SCHAFER AUTISM REPORT "Healing Autism:
No Finer a Cause on the Planet"
________________________________________________________________
Wednesday, March 23, 2005 Vol. 9 No. 46


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CARE
* Deputies Beat Autistic Teen Mistaken For Prowler

PUBLIC HEALTH
* Autism Epidemic Creates Interest In Potential
Mercury Poisoning Links
* EPA Chided for Disregarding Mercury Study
* How Harmful Are Additives And Preservatives In Childhood Vaccines?
* Toxic Chemicals Found in Household Dust Across USA

RESEARCH
* Phoenix Becomes Nation's Newest 'Biocluster' With Opening of
Downtown Biomedical Center
* Studying How The Brain's Jukebox Works

EDUCATION
* Focusing On Autism - Program for Older Children

EVENTS
* Autism Ball Called A 'Smashing Success'

LETTERS
* Anyone Out There a FX "Shield" Fan?


CARE

Deputies Beat Autistic Teen Mistaken For Prowler

http://tinyurl.com/467vn

Mountain Gate, Calif. AP - An autistic teenager suffered a head injury
and a broken elbow in a beating by three sheriff's deputies who mistook him
for a prowler, authorities say.
Pierre Cowell, 17, who does not speak, had wandered away from his home
early Friday.
A neighbor, who did not recognize him, called 911 after seeing him
outside her home about 2 a.m., Capt. Tom Bosenko said Monday. He said that
the woman became alarmed when she heard the doorknob jiggling.
As three deputies approached the house, Cowell ran toward them and
bumped one of them, Bosenko said. When Cowell didn't respond to the
officers' commands, they used a baton, stun gun and pepper spray to subdue
him.
"The officers were very much concerned for their safety," Bosenko
said, adding that the deputies thought that Cowell was under the influence
of drugs. He said that at the time the officers didn't know that an autistic
teenager was missing.
Cynthia Cowell said she was surprised that the deputies were unaware
that her son was autistic until she told them. "Being totally nonverbal
would be a clue," she said.
* * *

PUBLIC HEALTH

Autism Epidemic Creates Interest In Potential Mercury Poisoning Links

[This is from a university press release. This is a UC Davis supplied
headline. Note the significant use of the E-word (epidemic). -ed.]

Sacramento, Calif. - The potential relationship between mercury and
autism was addressed in a recently published research article in Health &
Place titled "Environmental mercury release, special education rates, and
autism disorder: an ecological study of Texas", creating new interest in
environmental toxins and neuro-developmental disorders. The UC Davis
M.I.N.D. Institute, a national resource for research on autism and other
neurodevelopmental disorders, is sponsoring a comprehensive study on
environmental toxins and their effects on the development of children.
Irva Hertz-Picciotto, professor of epidemiology at the UC Davis School
of Medicine, is an investigator with the M.I.N.D. Institute and an
internationally renowned environmental epidemiologist and researcher on
environmental toxins -- including metals, pesticides, PCBs and air pollution
-- and their effects on pregnancy and early child development. She directs
several large studies funded by the National Institutes of Health on
immunity and neurodevelopment in young children. One of these is the CHARGE
(Childhood Autism Risk from Genetics and the Environment) study, which is
examining the interaction between genetic susceptibility and exposures to
environmental agents. Hertz-Picciotto can discuss this and other current
research on autism and environmental exposures, and how the outcomes of that
research could shift approaches to autism prevention and treatment.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes impaired language
and social abilities. Autism diagnoses have increased markedly during the
past two decades: It is now estimated that one in every 166 children has
Autism Spectrum Disorder. The burden on families, schools and health systems
is significant: Care for one autistic child can cost between $80,000 and
$90,000 per year.
* * *




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EPA Chided for Disregarding Mercury Study

