Cynthia A. Janak
Truth or consequences about mercury
By Cynthia A. Janak
Today I read an article that said that thimerosal/mercury is not harmful. This was based on a 10 year Italian study.
This revelation just happens to run contrary to all that I have read from the EPA website about remediation of mercury from the environment and that it is a neurotoxin and other sources.
Researchers find no risk of thimerosal in vaccines causing brain problems
By CARLA K. JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer
3:16 AM PST, January 26, 2009
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-med-vaccine-safety,0,3306064.story
CHICAGO (AP) — A new study from Italy adds to a mountain of evidence that a mercury-based preservative once used in many vaccines doesn't hurt children, offering more reassurance to parents.
...The study, funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drew praise from outside experts.
"It's yet another well done, peer-reviewed research study that has demonstrated there is no risk of any neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with thimerosal in vaccines," said epidemiologist Jennifer Pinto-Martin of the University of Pennsylvania.
"This becomes the fourth study to look for subtle signs of mercury toxicity and show the answer was 'no,'" said Dr. Paul Offit, chief of infectious diseases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the author of a book on autism research and the co-inventor of a rotavirus vaccine.
Once again we have Dr. Offit in the middle of this controversy. Of course he would be all over the results of this study because it validates the book he wrote. What would happen to the sales of his book if it proved that it caused brain damage? I guess he would not sell too many books.
About a year ago I watched a video about mercury. I found it to be very interesting. I wonder if Offit watched the video put together by the University of Calgary on how mercury causes brain neuron degeneration. I would like to see Dr. Offit get a vaccine with the equivalent thimerosal dose to body mass ratio in regards to the amount given to children. I can bet that he would not do it.
What I am going to do is show you a video dated 1999 from the University of Calgary as to how mercury causes brain neuron degeneration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5WNLOjmAiw
Wasn't that interesting? I thought that this study was fantastic because it showed you how the process works in real time.
As I mentioned earlier this study runs contrary to what I have read about mercury from the EPA but first I am going to reference an article from Science Daily.
This article is called "Exposure to Low Doses of Mercury Changes the Way the Arteries Work", dated October 27th, 2008. http://www.sciencedaily.com/release/2008/10/081023222556.htm
An international team of researchers has shown that mercury is another important factor in cardiovascular disease as it changes the way arteries work.
...The main effects of mercury affect the central nervous system and renal function. Over recent years the scientific community has reported an increase in cardiovascular risk following exposure to mercury, "although the mechanisms responsible for this increase are not completely known."
...The aim of the study was to evaluate whether really low concentrations of mercury, administered over a prolonged period of time, "could have a prejudicial effect on vascular response," that is to say, on the way the arteries behave.
Data confirm that low doses of mercury have a harmful effect on vascular function. Mercedes Salaices, one of the other authors of the study, emphasizes that the impact of mercury "could be compared to the impact produced by other more traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes or hypercholesterolaemia."
Now let us look at what the EPA says about mercury.
http://www.fda.gov/CBER/vaccine/thimerosal.htm
Thimerosal as a Preservative
Thimerosal, which is approximately 50% mercury by weight, has been one of the most widely used preservatives in vaccines. It is metabolized or degraded to ethylmercury and thiosalicylate. Ethylmercury is an organomercurial that should be distinguished from methylmercury, a related substance that has been the focus of considerable study
Guidelines on Exposure to Organomercurials
Mercury is an element that is dispersed widely around the earth. Most of the mercury in the water, soil, plants and animals is found as inorganic mercury salts. Mercury accumulates in the aquatic food chain, primarily in the form of the methylmercury, an organomercurial. Organic forms of mercury are more easily absorbed when ingested and are less readily eliminated from the body than are inorganic forms of mercury. Humans are exposed to methylmercury primarily from the consumption of seafood (Mahaffey et al. 1997).
Methylmercury is a neurotoxin...
