Posts Tagged “ mercury ”

Written by Gabriela Segura, MD
Monday, 19 July 2010 09:17

So, there is a new study which shows that mercury-based vaccines can cause brain changes found in autism. It supports the data found in the following compelling charts which juxtapose mercury toxicity symptoms versus the symptoms of autism:

Autism: a Novel Form of Mercury Poisoning
Autism Research Institute

Table I: Summary Comparison of Traits of Autism & Mercury Poisoning (Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) references in bold; Mercury poisoning (HgP) references in italics)

Psychiatric Disturbances
Social deficits, shyness, social withdrawal (1,2,130,131; 21,31,45,53,132)
Repetitive, perseverative, stereotypic behaviors; obsessive-compulsive tendencies (1,2,43,48,133; 20,33-35,132)
Depression/depressive traits, mood swings, flat affect; impaired face recognition (14,15,17,103, 134,135; 19,21,24,26,31)
Anxiety; schizoid tendencies; irrational fears (2,15,16; 21,27,29,31)
Irritability, aggression, temper tantrums (12,13,43; 18,21,22,25)
Lacks eye contact; impaired visual fixation (HgP)/ problems in joint attention (ASD) (3,36,136,137; 18,19,34)
Speech and Language Deficits
Loss of speech, delayed language, failure to develop speech (1-3,138,139; 11,23,24,27,30,37)
Dysarthria; articulation problems (3; 21,25,27,39)
Speech comprehension deficits (3,4,140; 9,25,34,38)
Verbalizing and word retrieval problems (HgP); echolalia, word use and pragmatic errors (ASD) (1,3,36; 21,27,70)
Sensory Abnormalities
Abnormal sensation in mouth and extremities (2,49; 25,28,34,39)
Sound sensitivity; mild to profound hearing loss (2,47,48; 19,23-25,39,40)
Abnormal touch sensations; touch aversion (2,49; 23,24,45,53)
Over-sensitivity to light; blurred vision (2,50,51; 18,23,31,34,45)
Motor Disorders
Flapping, myoclonal jerks, choreiform movements, circling, rocking, toe walking, unusual postures (2,3,43,44; 11,19,27,30,31,34,39)
Deficits in eye-hand coordination; limb apraxia; intention tremors (HgP)/problems with intentional movement or imitation (ASD) (2,3,36,181; 25,29,32,38,70,87)
Abnormal gait and posture, clumsiness and incoordination; difficulties sitting, lying, crawling, and walking; problem on one side of body (4,41,42,123; 18,25,31,34,39,45)
Cognitive Impairments
Borderline intelligence, mental retardation – some cases reversible (2,3,151,152; 19,25,31,39,70)
Poor concentration, attention, response inhibition (HgP)/shifting attention (ASD) (4,36,153; 21,25,31,38,141)
Uneven performance on IQ subtests; verbal IQ higher than performance IQ (3,4,36; 31,38)
Poor short term, verbal, and auditory memory (36,140; 21,29,31,35,38,87,141)
Poor visual and perceptual motor skills; impairment in simple reaction time (HgP)/ lower performance on timed tests (ASD) (4,140,181; 21,29,142)
Deficits in understanding abstract ideas & symbolism; degeneration of higher mental powers (HgP)/sequencing, planning & organizing (ASD); difficulty carrying out complex commands (3,4,36,153; 9,18,37,57,142)
Unusual Behaviors
Self injurious behavior, e.g. head banging (3,154; 11,18,53)
ADHD traits (2,36,155; 35,70)
Agitation, unprovoked crying, grimacing, staring spells 3,154; 11,23,37,88)
Sleep difficulties (2,156,157; 11,22,31)
Physical Disturbances
Hyper- or hypotonia; abnormal reflexes; decreased muscle strength, especially upper body; incontinence; problems chewing, swallowing (3,42,145,181; 19,27,31,32,39)
Rashes, dermatitis, eczema, itching (107,146; 22,26,143)
Diarrhea; abdominal pain/discomfort, constipation, “colitis” (107,147-149; 18,23,26,27,31,32)
Anorexia; nausea (HgP)/vomiting (ASD); poor appetite (HgP)/restricted diet (ASD) (2,123; 18,22)
Lesions of ileum and colon; increased gut permeability (147,150; 57,144)

Table II: Summary Comparison of Biological Abnormalities in Autism & Mercury Exposure Read more…

Written by Gabriela Segura, MD
Friday, 20 February 2009 13:41

Mercury is one of the most toxic substances in the world for our bodies. It has been associated with gastrointestinal, autoimmune, cardiovascular, kidney and neurological/cognitive problems. Gastrointestinal problems include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and colitis. Neurological problems include symptoms of shyness, emotional lability, nervousness, insomnia, memory problems, and the inability to concentrate. Other nervous symptoms may include encephalopathy, nerve damage, Parkinsonian symptoms, tremor, ataxia, impaired hearing, tunnel vision, dysarthria, headache, fatigue, impaired sexual function, and depression. Kidney problems include proteinura and acute renal failure. Skin problems includes allergic skin rashes, chelitis, gum disease, stomatitis and excessive salivation. Cardiovascular problems include endothelial dysfunction in resistance and conductance arteries, and an increase in oxidative stress responsible for some of the deterioration in vascular responses.

We are exposed to mercury through medications, dental silver fillings, large sea food (tuna, shark, swordfish, tilefish, sea bass, and most river fish), and environmental exposure. For instance, the level of mercury brain tissues directly correlates to the number of dental fillings we have in our mouths. Mercury is also a common disinfectant in most flu vaccines and contact-lens fluid. And people can have toxic blood levels of mercury from eating too much sushi.

Mercury is highly persistent in the environment and can be carried far distances in the atmosphere, getting deposited far from their place of origin. In addition to this, mercury is emitted from coal-burning industrial facilities at the rate of 2,900 tons (or over 6 million pounds) per year! A disaster, if you consider that mercury is toxic at greater than 1 part per million, and organizations consider a “safe” level of mercury exposure to be less than 0.1 micrograms/kilogram body weight/day. Now this is extremely alarming! And mercury still is a major pollutant in our environment:

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