Studies of autism and mercury

Hundreds of studies have been done in the past 70 years as physicians, researchers, government agencies, parents and vaccine manufacturers attempt to prove or disprove the theory that autism is linked to vaccines with the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal. Here's a look at some of the most recognized recent studies done on the issue:

Supporting link between autism and inoculations

"Autism: A Novel Form of Mercury Poisoning" by Sallie Bernard of Safe Minds, et al.; published: Medical Hypotheses, 2001

"Autism-MMR Study" by Andrew Wakefield; published: 1998 in the Lancet

"Thimerosal in Childhood Vaccines, Neurodevelopment Disorders and Heart Disease in the United States" by Mark Geier, MD, Ph.D. and David A. Geier; published: Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, Volume 8, No. 1 Spring 2003.

Against link between autism and inoculations

"Safety of Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines: a two-phase study of computerized Health Maintenance Organization databases" by Thomas Verstraeten, et al.; published: Pediatrics, Nov. 5, 2003

"Association Between Thimerosal-Containing Vaccine and Autism" by Anders Hviid, et al.; published: American Medical Association, Oct. 1, 2003; Volume 290 No. 13

"Measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations and bowel problems or developmental regression in children with autism: population study" by Dr. Brent Taylor, et al.; published: British Medical Journal, February 2002