Thimerosal Toxicity
The various mercury guidelines are based on epidemiological and laboratory studies of methyl mercury, whereas thimerosal is a derivative of ethyl mercury. Because they are different chemical entities — ethyl- versus methylmercury — different toxicological profiles are expected. There is, therefore, an uncertainty that arises in applying the methylmercury-based guidelines to thimerosal. Lacking definitive data on the comparative toxicities of ethyl- versus methylmercury, FDA considered ethyl- and methyl-mercury as equivalent in its risk evaluation. There are some data and studies bearing directly on thimerosal toxicity and these are summarized in this Section.
The Committee believed that the effort to remove thimerosal from vaccines was "a prudent measure in support of the public health goal to reduce mercury exposure of infants and children as much as possible." Furthermore, in this regard, the Committee urged that "full consideration be given to removing thimerosal from any biological product to which infants, children, and pregnant women are exposed."
The FDA is continuing its efforts to reduce the exposure of infants, children, and pregnant women to mercury from various sources.
Press release
15 January 2009
Ministry of the Environment
Government bans all use of mercury in Sweden
http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/11459/a/118550
The Government today decided to introduce a blanket ban on mercury. The ban means that the use of dental amalgam in fillings will cease and that it will no longer be permitted to place products containing mercury on the Swedish market.
"Sweden is now leading the way in removing and protecting the environment from mercury, which is non-degradable. The ban is a strong signal to other countries and a Swedish contribution to EU and UN aims to reduce mercury use and emissions," says Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren.
I took this last quote from the Global Mercury Assessment report dated December 2002. http://www.chem.unep.ch/mercury/Report/Final%20report/final-assessment-report-25nov02.pdf
Summary of effect levels
201. This chapter gives a brief presentation of the different adverse effects on human health from elemental (and inorganic) mercury, as well as methylmercury. To put the level of exposures for methylmercury in perspective, for the most widely accepted non-lethal adverse effect (neurodevelopmental effects), the United States (US) National Research Council (NRC, 2000) has estimated the benchmark dose (BMD) to be 58 ìg/l total mercury in cord blood (or 10 ìg/g total mercury in maternal hair) using data from the Faroe Islands study of human mercury exposures (Grandjean et al., 1997). This BMD level is the lower 95% confidence limit for the exposure level that causes a doubling of a 5% prevalence of abnormal neurological performance (developmental delays in attention, verbal memory and language) in children exposed in-utero in the Faroe Islands study. These are the tissue levels estimated to result from an average daily intake of about 1 ìg methylmercury per kg body weight per day (1 ìg/kg body weight per day).
202. Other adverse effects have been seen in humans with less reliability or at much higher exposures. For methylmercury, effects have been seen on the adult nervous system, on cardiovascular disease, on cancer incidence and on genotoxicity. Also, effects have been reported on heart rate variability and blood pressure in 7 year-old children exposed prenatally, and on cardiovascular mortality in adults. For elemental mercury and inorganic mercury compounds, effects have been seen on: the excretion of low molecular weight proteins; on enzymes associated with thyroid function; on spontaneous abortion rates; genotoxicity; respiratory system; gastrointestinal (digestion) system; liver; immune system; and the skin. Several detailed evaluations of response as a function of exposure that have been conducted are reviewed in Chapter 4. As this report presents the toxicity of mercury in summary only, the reviews, which the presentation was based on, have not been checked in the original references for correct quoting during the preparation of this report.
With all this information on Mercury, it is my opinion that it doesn't matter whether it is a little or a lot. Mercury still has the potential to damage the central nervous system and should not be used at all in any vaccine, etc.
The point that is being ignored, I believe, is that what we need are safe vaccines or a method to administer the VLP's (virus like particles) in a manner that we do not require all the other chemicals. Better life through chemistry does not work. Our bodies have a balance and I believe with every vaccine or chemical we put in them upsets this balance and that is why disease is running rampant. This is but my opinion.
Come visit my website www.cynthiajanak.com for more interesting topics of discussion.
