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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
 Posted - 01/07/2008 : 19:35:16
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This news ought to demolish the dangerous anti-vax movement, but probably won't. Still, if someone you know is keeping their kids from vaccinations because of the fear of autism, get them to read the link! LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Autism cases in California continued to climb even after a mercury-rich 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, but is used in some flu shots.
Doctors say the latest study adds to existing evidence refuting a link between thimerosal exposure and autism risk and should reassure parents that the disorder is not caused by vaccinations. If there was a risk, they said, autism rates should have dropped between 2004 and 2007. |
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
Edited by - HalfMooner on 01/08/2008 02:21:43
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furshur
SFN Regular
USA
1536 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2008 : 08:11:49 [Permalink]
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But the question remains - why the hell is the level of autisum rising. What is that about? Pretty scary actually, I know several couples with autistic children.
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If I knew then what I know now then I would know more now than I know. |
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BigPapaSmurf
SFN Die Hard
3192 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2008 : 08:30:13 [Permalink]
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| It could be so many things, the number of devices and chemicals we contact daily has risen exponentially since the 40's, it could be so many things or a combination of many. |
"...things I have neither seen nor experienced nor heard tell of from anybody else; things, what is more, that do not in fact exist and could not ever exist at all. So my readers must not believe a word I say." -Lucian on his book True History
"...They accept such things on faith alone, without any evidence. So if a fraudulent and cunning person who knows how to take advantage of a situation comes among them, he can make himself rich in a short time." -Lucian critical of early Christians c.166 AD From his book, De Morte Peregrini |
| Edited by - BigPapaSmurf on 01/18/2008 08:30:52 |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2008 : 13:38:36 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by furshur
But the question remains - why the hell is the level of autisum rising. What is that about? Pretty scary actually, I know several couples with autistic children. |
From what I've heard, the primary hypothesis is simply increased diagnosis. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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H. Humbert
SFN Die Hard
USA
4574 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2008 : 13:47:47 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dave W.
From what I've heard, the primary hypothesis is simply increased diagnosis. |
Yeah, when I was in school, all the weird, slightly anti-social kids were all just considered weirdos, creeps, and goons. Now they're considered to be in the "autistic range." Same thing as relabeling the spazzes with ADHD. It's not that these types of kids never existed before, we just had different names for them. But no treatment options, so this push to diagnose is a good thing.
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"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true." --Demosthenes
"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool." --Richard P. Feynman
"Face facts with dignity." --found inside a fortune cookie |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2008 : 14:23:27 [Permalink]
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Back in my day, we had lots of nerds. Now, they have been reclassified as geeks and billionaires. But there's still no cure.
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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furshur
SFN Regular
USA
1536 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2008 : 21:41:36 [Permalink]
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| From what I've heard, the primary hypothesis is simply increased diagnosis. |
I don't know Dave reading the link that mooner gave I certainly don't get that impression. I am not prone to jumping to conclusion but I find this autism increase quite disconcerting.
Oh and by the way.
| Back in my day, we had lots of nerds. Now, they have been reclassified as geeks and billionaires. But there's still no cure. |
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If I knew then what I know now then I would know more now than I know. |
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Dude
SFN Die Hard
USA
6891 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2008 : 22:19:00 [Permalink]
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The definition of the official diagnosis of autism has been changed in the last 20 years and gained official recognition.
So, many diagnoses of autism now would have been called something different even 10 years ago.
Also, the increased attention and expansion of the scope of the diagnosis has probably led to many borderline functional deficits (that years ago would have been ignored or caused no concern) being diagnosed as autism.
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Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing, than he who believes what is wrong.
-- Thomas Jefferson
"god :: the last refuge of a man with no answers and no argument." - G. Carlin
Hope, n.
The handmaiden of desperation; the opiate of despair; the illegible signpost on the road to perdition. ~~ da filth |
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recurve boy
Skeptic Friend
Australia
53 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2008 : 03:16:19 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by HalfMooner
This news ought to demolish the dangerous anti-vax movement, but probably won't. Still, if someone you know is keeping their kids from vaccinations because of the fear of autism, get them to read the link! LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Autism cases in California continued to climb even after a mercury-rich 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, but is used in some flu shots.
Doctors say the latest study adds to existing evidence refuting a link between thimerosal exposure and autism risk and should reassure parents that the disorder is not caused by vaccinations. If there was a risk, they said, autism rates should have dropped between 2004 and 2007. |
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Was there any real evidence to back the claim that the preservative was dangerous?
Thimerosol doesn't contain mercury. It has mercury atoms in it. I'm guessing as an ion. I can't remember all my high school chem but there are some obvious elements that can be very dangerous on their own, but harmless in other forms.
- Hydrogen
- Oxygen
- Sodium
- Chlorine
- Lithium
- Potassium
I am sure a chemist r biologist can tell us more.
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2008 : 04:07:45 [Permalink]
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To my knowledge, there is no evidence such small amounts of mercury compounds are dangerous. California's banning of Thimerosol seems to make sense to me nevertheless, if only to ally fears and thus keep people vaccinating their kids.
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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Dude
SFN Die Hard
USA
6891 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2008 : 12:32:40 [Permalink]
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recurve asked:
Was there any real evidence to back the claim that the preservative was dangerous?
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No.
And the studies conducted to investigate have found no link between vaccinations and autism.
The whole thing is angry parents looking for something/someone to blame instead of accepting the reality that bad shit sometimes happens that we have no control over.
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Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing, than he who believes what is wrong.
-- Thomas Jefferson
"god :: the last refuge of a man with no answers and no argument." - G. Carlin
Hope, n.
The handmaiden of desperation; the opiate of despair; the illegible signpost on the road to perdition. ~~ da filth |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2008 : 13:33:03 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dude
recurve asked:
Was there any real evidence to back the claim that the preservative was dangerous?
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No.
And the studies conducted to investigate have found no link between vaccinations and autism.
The whole thing is angry parents looking for something/someone to blame instead of accepting the reality that bad shit sometimes happens that we have no control over.
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From this weeks Skeptic Summary my Evil Pick was:
VACCINES & AUTISM: Myths and Misconceptions
Good reading on this topic.
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Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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Vaccine preservative banned, but autism reports up