By John Heilprin for the Associated Press
http://tinyurl.com/45qs8

The Environmental Protection Agency's decision to ignore researchers'
analysis of possible health benefits from reducing mercury pollution from
power plants was criticized Tuesday by Democrats in Congress.
"Why is the EPA suppressing the evidence that mercury pollution can be
controlled better and faster?" asked Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
EPA officials said the study by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis
wasn't submitted until Feb. 22, more than a month after the deadline the
agency set for considering new data. The agency published its new
regulations on mercury pollution from power plants on March 15.
The agency had received an overview of the Harvard study in early
January, but it didn't include the authors' responses to peer reviewers'
comments or all of the final numbers, said James Hammitt, a co-author of the
study and director of the Harvard center.
EPA officials said they rejected the preliminary document as flawed.
Hammitt's study estimated the potential public health benefits from
cutting mercury pollution from coal-burning power plants in half 15 years
from now at $5 billion a year, compared to the EPA's estimate of up to $50
million a year. The EPA put the cost of the cleanup to utilities and users
of electricity at $750 million a year in 2020.
The difference in the benefit numbers comes from Hammitt's inclusion
of fewer cases of cardiovascular disease and less-contaminated oceangoing
fish in his calculations. The EPA estimates that U.S. power plants account
for 1 percent of global mercury pollution.
The government now advises that high levels of mercury in some fish,
including albacore tuna, can pose a hazard for children and for pregnant or
nursing women, causing brain and nerve damage.
EPA spokeswoman Cynthia Bergman said the agency doesn't believe the
science on mercury is solid enough to weigh possible benefits from fewer
cases of heart disease and cleaner ocean fish. She said the Harvard study
assumes each pound of mercury coming from plant smokestacks will wind up in
the ocean, a conclusion counter to what EPA researchers found.
Bergman acknowledged the benefits could be greater than the EPA
estimated, because the agency took into account only freshwater benefits,
but not 100 times greater.
Hammitt acknowledged "wide uncertainty" over calculating the benefits.
"It could be ten times bigger, or ten times smaller," he said. "Part of the
science underlying the subject is just not solid enough to specify things
really precisely."
But Hammitt said the EPA should have provided a range of benefits,
even though that might have undercut its regulatory approach of letting
industry trade rights to pollute rather than insisting each plant install
new pollution controls.
"In analyzing the benefits of this or any other rule, we need to be
honest that there is quite a lot of range of uncertainty, and we ought to
characterize that range," he said.
Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., said he was outraged that the EPA would
suppress the Harvard study while claiming stricter controls would cost
industry far more than the projected health benefits of its regulatory
proposal.
* * *

How Harmful Are Additives And Preservatives In Childhood Vaccines?
Pregnancy and Baby

http://pregnancyandbaby.com/read/articles/2366.htm

After reviewing dozens of scientific studies, a leading vaccine expert
concludes that preservatives, additives and other substances contained in
vaccines pose very little risk to children receiving those vaccines.
In addition to the primary ingredient that stimulates a protective
immune response, various vaccines may contain small amounts of metals,
proteins, and other chemicals, some of which are residual by-products of
normal vaccine manufacturing.
"Parents can be reassured that the trace quantities of mercury,
aluminum and formaldehyde contained in vaccines will not harm their
children," says the study's lead author, Paul A. Offit, MD, chief of
Infectious Diseases and director of the Vaccine Education Center at The
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and co-author of the book Vaccines:
What You Should Know.
The article, which summarizes studies of human and animal exposures,
appears in the December 2003 issue of Pediatrics. Dr Offit's co-author is
pharmacist Rita K. Jew, Pharm.D., also of The Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia.
Of the substances studied, say the authors, only gelatin proteins and
egg proteins are known to have harmful effects while in vaccines, but such
effects are very rare. Those proteins may cause severe hypersensitivity
reactions in children with allergies to gelatin or eggs. Dr Offit adds that
physicians should take appropriate safeguards for children known to have
those allergies. For instance, children with allergies to the egg protein
found in influenza vaccine can be desensitized to the vaccine.

