Humans: Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Selenium and Zinc in Erythrocytes.Whitfield JB, Dy V, McQuilty R, Zhu G, Heath AC, Montgomery GW, Martin NG.
Queensland Institute of Medical Research.
Background and Objectives. Excess of toxic trace elements or deficiency of essential ones has been implicated in many common diseases or public health problems, but little is known about causes of variation between people living within similar environments. We have examined effects of personal and socioeconomic characteristics on concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Se and Zn in erythrocytes, and tested for genetic effects using data from twin pairs. Methods. We used blood samples from 2926 adult twins living in Australia (1925 women, 1001 men, aged 30-92 years), and determined element concentrations in erythrocytes by ICP-MS. We assessed associations between element concentrations and personal and socioeconomic characteristics, and the sources of genetic and environmental variation and covariation in element concentrations. We evaluated the chromosomal locations of genes affecting these characteristics by linkage analysis in 501 dizygotic twin pairs. Results. Concentrations of Cu, Se and Zn, and of As and Hg, showed substantial correlations and the latter is mainly due to common genetic effects. Genetic linkage analysis showed significant linkage for Pb (chromosome 3, near SLC4A7) and suggestive linkage for Cd (chromosomes 2, 18, 20 and X), Hg (chromosome 5), Se (chromosomes 4 and 8), and Zn (chromosome 2, near SLC11A1). Conclusions. Although environmental exposure is a pre-condition for accumulation of toxic elements, individual characteristics and genetic factors are also important. Identification of the contributory genetic polymorphisms will improve our understanding of trace and toxic element uptake and distribution mechanisms.
Now, with the increasing evidence about adverse impact of very low doses in susceptible individuals, why the genetic and epigenetics aspects are not more studied?
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2009 Aug 18. [Epub ahead of print]
Chromium, Cadmium, and Lead Levels in Urine of Children with Autism and Typically Developing Controls.Yorbik O, Kurt I, Haşimi A, Oztürk O.
Gülhane Military Medical Faculty Child Psychiatry Department, Etlik 06018, Ankara, Turkey,
Although potentially harmful effects of heavy metals are well known, limited numbers of studies exist regarding their relationship with autism. The aim of this study was to investigate urine levels of some heavy metals such as of chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in children with autism and healthy subjects. Urine levels of Cr, Cd, and Pb were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry in 30 children with autism and compared with 20 healthy controls. Urine Cd and Pb levels were found as significantly decreased in children with autism compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.05). On the other hand, urine Cr levels were significantly higher in children with autism than healthy subjects (p < 0.05). This study suggested that autism may be associated with significant decrease in excretion rate of Cd and Pb and a significant increase excretion rate in the levels of Cr in the urine. These results have indicated that further studies are warranted for investigation of possible roles of heavy metals in autism.
I do think that the topics of synergisms and concomitant exposures on time should also be addressed by the research- not only thimerosal.
Posted by: María Luján | March 23, 2010 at 09:50 AM
Totally related to Mr Thompson post
Med Lav. 2002 May-Jun;93(3):139-47.
Mercury exposure and early effects: an overview.
Kazantzis G.
Environmental Geochemistry Research Group, Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BP, UK.
OBJECTIVES: This paper was given as a keynote address at the conference on The Assessment of the Effects Due to Low Doses of Inorganic Mercury following Environmental and Occupational Exposures: Human and in vitro Studies on the Specific Mechanisms of Toxicity in Gargnano, Italy, in September 2001. METHODS: The most relevant literature over the past 40 years has been reviewed, and in particular, the proceedings of the World Health Organisation conferences on the health effects of inorganic and organic mercury exposure have been considered. RESULTS: In an uncontaminated environment the general population is exposed to mercury vapour from the atmosphere and from dental amalgam, while the diet, mainly from fish, is the principal source for methyl mercury absorption. Mercury vapour release from amalgam fillings increases with chewing, with absorption and uptake by the brain and kidneys. Infants exposed to phenyl mercury from treated diapers and young children ingesting mercurous chloride in teething powders have developed acrodynia (pink disease), and Kawasaki disease and the use of mercurial skin lightening creams has been followed by the development of the nephrotic syndrome. Both mercury compounds and mercury vapour have given rise to contact dermatitis in the general population. Epidemics of mercury poisoning have followed release of mercury into the environment from industrial activity, with uptake of methyl mercury from fish eating in Minamata Bay and uptake of both inorganic and methyl mercury following release of mercury vapour and deposition into waterways from gold recovery procedures in the Amazon basin. The ingestion of wheat and barley seed treated with an alkyl mercury fungicide for sowing, by a largely illiterate population in Iraq, led to a major outbreak of poisoning with a high fatality rate. Following exposure to mercury vapour, the earliest clinically observed adverse effects at urine mercury levels of the order of 30-100 mg/g creatinine, are objectively detectable tremor, psychological disorder and impaired nerve conduction velocity in sensitive subjects, with subjective symptoms of irritability, fatigue and anorexia. At these and at lower levels, proteinuria has also been observed. Both glomerular and tubular damage may occur at exposure levels lower than those giving rise to central nervous system effects. An immunological effect has also been observed in studies on clinically asymptomatic workers with low level exposure. CONCLUSIONS: As mercury can give rise to allergic and immunotoxic reactions which may be genetically regulated, in the absence of adequate dose-response studies for immunologically sensitive individuals, it has not been possible to set a level for mercury in blood or urine below which mercury related symptoms will not occur.
Posted by: María Luján | March 23, 2010 at 09:43 AM