© Cynthia A. Janak
January 26, 2009
Today I read an article that said that thimerosal/mercury is not harmful. This was based on a 10 year Italian study.
This revelation just happens to run contrary to all that I have read from the EPA website about remediation of mercury from the environment and that it is a neurotoxin and other sources.
Researchers find no risk of thimerosal in vaccines causing brain problems
By CARLA K. JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer
3:16 AM PST, January 26, 2009
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-med-vaccine-safety,0,3306064.story
CHICAGO (AP) — A new study from Italy adds to a mountain of evidence that a mercury-based preservative once used in many vaccines doesn't hurt children, offering more reassurance to parents.
...The study, funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drew praise from outside experts.
"It's yet another well done, peer-reviewed research study that has demonstrated there is no risk of any neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with thimerosal in vaccines," said epidemiologist Jennifer Pinto-Martin of the University of Pennsylvania.
"This becomes the fourth study to look for subtle signs of mercury toxicity and show the answer was 'no,'" said Dr. Paul Offit, chief of infectious diseases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the author of a book on autism research and the co-inventor of a rotavirus vaccine.
Once again we have Dr. Offit in the middle of this controversy. Of course he would be all over the results of this study because it validates the book he wrote. What would happen to the sales of his book if it proved that it caused brain damage? I guess he would not sell too many books.
About a year ago I watched a video about mercury. I found it to be very interesting. I wonder if Offit watched the video put together by the University of Calgary on how mercury causes brain neuron degeneration. I would like to see Dr. Offit get a vaccine with the equivalent thimerosal dose to body mass ratio in regards to the amount given to children. I can bet that he would not do it.
What I am going to do is show you a video dated 1999 from the University of Calgary as to how mercury causes brain neuron degeneration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5WNLOjmAiw
Wasn't that interesting? I thought that this study was fantastic because it showed you how the process works in real time.
As I mentioned earlier this study runs contrary to what I have read about mercury from the EPA but first I am going to reference an article from Science Daily.
This article is called "Exposure to Low Doses of Mercury Changes the Way the Arteries Work", dated October 27th, 2008. http://www.sciencedaily.com/release/2008/10/081023222556.htm
An international team of researchers has shown that mercury is another important factor in cardiovascular disease as it changes the way arteries work.
...The main effects of mercury affect the central nervous system and renal function. Over recent years the scientific community has reported an increase in cardiovascular risk following exposure to mercury, "although the mechanisms responsible for this increase are not completely known."
...The aim of the study was to evaluate whether really low concentrations of mercury, administered over a prolonged period of time, "could have a prejudicial effect on vascular response," that is to say, on the way the arteries behave.
Data confirm that low doses of mercury have a harmful effect on vascular function. Mercedes Salaices, one of the other authors of the study, emphasizes that the impact of mercury "could be compared to the impact produced by other more traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes or hypercholesterolaemia."
Now let us look at what the EPA says about mercury.
http://www.fda.gov/CBER/vaccine/thimerosal.htm
Thimerosal as a Preservative
Thimerosal, which is approximately 50% mercury by weight, has been one of the most widely used preservatives in vaccines. It is metabolized or degraded to ethylmercury and thiosalicylate. Ethylmercury is an organomercurial that should be distinguished from methylmercury, a related substance that has been the focus of considerable study
Guidelines on Exposure to Organomercurials
Mercury is an element that is dispersed widely around the earth. Most of the mercury in the water, soil, plants and animals is found as inorganic mercury salts. Mercury accumulates in the aquatic food chain, primarily in the form of the methylmercury, an organomercurial. Organic forms of mercury are more easily absorbed when ingested and are less readily eliminated from the body than are inorganic forms of mercury. Humans are exposed to methylmercury primarily from the consumption of seafood (Mahaffey et al. 1997).
Methylmercury is a neurotoxin...