Thimerosal
One controversial vaccine-related substance is thimerosal, a compound
of mercury used as a preservative to prevent contamination by bacteria or
fungi. It has received considerable scrutiny by Congress and the news media
since its removal from most US childhood vaccines in 2001. Thimerosal was
removed from vaccines as a precaution, even though there has never been
scientific evidence of a link between thimerosal and adverse effects.
One confusing element, say the authors, is an incorrect assumption
that ethylmercury, contained in thimerosal, has the same effects as
methylmercury, a more toxic mercury compound found in the environment, but
not in vaccines.
"An important difference is that the body eliminates ethylmercury far
more quickly than it eliminates methylmercury," adds Dr Offit.

Other substances
Other substances found in vaccines, in addition to the active agent
designed to stimulate a protective response, are additives, adjuvants and
manufacturing residuals.
Additives, which include various sugars, amino acids and proteins, are
used to stabilize vaccines during processing and storage. Except for very
rare hypersensitivity reactions to gelatin proteins, vaccine additives have
not been associated with disease.
Adjuvants, such as aluminum compounds, enhance the desired immune
response the vaccine is designed to produce. "The safety of aluminum has
been established by experience over the past 70 years with hundreds of
millions of people inoculated with aluminum-containing vaccines," say the
authors, who add that the small quantities of aluminum in vaccines have not
been shown to be harmful in animal studies.
Substances remaining in vaccines as residuals of the manufacturing
process may include antibiotics, formaldehyde, and egg and yeast proteins.
With the exception of the very rare reactions caused by egg proteins, the
quantities of other residual substances are too small to demonstrate any
documented reactions in those receiving the vaccines.
"Based on the best available scientific evidence," concludes Dr Offit,
"parents can be confident that vaccines are overwhelmingly safe, as well as
effective in preventing infectious diseases."
* * *

