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Note: To read my response to this article, click here.  And to read my earlier response to the Denmark study, click here. - SM

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2003/04/01/news/regional/284c60bb409b0c5786256cfb0015770e.txt

Iowa expert rejects mercury, autism link
By Todd Dorman, Journal Des Moines Bureau

DES MOINES -- The Iowa Department of Public Health's top disease expert told a Senate committee Monday that a convincing case has not been made linking autism to childhood mercury exposure.

Dr. Patricia Quinlisk testified before the Senate Human Resources Committee a week after a LeMars woman urged lawmakers to ban health care products containing trace amounts of mercury. Barbara Romkema blames her son's autism on exposure to vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative.

Quinlisk told lawmakers that none of the vaccines Iowa currently requires for children contain thimerosal. But she also said there is no proven link between exposure to mercury compounds and autism.

"I think there's a lot of evidence out there that there's not a link," said Quinlisk, citing a study of 500,000 children in Denmark that found no higher rate of autism among children who received vaccines when compared to children who skipped shots.

But skipping vaccines, Quinlisk argues, creates a very real health risk. One child infected with measles or another highly infectious disease, Quinlisk said, could conceivably threaten hundreds of people.

"We do understand that autism is a devastating disease," Quinlisk said. "However, we don't believe that vaccines in any way cause autism."

Romkema, scores of parents and other experts disagree. Romkema argues autism symptoms are virtually identical to symptoms resulting from prolonged mercury poisoning. And although thimerosal has been phased out of childhood vaccines, Romkema argues that adult shots, such as the flu vaccine, and other medical products contain trace amounts of the element.

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.