| Autism is a baffling disease that affects 500,000 | | | | likely the two main factors that result in a child |
| children in the United States alone. Strangely | | | | developing autistic disorder. For instance, it is not |
| enough, the incidence of autism has skyrocketed | | | | mercury exposure alone that causes problems, |
| since the 1980s when only 1 in 10,000 children | | | | but rather, a minimum amount of exposure |
| were diagnosed with the disorder, compared to 1 | | | | coupled with the child's decreased ability to |
| in 175 today. Scientists have yet to discover for | | | | excrete mercury properly. |
| certain what causes the disease, although there | | | | Of course, this theory is a contentious one |
| are several theories being discussed. The most | | | | because childhood vaccines are being targeted as |
| controversial theory contends that mercury | | | | the main source of mercury exposure. A few |
| present in childhood vaccines may be one of the | | | | years ago, most infant vaccines contained a |
| leading factors contributing to the development of | | | | preservative called thimerasol, which included ethyl |
| the condition. | | | | mercury, although it is now being phased out of |
| It is known that people exposed to methyl | | | | use. Although ethyl mercury is different than |
| mercury, which is found in thermometers and | | | | methyl mercury, in large amounts it can damage |
| polluted environments, have incurred damage due | | | | the nervous system. The hypothesis is, as |
| to contact. A mercury spill in Japan, for example, | | | | children began receiving more and more vaccines |
| tainted fish in the area and caused those who ate | | | | over the years, they also received more |
| the poisoned fish to develop Minimata disease. | | | | mercury. |
| Another clue pointing to the dangerous effects of | | | | As with every controversial idea, not everyone |
| mercury exposure comes from an incident that | | | | agrees with this conjecture. The Centers for |
| occurred 100 years ago in the United States. Pink | | | | Disease Control and Prevention created two |
| Disease (Acrodynia) was a mysterious illness that | | | | reports on the issue, both of which dismissed |
| seemed to appear out of nowhere. The | | | | thimerasol as one of the causes of autism. And |
| symptoms included social withdrawal and a | | | | of course, many scientists and pediatricians are |
| deficiency of language skills. At the time, a | | | | concerned fear will cause parents to avoid |
| particular type of teething powder that contained | | | | vaccinating their children. |
| mercury was on the market - once it was taken | | | | In the end, no one really understands the root |
| off the market, this strange disease suddenly | | | | causes of autism, leaving many parents frustrated |
| disappeared. | | | | and without a valid explanation for the behavioral |
| Those who believe in a link between mercury and | | | | problems their autistic children experience every |
| autism cite the above as a few cases that may | | | | day. Hopefully, as more research is conducted, |
| lend credence to the theory. Those studying the | | | | scientists will come closer to solving one of the |
| connection say that a combination of genetic | | | | world's most puzzling medical mysteries. |
| susceptibility and exposure to mercury are most | | | | |