From the May 2001 Idaho Observer:

Symptoms of mercury poisoning, autism nearly identical says M.D.

by The Idaho Observer

At the National Vaccine Information Center Conference in September, 2000, Stephanie Cave, M.D., stated, “Mercury poisoning and autism have nearly identical symptoms.”

The symptoms Dr. Cave cited include social withdrawal and self-injurious behavior, lack of eye contact and blank facial expression, repetitive behavior and hypersensitivity to noises and touching.

Though science proved mercury toxicity hundreds of years ago, public awareness of the dangers of mercury began in the 70s when consumption of mercury-laden fish from the Great Lakes was linked to cancer, birth defects and developmental anomalies. The medical use of mercury took another hit in the 80s when the public learned that millions of people are being systemically poisoned as the mercury contained in their dental work is slowly released into their bodies.

The use of mercury in over-the-counter medications was banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998, yet the known toxin can still be found in prescription preparations such as vaccines. Now we are finding that the presence of thimerosal is responsible for an epidemic of neurological and physiological problems. Thimerosal is a mercury derivative used as a preservative in at least 30 of the federally-recommended vaccines being given to millions of the nation's children.

Mercury toxicity is well established in the scientific literature and its dangers to people has been well-known the entire time pharmaceutical companies have been marketing mercury-containing vaccines for administration to infants and children.

“My grandson received vaccines for nine different diseases in one day. He might have been exposed to 62.5 micrograms of mercury in one day through his [FDA-approved] vaccines. According to his weight, the maximum safe level that he should be exposed to in one day [according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] is 1.51 micrograms. This is 41 times the amount at which harm can be caused,” wrote Representative Dan Burton (R-IN) October 25, 2000, in a letter to former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala.

Rep. Burton, whose previously healthy grandson now suffers from autism, was chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform that investigated vaccine-associated brain and immune system damage in children last year.

Burton's committee discovered that scientific studies published by reputable researchers such as Dr. Andrew Wakefield, Dr. Bernard Rimland and Dr. Edward Yazbak that links mercury-containing vaccines to often permanent physical and neurological damage. Burton's committee also uncovered evidence which suggests that high-level conflicts of interest exist between pharmaceutical companies that seek government approval for their vaccines and the government agents and agencies that approve them.