Letters in response to ABC News segment on autism:
Dear Drs. Gerberding, Fleming, and Snider,
An ABC News segment (Aug 1, 2002) presented information about autism (1) and
included a substantial amount of incorrect information thimerosal, as
promulgated by Lisa Freund, M.D., of the NIH's NICHD (2).
An ABC News webpage mentions that "Researchers at the Centers for Disease
Control in Atlanta are now planning to conduct research revolving around
mercury." (3)
That statement causes me great concern. In 2001, a CDC group used an HMO
database so as to study the relationship between autism and the amount of
thimerosal (49.6% ethylmercury by weight) injected into infants. The CDC group
found a statistically significant association between autism and levels of
phyisician-injected thimerosal and, as a result: initiated extensive tinkering
with the data (eg, data dilution) and distributed public statements conveying
that no such association was found. However, a CDC-transcript obtained via FOIA
documented that at a non-public meeting, the CDC group made clear that the
association with autism and other autism-spectrum disorders had been found (4).
An unbiased observer might conclude that this particular group within the CDC
had committed scientific fraud (eg, data dilution in pursuit of creating a
non-finding) and also had deliberately misled the public (eg, via the phony
findings trumpted on a webpage of the Am Assoc of Pediatrics).
Thus far the CDC's track-record regarding thimerosal and autism is akin to
Harken, Enron, and WorldCom accounting practices. The CDC's upper-level staff
ought correct the disinformation created by the thimerosal/autism study-group.
In the absence of such correction, I am very skeptical of the scientific
validity of CDC studies regarding autism in relation to mercury, ethylmercury,
other toxic metals.
Teresa Binstock
Researcher in Developmental & Behavioral Neuroanatomy
1.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/autismWNT020801.html
2. Date: Fri, 02 Aug 2002 13:14:16 -0500
From: Teresa Binstock <binstock@peakpeak.com>
To: Duane Alexander <alexandd@exchange.nih.gov>
CC: "Elias Zerhouni, M.D." <zerhoune@od.nih.gov>,
"Lisa Freund, M.D." <freundl@mail.nih.gov>,
Dan Burton & Beth Clay <Beth.Clay@mail.house.gov>
Dear Drs. Zerhouni and Alexander,
Last evening (August 1, 2002), ABC News presented a segment about autism and
included quotes from Lisa Fruend, who enjoys a faculty position with the
National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD). As quoted in the
news item, her statements about thimerosal are false, and I am dismayed. If she
knowingly presented false information, then she is guilty of fraud, and her NIH
position ought be terminated. If she presented false information based upon her
own ignorance, then her grant-applications and grant-projects currently
occurring ought be subjected to immediate review.
As delineated by Mark Blaxill, in his letter of response to Dr. Freund, she
stated:
"Vaccines have not had mercury in them for years," says Freund. "And if
that had a direct impact, we would probably have seen a decrease in a reporting
of the disorder, and that has not occurred. However, it would be important to
know the symptoms of children who did receive this and have the disorder. It
could be that some children, because of a genetic predisposition, have a
vulnerability to low doses of mercury, which results in something along the
autism spectrum." (a)
Not only did she present erroneous information about thimerosal and its
epidemiology (a), but her focusing upon "genetic predisposition" overlooks
children with increased susceptibility that is transient -- eg, due to chronic
diarrhea of infancy, persistent colic, autistic enterocolitis, etc. Thus Dr.
Freund has presented at least two reasons why her grant-applications and current
grant-projects ought be scrutinized with greater care and urgency; and if she
knowingly committed fraud, her NIH appointment should be terminated.
Furthermore, in so far as she was presenting herself in accord with her NIH
credentials, she and the NIH should take steps to correct the thimerosal
misinformation she presented nationally via ABCNews.
Teresa Binstock
Researcher in Developmental & Behavioral Neuroanatomy
a. Letter from Mark Blaxill to Lisa Freund regarding her misstatements to ABC
News:
Dear Dr. Freund,
If you are going to speak publicly regarding the toxicity of mercury
and its possible role in autism, you should get your facts straight.
ABC News quoted you in their recent autism story, saying the following
"Vaccines have not had mercury in them for years," says Freund. "And
if that had a direct impact, we would probably have seen a decrease
in a reporting of the disorder, and that has not occurred. However,
it would be important to know the symptoms of children who did
receive this and have the disorder. It could be that some children,
because of a genetic predisposition, have a vulnerability to low
doses of mercury, which results in something along the autism
spectrum."
This is just plain false. The new policies suggesting removal of
thimerosal from vaccines were issued in July 1999, barely three years
ago. Thimerosal-containing vaccines were not recalled and meaningful
stocks have been reported as remaining in inventory even this year.
The onset of autism can occur any time before the age of three and
most diagnoses are made when children are four and five years of age.
Many come later than that. So any effective decrease in reporting
will depend on a) a meaningful reduction in exposure, b) sufficient
time for toxic effects to be felt (a latency effect with mercury
exposure is well known) and c) sufficient time for diagnoses to be
carried out and reported.
There is indeed a testable hypothesis regarding the mercury theory of
autism. As with any iatrogenic cause, it is only natural that people
in the medical establishment would hope that exposures to mercury,
including thimerosal, were not involved in the increases in autism.
So far, however, the evidence at hand is all consistent with the
hypothesis, contrary to your false statement to ABC News. You are a
trained scientist and you should know better: wishful thinking should
not get in the way of the facts.
Sincerely,
Mark F. Blaxill
Cambridge MA
3.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/autismWNT020801.html
4. CDC’s findings and their “official statements” about those findings:
The Simpsonwood transcript obtained by FOIA:
http://www.altcorp.com/safeminds.htm
(Boyd Haley, PhD, Chair of Chemistry, U of Kentucky)
http://www.mercola.com/2001/aug/15/cdc.htm
Additional information about CDC & thimerosal can be found in hearing records of
the House Committee on Government Reform, chaired by Dan Burton, R-Indiana.
"Julie Louise Gerberding, M.D." <jyg2@cdc.gov>
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Phone......: 404-639-7000
Fax........: 404-639-7111
E-mail.....: jyg2@cdc.gov
Location...: Atlanta GA
"David W. Fleming, M.D." <dwf1@cdc.gov>
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR SCIENCE AND PUBLIC HEALTH,
Phone......: 404-639-7000
Fax........: 404-639-7111
E-mail.....: dwf1@cdc.gov
Location...: Atlanta GA
"Dixie E. Snider, M.D." <des1@cdc.gov>
Associate Director, Science,
Phone......: 404-639-7240
Fax........: 404-639-7111
E-mail.....: des1@cdc.gov
Location...: Atlanta GA
This email is intended as a public document filed with the NIH and with the
U.S.House of Representatives, c/o Dan Burton, R-Indiana, and may be forwarded
hither and yon.
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