Thimerosal Toxicity
The various mercury guidelines are based on epidemiological and laboratory studies of methyl mercury, whereas thimerosal is a derivative of ethyl mercury. Because they are different chemical entities — ethyl- versus methylmercury — different toxicological profiles are expected. There is, therefore, an uncertainty that arises in applying the methylmercury-based guidelines to thimerosal. Lacking definitive data on the comparative toxicities of ethyl- versus methylmercury, FDA considered ethyl- and methyl-mercury as equivalent in its risk evaluation. There are some data and studies bearing directly on thimerosal toxicity and these are summarized in this Section.
The Committee believed that the effort to remove thimerosal from vaccines was "a prudent measure in support of the public health goal to reduce mercury exposure of infants and children as much as possible." Furthermore, in this regard, the Committee urged that "full consideration be given to removing thimerosal from any biological product to which infants, children, and pregnant women are exposed."
The FDA is continuing its efforts to reduce the exposure of infants, children, and pregnant women to mercury from various sources.
Press release
15 January 2009
Ministry of the Environment
Government bans all use of mercury in Sweden
http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/11459/a/118550
The Government today decided to introduce a blanket ban on mercury. The ban means that the use of dental amalgam in fillings will cease and that it will no longer be permitted to place products containing mercury on the Swedish market.
"Sweden is now leading the way in removing and protecting the environment from mercury, which is non-degradable. The ban is a strong signal to other countries and a Swedish contribution to EU and UN aims to reduce mercury use and emissions," says Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren.
I took this last quote from the Global Mercury Assessment report dated December 2002. http://www.chem.unep.ch/mercury/Report/Final%20report/final-assessment-report-25nov02.pdf
Summary of effect levels
201. This chapter gives a brief presentation of the different adverse effects on human health from elemental (and inorganic) mercury, as well as methylmercury. To put the level of exposures for methylmercury in perspective, for the most widely accepted non-lethal adverse effect (neurodevelopmental effects), the United States (US) National Research Council (NRC, 2000) has estimated the benchmark dose (BMD) to be 58 ìg/l total mercury in cord blood (or 10 ìg/g total mercury in maternal hair) using data from the Faroe Islands study of human mercury exposures (Grandjean et al., 1997). This BMD level is the lower 95% confidence limit for the exposure level that causes a doubling of a 5% prevalence of abnormal neurological performance (developmental delays in attention, verbal memory and language) in children exposed in-utero in the Faroe Islands study. These are the tissue levels estimated to result from an average daily intake of about 1 ìg methylmercury per kg body weight per day (1 ìg/kg body weight per day).
202. Other adverse effects have been seen in humans with less reliability or at much higher exposures. For methylmercury, effects have been seen on the adult nervous system, on cardiovascular disease, on cancer incidence and on genotoxicity. Also, effects have been reported on heart rate variability and blood pressure in 7 year-old children exposed prenatally, and on cardiovascular mortality in adults. For elemental mercury and inorganic mercury compounds, effects have been seen on: the excretion of low molecular weight proteins; on enzymes associated with thyroid function; on spontaneous abortion rates; genotoxicity; respiratory system; gastrointestinal (digestion) system; liver; immune system; and the skin. Several detailed evaluations of response as a function of exposure that have been conducted are reviewed in Chapter 4. As this report presents the toxicity of mercury in summary only, the reviews, which the presentation was based on, have not been checked in the original references for correct quoting during the preparation of this report.
With all this information on Mercury, it is my opinion that it doesn't matter whether it is a little or a lot. Mercury still has the potential to damage the central nervous system and should not be used at all in any vaccine, etc.
The point that is being ignored, I believe, is that what we need are safe vaccines or a method to administer the VLP's (virus like particles) in a manner that we do not require all the other chemicals. Better life through chemistry does not work. Our bodies have a balance and I believe with every vaccine or chemical we put in them upsets this balance and that is why disease is running rampant. This is but my opinion.
Come visit my website www.cynthiajanak.com for more interesting topics of discussion.
© Cynthia A. Janak
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