Toxic Chemicals Found in Household Dust Across USA

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2005/2005-03-22-05.asp

ENS - There are many hazardous chemicals in common household dust and
they are making Americans sick, says a coalition of nine environmental
organizations. An analysis of dust in 70 U.S. homes released today shows
that particles from detergents, packing materials, textiles, computers and
cosmetics, among many other ordinary objects, can be hazardous to human
health.
The study, "Sick of Dust: Chemicals in Common Products - a Needless
Health Threat in Our Homes," is the first in the United States to look at a
wide range of chemicals used in computers, cosmetics, upholstery, pesticides
and other products. All the chemicals tested are legal despite the fact that
they are internationally recognized as toxic or harmful to the immune and
reproductive systems.
"Why take a chance with the lives of our children?" asked Beverley
Thorpe, international director of Clean Production Action during a press
conference to release the report. "Manufacturers and retailers need to stop
using toxic chemicals which are building up in our bodies and switch to
safer alternatives which are readily available."
In the first nationwide tests for brominated flame retardants in dust
swiped from computers, two of the groups in the the Computer Take-Back
Campaign and Clean Production Action found these neurotoxic chemicals on
every computer sampled. The highest levels found were a form of
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) called deca-BDE, one of the most
widely used fire retardant chemicals in the electronics industry.
These results indicate that there is exposure to certain brominated
flame retardants and that computers are likely to be a source of deca-BDE
exposure in the dust of homes, offices, schools, and businesses.
All exposures, no matter how small, are of concern because deca-BDE is
a bioaccumulative substance. This means that multiple exposures to low
levels of deca-BDE add up over time and build up in the body.
This report finds that computer manufacturers can prevent unnecessary
risks by using safer alternatives that meet stringent fire standards in the
United States and are less harmful to human health and the environment.
dusting Dusting a computer screen (Photo credit unknown) Apple, for
example, is replacing the plastic exterior casings on its new laptops with
metal to negate the need for flame retardants. Toshiba now uses an
inherently flame resistant plastic, polyphenylene sulphide, for casings of
electronics. NEC has a new biobased plastic that negates the need for
brominated or phosphorus based flame retardants.
In fact, exposure to all the chemicals in household dust is
"unnecessary and avoidable," the coalition says.
"We have a right to safety in our own homes," said Angela Grattaroti,
a participant in the "Sick of Dust" study who is a mother and co-chair of a
parent advisory council for special education in Leominster, Massachusetts.
"It is inexcusable to subject our children to harms that can be avoided."
The information collected for the "Sick of Dust" shows six main types
of chemicals in people's homes. All composite samples were contaminated by
all six of the following chemical classes: 1. Alkylphenols - Found in
laundry detergents, textiles, hair-coloring, paints and all-purpose
cleaners. These chemicals mimic natural estrogen hormones, leading to
altered sexual development in some organisms.
2. Organotin Compounds - Found in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) water
pipes, PVC food packing materials, glass coatings, polyurethane foams, and
many other consumer products. Poisonous even in small amounts, these
chemicals can disrupt the hormone, reproductive and immune systems. Animal
studies show that exposure early in life can also have long-term effects on
brain development.
3. Perfluorinated Organics - Used to make Teflon, Goretex and other
stain-resistant materials for nonstick frying pans, utensils, stove hoods,
carpets, furniture and clothing. These chemicals have been shown to damage
organ function and sexual development in lab animals, and are potentially
carcinogenic.
4. Pesticides - Applied in and around homes for controlling
infestations of various insects and used in carpets. Pesticides include a
wide range of chemicals, some associated with cancer, reproductive effects
and birth defects, and many are toxic to the nervous system.
5. Phthalates - Used primarily in vinyl (PVC) products such as shower
curtains, raincoats, toys, furniture and flooring. Also used in paint,
pesticides and personal care products such as perfume, nail polish,
hairspray. These chemicals disrupt reproductive systems in animal studies,
particularly in male offspring and can contribute to male infertility. They
have been linked to asthma and respiratory problems in children.
6. Polybrominated dephenyl ethers, known as brominated flame
retardants - Applied to textiles or incorporated into plastics, foams and
electrical goods to prevent or slow the spread of fire, these chemicals
build up in the body and persist in the environment. Studies show they
damage the development of the nervous and behavioral systems in young
animals. American women have high levels of these chemicals in breast milk.
In addition to Clean Production Action, the following groups helped
collect the research for the Sick of Dust report: Alliance for Healthy
Tomorrow, Center for Environmental Health, Citizens Environmental Coalition,
Ecology Center, Environmental Health Strategy Center, Oregon Environmental
Council, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition and the Washington Toxics
Coalition.
The coalition recommends an overhaul of federal chemical regulations
parallel to the process taking place in Europe. "Current regulations allow
the continuing production and use of chemicals in everyday products that are
linked to cancer, reproductive and neurological damage," they said today.
The most toxic chemicals should be high priority for phase out and
substitution with safer chemicals, the coalition urged.
Meanwhile, state governments are taking action. In Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, New York, Oregon and Washington, legislation is underway to phase
out some of the most dangerous chemicals.
In addition to regulatory reform, the coalition is calling for
corporate responsibility. They use companies such as Dell, IKEA, Herman
Miller and Shaw Carpets as examples of how companies can use safer chemicals
in their product lines.
"Innovation is both feasible and profitable and other companies need
to set similar goals and get active," the coalition said.
Consumers do have options, and the coalition is recommending that
consumers pay attention to the products they buy and find out if the company
is working toward a safe chemicals policy.
Read "Sick of Dust" at: www.safer-products.org
* * *

RESEARCH

Phoenix Becomes Nation's Newest Biocluster With Opening of Downtown
Biomedical Center & TGen HQ Vibrant Urban Setting Creates Unique Ambiance
for 28-Acre Biocenter

[From a company press release, obviously.]
http://press.arrivenet.com/tec/article.php/612367.html

