






  
  2004P-0349 - Action on Products containing added Mercury
  

  
  

  
  FDA Comment Number : 
  
  EC1
  


  
  
  


  
  Submitter : 
  
  Mr. Robert Bloch
  
  Date & Time: 
  
  09/23/2004 06:09:56
  


  
  Organization : 
  
  none
  


  
  Individual Consumer
  

  
  Category : 
  


  
  Issue Areas/Comments 
  

  
  

  
  GENERAL
  

  
  


  
  GENERAL
  

  
  


  
   No slight of hand can redirect attention from the fact that mercury is mercury. Once thimerosal, which is 49% ethylmercury by weight, is injected into the body and decomposes EPA determined unsafe levels of mercuric mercury are in our bodies, and in far greater and extremely unsafe concentrations, when adjusted for size, are present in the tender bodies of our children. 



It is a scientific fact that mercury can not decompose in the human body to something less than its position as a base element on the periodic table and it will not come out until it is excreted. 



To date there is no study that can prove the safety of thimerosal while there are plenty of studies that completely reject the notion that mercury in any concentration is safe. We do know from gleaning occupational exposure information that the toxic effects of mercury are cumulative as well.



In researching mercury as an additive to vaccines a visit to Merck's on-line resources for chemical data provided information that thimerosal carries a T+ very toxic warning. This warning states:



"All contact with the human body must be avoided."



The University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine Department of Biophysics and Physiology while conducting Alzheimer's research discovered and recorded direct visual evidence of significant neuron degeneration to brain tissue cultures caused by mercury in very short exposure periods and in low concentrations. Note that no other toxic heavy metal caused the neurofibril degeneration that mercury does. The end video product of the Calgary study "How Mercury Causes Brain Neuron Degeneration" is a staple on numerous internet web sites devoted to mercury awareness, dental amalgam illness, autism, and of course, Alzheimer's disease.



The effects of mercury are cumulative. This is historical reckoning in the mercury events familiarly referred to as the Danbury Shakes, Mad Hatter's Disease, and Minamata Disease - all of which point to mercury causing heart-rending outcomes. In each there were illnesses characterized by life- long physical and mental disability and in many cases extreme birth defects were manifested and untimely death. Yet none of the cases were the result of direct injection of mercury into the body. 



We now know that each was directly attributable to past ignorance of the effects of mercury exposure. We also know that unfortunately it took far too many years to do something about it.



The sad truth is not much more is known about mercury today and for some reason lessons learned were not retained by those that have been charged with critical decision making. 




  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  







  
   It is common knowledge in Autism circles that mercury levels in childhood vaccines were not even considered when the CDC was contemplating the present increased schedule of childhood vaccines. When somebody finally did the calculation it is suggested that the result was shocking enough for various parties to request that thimerosal be removed from childhood vaccines in 1999.



Five years later, it is a sad commentary that this mercury ban citizen's petition is even necessary to once and for all get the mercury out. It is an even sadder commentary that the FDA, an American governmental agency, can do nothing better to justify the continued use of thimerosal containing vaccines on American children than seek refuge in an out of date and out of touch World Health Organization proclamation. America is not a third world nation, and the FDA needs to adjust its thinking to better protect its children by banning mercury in vaccines and drugs, the same way the FDA did for animal vaccines and drugs a number of years ago, and devise stricter policies to detect mercury content in all consumable products.



I am in favor of petition 2004P-0349.



Robert Bloch

412 Lora Street

Neptune Beach, Florida

32266-4945



	It is common knowledge in Autism circles that mercury levels in childhood vaccines were not even considered when the CDC was contemplating the present increased schedule of childhood vaccines. When somebody finally did the calculation it is suggested that the result was shocking enough for various parties to request that thimerosal be removed from childhood vaccines in 1999. Five years later, it is a sad commentary that this mercury ban citizen's petition is even necessary to once and for all get the mercury out. It is an even sadder commentary that the FDA, an American governmental agency, can do nothing better to justify the continued use of thimerosal containing vaccines on American children than seek refuge in an out of date and out of touch World Health Organization proclamation. America is not a third world nation, and the FDA needs to adjust its thinking to better protect its children by banning mercury in vaccines and drugs, the same way the FDA did for animal vaccines and drugs a number of years ago, and devise stricter policies to detect mercury content in all consumable products. I am in favor of petition 2004P-0349. Robert Bloch 412 Lora Street Neptune Beach, Florida 32266-4945