Our Year in Review: A Look Back on 2009

 SHAPING POLICY:  We continue to make the science supporting our community's concerns known to policymakers through our board members tireless travel across the U.S. to meet with government officials to discuss needed policy change and encourage support of legislation.  This year many of our board members traveled to represent SafeMinds, as well as participated in meetings such as the National Institute of Health's Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) to advocate for research on environmental factors driving the autism epidemic, accountability and meaningful public participation; National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) and their writing workgroup to advocate for research to close acknowledged vaccine safety research gaps to insure that the safest vaccines possible are in use; the Advisory Committee on Childhood Vaccines to advocate for transparency in vaccine injury awards and improved vaccine safety measures; and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Public Interest Partners to work toward a higher degree of investigation on the health outcomes on toxic exposures to mercury.    Read more on SafeMind's policy work here.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH: SafeMinds consistently pushes beyond our reader base to the broader public through its sponsorship of Age of Autism.  Board Members Jim Moody, Katie Wright and Mark Blaxill are regular contributors to this dynamic autism newspaper, with our own Mark Blaxill as one of the primary editors.

We have also improved our newsletter frequency; launched a more user friendly website; attended and/or presented at conferences sponsored by Defeat Autism Now!, Autism One, National Autism Association, US Autism &  Asperger Association, and National Vaccine Information Center; distributed over 10,000 flu shot brochures to countless parents, professionals and physicians; launched e-flu cards; published the "Protect Yourself Series"; as well as lending direct financial support to families struggling with autism via our participation in AutismCares. 

The list actually goes on, however, the point is that we appreciate the support of our community and we continue to work toward a less toxic world for our children to live in.  None of our accomplishments would be possible without that support!  We look forward to your continued support of our efforts on your behalf and will continue to report on accomplishments of interest to our community throughout the course of this New Year.

Researcher proposes medical hypothesis that mercury affinity for Luteinizing Hormone is a causal mechanism for mercury-associated disease

By Scott Laster, SafeMinds Environmental Committee

SafeMinds believes that the scientific knowledge is lacking on the effect of mercury on the endocrine system in humans.  It is plausible that a better understanding of mercury's effect on the endocrine system could help explain the biology that causes autism and other mercury-associated diseases.  SafeMinds has reached out to top endocrinologists to organize a 2010 meeting that would provide a forum for information-sharing as well as encourage further research.

The endocrine system is a group of glands that work together and secrete many types of different hormones that regulate the body.  Major endocrine glands are the Pineal gland, Pituitary gland, Thyroid gland, Thymus, Adrenal gland, Pancreas, and Testes (male) or Ovary (female).  The pituitary gland, which is considered a master endocrine gland, is about the size of a pea and is a protrusion off the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain. 

According to an article published in December 2009 in the journal Medical Hypotheses, mercury's affinity for a hormone produced by the pituitary gland may be a central causal mechanism for mercury-associated disease.  The article¹, Luteinizing hormone provides a causal mechanism for mercury associated disease, was authored by Dan Laks of the UCLA School of Medicine.  In the article, Laks writes:

"Previous studies have demonstrated that the pituitary is a main target for inorganic mercury (I-Hg) deposition and accumulation within the brain. My recent study of the US population (1999-2006) has uncovered a significant, inverse relationship between chronic mercury exposure and levels of luteinizing hormone (LH). This association with LH signifies more than its presumed role as bioindicator for pituitary neurosecretion and function. LH is the only hormone with a rare and well characterized, high affinity binding site for mercury. On its catalytic beta subunit, LH has the structure to preferentially bind inorganic mercury almost irreversibly, and, by that manner, accumulate the neurotoxic element. Thus, it is likely that LH is an early and significant target of chronic mercury exposure. Moreover, due to the role of LH in immune-modulation and neurogenesis, I present LH as a central candidate to elucidate a causal mechanism for chronic mercury exposure and associated disease.

Laks' hypothesis is intriguing, as it could explain how mercury adversely affects normal development of the brain and the immune system.  Laks provided a quote to SafeMinds:   "The significance of an association between chronic mercury exposure and LH represents a compelling mechanism to explain Hg associated disease. Direct Hg binding to LH would cause impaired LH function, even if LH levels remained normal, and this may lead to impaired gonadotroph regulation, immune function, and neurogenesis, the hallmarks of Hg associated disease. Therefore, further study on this interaction for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of Hg associated disease is necessary."

SafeMinds plans to provide further updates on developments regarding the endocrine system and mercury in the coming months.

There are two categories of batteries that currently contain mercury in the United States: mercuric-oxide and button cell.  Mercuric-oxide batteries are not available to the public, but button-cell batteries are widely used by consumers.

 Mercuric-oxide batteries were once widely used in hearing aids but are now prohibited under federal law.  Larger mercuric-oxide batteries, which look like 9V or fat AA batteries are no longer available to the public but are still produced for military and medical equipment, where a stable current and long service life are essential. Their recycling is tightly regulated.  In hospitals, they are used in cardiac monitors, pH meters, oxygen analyzers, and telemetry instruments. 

 Button cell batteries are defined as the small coin-shaped or button-shaped batteries that have a diameter greater than their height.  They are used in a wide variety of products including toys, cameras, calculators, watches, hearing aids, greeting cards, digital thermometers, pace makers, bicycle speedometers, stop watches and remote controls.  There are four different subtypes of button cells: alkaline manganese, silver oxide, zinc-air and lithium.  Of these, only the lithium batteries contain no intentionally added mercury.  In the other three varieties, a mercury coating is added to the cell to prevent the formation of hydrogen gas that can result in battery leakage and malfunction.  During normal usage, there is minimal risk of mercury exposure to the consumer, but in the event of breakage or disposal in a landfill, the mercury becomes a hazard.  Read more.