Market Wire - The City of Phoenix has officially become the nation's
newest biotech cluster with the grand opening of its Downtown Biomedical
Center and worldwide headquarters for TGen (Translational Genomics
Institute) and IGC (International Genomics Consortium). The City of Phoenix
and State of Arizona have invested and laid the foundation for becoming one
of the industry's foremost research centers with regards to neurogenomics
and related research areas of alzheimer's, autism, cancer, and diabetes. The
city expects to attract biotech and related companies to Phoenix and Arizona
from around the nation and world for business opportunities in R&D,
collaboration, partnering, and office expansion.
The Phoenix Biomedical Center provides a unique, urban environment for
cutting edge companies to expand offices or open R&D centers. The $46
million TGen/IGC building forms the foundation of the PBC, a 28-acre
development area planned near the epicenter of Copper Square -- a thriving
and rejuvenated section of Phoenix featuring sports, music, theatre,
restaurants and other entertainment and cultural venues. The futuristic,
173,000-square-foot TGen/IGC building is owned by the City of Phoenix.
+ Full pitch here:
+ http://press.arrivenet.com/tec/article.php/612367.html




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~200 editions, times 12 pages each, times ~20,000 circulation
comes to 48 million electronic pages per year.


* * *

Studying How The Brain's Jukebox Works

By John Jurgensen, The Hartford Courant
http://tinyurl.com/5o2x8

Let's all sing along now.
"Bye, bye, Miss American Pie. Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the
levee was dry.. "
Mentally carrying that tune just now fired up the part of the brain
that activates each time you hear that old song on the radio, new research
suggests. And the same region of the brain will come to life when Don
McLean's voice loops in your mind throughout the day. (Sorry about that.)
Using brain scans to observe a common kind of musical recall, researchers at
Dartmouth College have found that the auditory cortex, the neural nook that
processes music coming through the ears, is also used to call up musical
memories.
In the experiment, subjects listened to music through an iPod while
researchers measured their brain activity.
"We found that people couldn't help continuing the song in their
heads, and when they did this, the auditory cortex remained active even
though the music had stopped," said David Kraemer, a graduate student and
lead author of the article published recently in Nature.
The researchers also found that musical recognition differed depending
on the song. Remembering a familiar song without lyrics, such as the "Pink
Panther" theme, required deeper digging in the listening centers. Songs with
lyrics, however, were retrieved from higher levels of the system, suggesting
that words were key to the memory.
Dr. Mark Jude Tramo, director of the Institute for Music & Brain
Science who was not involved with the study, said it provided further
evidence that music is not processed exclusively in the left side of the
brain, as was once believed.
* * *

EDUCATION

Focusing On Autism - Program for Older Children

By Barbara Williams
http://tinyurl.com/4h42c

Lunch was over, and it was time to tackle the next subject: playing
Trouble.
Not too difficult: push down on the plastic bubble and watch the die
tumble, then move the brightly colored pegs into round holes.
But for the three teen autistic students playing the board game at the
M.J. Ryerson Middle School, it was all about learning to sit still while
other players take their turns, remembering what color they were using or
whose turn it was and not wandering off to another part of the classroom.
"These kids can't get together and play a board game with friends,"
said teacher Greta Westra. "We teach them how to do things other kids and
families take for granted."
This school-run autistic program, called Teen Realm, is in its second
year and educates six students ages 11 to 15. It is a sister program to the
Children's Place in Pompton Lakes, which teaches children from
pre-kindergarten to 11 years old.
Both programs are at the forefront of public school programs for
autistic students. Irene Cook administers the two, and is now working on a
newly approved pre-K and kindergarten program in Ringwood for next year.
"We have 27 on the waiting list for the Pompton Lakes program, and
both Ringwood programs will be full next year," Cook said. "The number of
children with autism is rising significantly; there just aren't enough
programs out there. And to do this in the public schools is such a wonderful
thing for the students."
Autism, a developmental disorder, affects cognitive and social
development. The cause is unknown, and there is no cure, but several
different treatment techniques and medications have been found to greatly
improve the child's abilities and social skills.
Symptoms vary by child; some of the most prevalent include severe
language problems, repetitive behaviors, irrational routines and resistance
to change. This translates into dangerous head-banging, constant rocking
back and forth, no interaction with others, little verbal communication and
extreme tantrums.
"We don't know how or why, but their sensory input is affected," Cook
said. "So while we might wiggle our foot during a meeting, or bite our lip -
it's serving some purpose we're not conscious of - these children flap their
hands in front of their face or bang their arms against furniture. They
don't learn socially acceptable ways of stimulating themselves the way the
rest of us do."
For many autistic people, lights are brighter, sounds are louder. A
quick trip to the grocery store can be a direct jaunt into sensory overload.
The bright lights, hundreds of colored boxes and bags and various noises
will leave many autistic children screaming on the aisle floor.
+ Full story here: http://tinyurl.com/4h42c
* * *

