The Age of Autism: Mercury goes to work
http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&article=UPI-1-20051024-20
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By DAN OLMSTED
Throughout the 1920s a scientist named Morris Kharasch filed a blizzard
of applications with the U.S. Patent Office.

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In 1924: "The present invention relates to the production of water
soluble organo-metallic compounds ... including mercury. ... This
invention is of particular importance in connection with the organic
compounds having germicidal or therapeutic value."

In 1926: "This invention relates to the treatment of infections of
soil, and more particularly to the use of mercury and other compounds
in conjunction with a fertilizer and its application to the infected
soil."

Kharasch, who died in 1957, is widely known for work reflected in that
1924 patent: the creation of thimerosal, the ethyl-mercury-based
preservative used in a wide range of medical products including
vaccines. It allowed for multidose vials and mass vaccination.

Less recognized is his invention of similar ethyl-mercury applications
for fungicides, reflected in that 1926 patent for "the treatment of
infections of soil."

Until now, a possible link between ethyl mercury and autism has focused
on vaccines. But what about fungicides? In the last column we outlined
a new theory by Mark Blaxill, research chair of the advocacy group
SafeMinds.

Blaxill's theory is simple: The possibility of fungicide exposure
connects some of the first 11 cases diagnosed by child psychiatrist Leo
Kanner. The most striking: Case 2, the son of a plant pathologist, and
Case 3, the son of a forestry professor at a southern university.

Case 1, Donald T., grew up in a small Mississippi town surrounded by
land that was being heavily planted with tree seedlings by the Civilian
Conservation Corps.

The idea that ethyl mercury -- in vaccines or anything else -- causes
autism is hotly debated. The notion has been firmly rejected by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Institute of
Medicine, part of the National Academies of Science. (In 1999
manufacturers were asked to phase out thimerosal in routine childhood
vaccines; fungicides no longer use mercury.)

No one doubts, however, that ethyl mercury is a potent neurotoxin
especially dangerous to the developing brains of infants. The question:
Did "domesticating" it inadvertently trigger the age of autism?

"What's fascinating is if you look at the natural history of autism and
ethyl mercury, there's a pretty interesting coincidence in time and
place," said SafeMinds' Blaxill.

-- A trademark for "Merthiolate," the brand name for thimerosal, was
filed in 1928. Kharasch was the inventor. Innovations included water
solubility, compound stability and effectiveness.

-- A trademark for "Ceresan," an ethyl-mercury-based fungicide, was
filed in 1929. Kharasch and Max Engelmann were the inventors.
Innovations included organic mercury usage, methods of delivery and
compound stability.

-- The oldest child diagnosed with autism was Virginia S., born in
1931. That is the first year records refer to thimerosal in vaccines.

-- In Europe, the first child that pediatrician Hans Asperger diagnosed
with a similar disorder was Fritz V., born in 1933. His mother talked
of trips to her "beloved mountains."

-- A German company manufactured a brand of ethyl-mercury fungicide.

Blaxill notes that Kharasch's work had enormous impact. He was a
founder of the Journal of Organic Chemistry and a member of the
National Academy of Sciences.

"Kharasch came to Chicago from the Ukraine at the age of 13, and spent
most of his professional career at the University of Chicago,"
according to the Web site of the University of Michigan Chemistry
Department. "Kharasch brought free radicals, previously considered
esoteric species, into the mainstream of organic chemistry.

"Kharasch made pioneering studies on organomercurials important in
agriculture (as seed disinfectants) and medicine (the antiseptic
merthiolate)."

We asked Boyd Haley, a professor and former chair of the chemistry
department at the University of Kentucky, to look at the early ethyl
mercury fungicide and thimerosal patents.

"You're on to something," said Haley, who is controversial for his
belief that mercury is behind a range of neurological disorders
including autism.

"The whole problem -- and if you read these patents, it just jumps out
at you -- is that ethyl mercury was not water-soluble. You had no
delivery. All Kharasch did was really very simple straightforward
chemistry. He coupled ethyl mercury to an organic acid to make it
water-soluble."

Haley speculated that if ethyl-mercury-based fungicides caused some of
the early cases, it might have been because the fathers got it on their
clothes, sprayed it on their gardens or used it in their labs to
control fungus.

"If they ever took any home or got it on their hands, they could end up
with big problems," Haley said.

Next, we'll look at other countries' use of fungicides for more
possible dots to connect.

This ongoing series on the roots and rise of autism welcomes reader
comment. E-mail: dolmsted@upi.com

Copyright 2005 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.