Study: Comprehensive Review of Mercury Provoked Autism

Emerging evidence supports the theory that some autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may result from a combination of genetic/biochemical susceptibility

This is especially when the body is not able to excrete mercury and/or when one is exposed to mercury at critical developmental periods, such as during pregnancy and in childhood.

Mercury Causes Autism Symptoms

Mercury has been found to cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioural dysfunctions similar to traits defining/associated with ASDs, and that these similarities extend to neuroanatomy, neurotransmitters, and biochemistry.

These symptoms span social relatedness and communication, repetitive behaviors, and stereotypic abnormal movement patterns.

The Research Findings

• Mercurials may be found in drugs for the eye, ear, nose, throat, and skin; in bleaching creams; as preservatives in cosmetics, tooth pastes, lens solutions, vaccines, allergy test and immunotherapy solutions; in antiseptics, disinfectants, and contraceptives; in fungicides and herbicides; in dental fillings and thermometers; and many other products.

• Mercury has been to cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioural dysfunctions similar to traits defining/associated with ASDs. These similarities extend to neuroanatomy, neurotransmitters, and biochemistry.

• A review of molecular mechanisms showed that mercury exposure can induce death, disorganization and/or damage to selected neurons in the brain similar to that seen in recent ASD brain pathology studies. The researchers suggest that these neuronal alterations may likely produce the symptoms by which ASDs are diagnosed.

• A review of treatments suggests that ASD patients who undergo protocols to reduce mercury show significant clinical improvements in some cases.

The researchers note that in conclusion, the overwhelming preponderance of the evidence favours acceptance that Hg exposure is capable of causing some ASDs.

Environmental Toxins Can Inflame the Brain

Here’s another study that reviewed how heavy metals can cause autism through brain inflammation. The article in the Journal of Immunotoxicology is entitled "Theoretical aspects of autism: Causes--A review."

The author is Helen Ratajczak, who used to be a former senior scientist at a pharmaceutical firm.

Ratajczak did what nobody else apparently has bothered to do: she reviewed the body of published science since autism was first described in 1943. Not just one theory suggested by research such as the role of MMR shots, or the mercury preservative thimerosal; but all of them. You can read about her study here.

References:

• Geier DA, King PG, Sykes LK, Geier MR. A comprehensive review of mercury provoked autism. Indian J Med Res. 2008 Oct;128(4):383-411. PMID: 19106436.

• Heavy metals are a risk factor for autism since, according to previous studies, it has been recognised as a neurotrophic toxin. Check out the study here.

Study: Fluoride in Pregnancy Linked to Worse Child Behavior Outcomes

No one should be drinking straight from the tap municipal water. It very likely has contaminants that are linked to diseases such as cancers and neuro-degenerative diseases.

Epidemiological studies have suggested that fluoride is a human developmental neurotoxicant that reduces measures of intelligence in children, placing it into the same category as toxic metals (lead, methylmercury, arsenic) and polychlorinated biphenyls.

This article focuses on a 2024 cohort study looking at the baby’s exposure in the womb to fluoride and neuro and behavioral problems in the early years.

The study

In a cohort study of 229 mother-child pairs, researchers found that higher levels of fluoride exposure during pregnancy were significantly associated with increased neurobehavioral problems in children by age 3.1 For each 0.68 mg/L increase in maternal urinary fluoride levels, children had nearly double the odds of total neurobehavioral issues reaching the borderline clinical or clinical range.[1]

They found:

1. a higher prenatal fluoride levels were tied to a 2.29-point increase in internalizing problem scores, including emotional reactivity, anxiety, withdrawal, and somatic complaints, as well as a 2.14-point increase in total neurobehavioral problem scores.3 

2. children of mothers with greater fluoride exposure were also rated higher on symptoms related to Autism Spectrum Disorder. As the authors note, these effect sizes are concerning given the relatively low fluoride levels in the study sample, which are typical for fluoridated areas in the US.

The JAMA study authors conclude that "there may be a need to establish recommendations for limiting fluoride exposure during the prenatal period," echoing previous calls from researchers and health advocates.

Fluoride and IQ

This study adds to a body of research going back at least decades on the impact of fluorosis on IQ.

In 2008, a China meta-analysis study examined the literature on the relationship between endemic fluorosis and children's intelligence development published between 1995 and 2007 were retrieved electronically and manually. Thirteen studies covered 2 508 children from the high fluoride group and 2 330 children from the control group.

The study suggested a negative correlation between high fluorosis exposure and children's intelligence development.

In 2023, another meta-analysis systematic review out of Italy analysed 30 studies out of 1996 potentially relevant literature records. The goal was to characterize this relation through a dose-response approach, by comparing the intelligence quotient (IQ) scores in the highest versus the lowest fluoride exposure category with a random-effects model

It concluded that their findings supported the overall evidence that an adverse effect of fluoride exposure on children's IQ, starting at low levels of exposure.

How can fluoride harm the brain?

Animal and cellular studies provide clues to the mechanisms behind fluoride's harmful neurodevelopmental impacts, including oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, disrupted neurotransmitter signaling, and altered thyroid function - all of which can derail healthy brain development.

Exposure to fluoride is linked to hypothyroidism, which negatively affects early neurodevelopment both in fetuses and newborn children (Peckham et al., 2015; Prezioso et al., 2018).

Fluoride compounds are also used in aluminum, petroleum, chemical, and plastics industries, therefore workers in such industries may be exposed to higher levels of fluoride — higher than the safety exposures — than the standard population.

You can administer fluoride yourself, with toothpastes, mouth rinses, gels, and varnishes.

Some countries take a whole community-based strategies (e.g., water, salt, and milk fluoridation), as well as individually prescribed drops or tablet supplementation. However, this raises concerns on the safety and efficacy both for dental and health in general.

Which countries in the world fluoridate their water

Water fluoridation is the adding of fluoride to a public water supply to the population. The policy was introduced in the 1930s in a bid to reduce tooth decay. It is typically at concentrations ranging from 0.7 mg/L to 1.2 mg/L.

Only three countries in the world have government/federal mandated fluoridation: Ireland, Singapore New Zealand. Only eight countries in the world have more than 50% of the population on fluoridated water: USA (70%), Australia (90%), Ireland (70%), Singapore (100%), Chile (70%), Brunei (95%), New Zealand (52%), and Malaysia (66%).

The whole of continental Europe is NOT fluoridated.

Only 10% of the UK is fluoridated.

References & resources

1. 1 Malin AJ, Eckel SP, Hu H, et al. Maternal Urinary Fluoride and Child Neurobehavior at Age 36 Months. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(5):e2411987. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.11987

2. Hypothyroidism is one https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935123000312#bib41

3. Read an extensive body of research in the GreenMedInfo.com database revealing fluoride's little-recognized dark side. With over 300 studies, the database links fluoride to more than 100 adverse health effects, from hypothyroidism6 and immune dysfunction7 to skeletal fluorosis and, most troublingly, neurotoxicity.

4. Learn about the environmental toxins that can impact children’s brain development.