EVENTS

Autism Ball Called A 'Smashing Success'
Treatment and support for older children, college students with autism

By Karl Chalabala
http://www.capegazette.com/storiescurrent/0305/autism030805.html

More than 450 people on March 12 packed into the Ruddertowne BayCenter
to raise money and awareness for autism.
The fourth annual Autism Ball raised approximately $136,000 for the
Lower Delaware Autism Foundation (LDAF) in their signature fundraiser. LDAF
President Rudy Beitzel said he could not be happier with the results.
"It was a smashing success," he said. "I haven't heard a complaint
yet. There was great food, a great band and great company. Everyone said
they had a wonderful time. It is such a hot ticket that the event sold out
in three days. The ball, as Sarah Brady said, is the social event of the
year for Sussex County. The business community in this area embraced us. The
people have embraced our cause. We are proud our foundation is associated
with such a wonderful community."
The autism ball is LDAF's biggest fundraiser of the year. Beitzel said
the amount of money raised indicated the level on interest people have in
autism.
"It's hitting home here," he said. "Everyone knows someone whose child
has autism. Autism is a hot issue. Seven out of every 1000 children are born
with autism to some degree. That equals 1 out of every 150 children. But
when people come to the ball, we don't hit them over the head with the cause
or the numbers. Everyone knows why they came. They get to help our children
and have an excellent time."
Beitzel said the money would fund LDAF scholarship programs for
college students and summer swim and biking camps for children with autism
as well as help the foundation's long term goals.
"Besides the scholarships and camps," Beitzel said, "our key issues
are housing and vocational training. When our kids graduate from the
consortium when they are 21, we want them to have jobs with dignity. And the
housing issue is so bizarre in this area. The only housing option has a
23-year waiting list. We want to create long-term housing so they have
somewhere to go."
So while the ball attendees drank and danced the night away, they were
helping secure the future of Sussex County's children with autism.
Beitzel said LDAF intends to keep up with the good times with a new
event in the fall. Dubbed the Fall Fling, it will take place on Saturday,
Oct. 22, in the BayCenter. Tickets will cost $100 and that will cover dinner
and admission. There will be a cash bar and a live band called Second
Nature. There will not be an auction. For more information about LDAF, write
to info@... or call 302-227-0866.
* * *

LETTERS

Anyone Out There a FX "Shield" Fan?

We have been watching the show for the last 3 seasons, and season four
just started. One of the main character's children, Matthew, had been
diagnosed with autism in season 2, and has been playing a minor role in
adding stress to the family's life.
Tonight's episode had an interesting turn. The wife called her
husband, and in 15 seconds, told her husband that he needed to sign the
paperwork so that they could get a lawyer because of the preservative in
childhood vaccines. Though still going through with the divorce, they
needed to act fast to take care of their son. The husband just shrugged and
said that it all made sense and pressed on. And they did not sound like they
were crazy or wacko or internet conspiracy theorists.
K. seems to think that there is someone on the staff of this show who
has an affected family member; makes sense.
Anyway, there will be an encore episode Monday. One hour show for a 15
second blurb, but worth it.
- J. D.


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