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Mercury, Autism Link Rebutted

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 8, 2008

LOS ANGELES - Autism cases in California continued to climb even after a mercury-based vaccine preservative that some people blame for the neurological disorder was removed from routine childhood shots, a new study found.

Researchers from the state Department of Public Health found the autism rate in children rose continuously during the 12-year study period from 1995 to 2007. The preservative thimerosal hasn't been used in childhood vaccines since 2001.

Doctors say the latest study adds to existing evidence rebutting a link between thimerosal exposure and autism risk, and should reassure parents the disorder is not caused by vaccinations. If there were a risk, they said, autism rates should have dropped between 2004 and 2007.

The findings show "no evidence of mercury poisoning in autism" because there was no decline in autism rates even after the elimination of thimerosal, said Eric Fombonne, an autism researcher at Montreal Children's Hospital who had no role in the research.

The Associated Press

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