Ginger Taylor is an anti-vaccine activist and vice-president of a tiny splinter political party. She has compiled a list of papers (the count is currently 72) that she claims "show that vaccines can cause autism".
Taylor's list of papers has been getting a lot of play, so a group of pro-science bloggers and writers reviewed the list in detail.
No, the 72 papers do not show that vaccines can cause autism. Papers #20-39 are discussed below the fold and you can download a copy of the full list yourself here: Download G_Taylor_list_debunked_V2.0_8_7
The complete series
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 1)
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 2)
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 3)
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 4)
The Papers
20. Oxidative Stress in Autism: Elevated Cerebellar 3-nitrotyrosine Levels (original Taylor Number = 14)
Correct Citation: Sajdel-Sulkowska, E.M., B. Lipinski, H. Windom, T. Audhya and W. McGinnis, 2008. Oxidative Stress in Autism: Elevated Cerebellar 3-nitrotyrosine Levels. Am. J. Biochem. Biotechnol., 73-84. DOI : 10.3844/ajbbsp.2008.73.84
This study has nothing to do with vaccines, and therefore cannot demonstrate that "vaccines cause autism".
21. Large Brains in Autism: The Challenge of Pervasive Abnormality (original Taylor number = 15)
Correct citation: Herbert MR. Large brains in autism: the challenge of pervasive abnormality. Neuroscientist. 2005 Oct;11(5):417-40.
http://masslawyersweekly.com/fulltext-opinions/2006/08/21/macgregor-et-al-v-annette-born-et-al/: “Clearly, Dr. Herbert’s method is not generally accepted in the scientific community. Dr. Herbert’s theory of environmental triggers of autism may some day prove true. It has not yet.”
In addition to Herbert's questionable theorizing, this paper has nothing to do with vaccines.
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
22. Evidence of Toxicity, Oxidative Stress, and Neuronal Insult in Autism (original Taylor number = 16)
Correct citation: Kern JK, Jones AM. Evidence of toxicity, oxidative stress, and neuronal insult in autism. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2006 Nov-Dec;9(6):485-99.
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No, this is a review paper rather that a randomized, controlled study of vaccines in autism.
Kern is a co-author on 31 papers. It is worrying that of those, two are positive studies on secretin and 14 have one or both Geiers as co-authors, including two from 2012 and one from 2011. In 2012, she was employed by the Geier chemical-castration-for-autism chain.
23. Oxidative Stress in Autism (Original Taylor number = 17)
Correct citation: Chauhan A, Chauhan V. Oxidative stress in autism. Pathophysiology. 2006 Aug;13(3):171-81. Epub 2006 Jun 12.
This is a review article, summarizing the research to date on oxidative stress in autism and some implications for therapies. The conclusion: "Preliminary results of some of clinical trials have suggested improved behavior in individuals with autism who receive antioxidant therapy."
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
24. Thimerosal Neurotoxicity is Associated with Glutathione Depletion: Protection with Glutathione Precursors (original Taylor number = 18)
Correct citation: James SJ, Slikker W 3rd, Melnyk S, New E, Pogribna M, Jernigan S. Thimerosal neurotoxicity is associated with glutathione depletion: protection with glutathione precursors. Neurotoxicology. 2005 Jan;26(1):1-8.
Another in-vitro study with a concentration of thimerosal (no longer used in childhood vaccines in the U.S., with the exception of some flu vaccines) much higher than in vaccines.
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
25. Aluminum adjuvant linked to gulf war illness induces motor neuron death in mice (Original Taylor number = 19)
Correct citation: Petrik MS, Wong MC, Tabata RC, Garry RF, Shaw CA. Aluminum adjuvant linked to Gulf War illness induces motor neuron death in mice. Neuromolecular Med. 2007;9(1):83-100.
Mouse model, not a human study. A very small and weak study which has never been replicated.
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
26. Enrichment of Elevated Plasma F2t-Isoprostane Levels in Individuals with Autism Who Are Stratified by Presence of Gastrointestinal Dysfunction (Not in Taylor’s original list)
Correct Citation: Gorrindo P, Lane CJ, Lee EB, McLaughlin B, Levitt P (July 3, 2013) Enrichment of Elevated Plasma F2t-Isoprostane Levels in Individuals with Autism Who Are Stratified by Presence of Gastrointestinal Dysfunction PLoS ONE 8(7): e68444.
This study has nothing to do with vaccines.
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
27. Environmental mercury release, special education rates, and autism disorder: an ecological study of Texas (Original Taylor number = 20)
Correct citation: Palmer RF, Blanchard S, Stein Z, Mandell D, Miller C. Environmental mercury release, special education rates, and autism disorder: an ecological study of Texas. Health Place. 2006 Jun;12(2):203-9.
In commenting on a later Palmer study, one researcher wrote, “Dr. Palmer’s 2006 study, which was so full of holes that even antivaccinationists had a hard time defending it,”
This study has nothing to do with vaccines.
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
28. Reduced levels of mercury in first baby haircuts of autistic children (Not in original Taylor list)
Correct citation: Holmes AS, Blaxill MF, Haley BE. Reduced levels of mercury in first baby haircuts of autistic children. Int J Toxicol. 2003 Jul-Aug;22(4):277-85.
The fatally flawed baby-hair study.
The first flaw in the study is the authors' acceptance of the idea of "excretion into the hair". It doesn't happen. Blood mercury does not equal hair mercury. The second flaw is the data collection methods (the hair used in the study). The third flaw is that the study found that the autistic children had lower hair mercury levels than the neurotypical controls. Rather than accepting that data, the authors went on to spin "tooth fairy tales" to explain why that might be so (the idea that autistic children had impaired mercury excretion). The fourth flaw in the study involves the hair analyzed: the samples had been in storage under unknown conditions for a median of five and a half years.
Do I really need to go on why Holmes et al. is a broken reed? It was, when published, a footling study.
But wait: One more thing you should know: Holmes et al. 2003 authors' affiliations are given as Safeminds. Safeminds is an acronym for Sensible Action For Ending Mercury Induced Neurological Disorders. Do you think the authors had an ideological point to make?
Discussion:http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2011/09/that-baby-hair-study-from-2003.html
This study has nothing to do with vaccines.
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
29. A Case Series of Children with Apparent Mercury Toxic Encephalopathies Manifesting with Clinical Symptoms of Regressive Autistic Disorder (Original Taylor number = 22)
Correct Citation: Geier DA, Geier MR., A case series of children with apparent mercury toxic encephalopathies manifesting with clinical symptoms of regressive autistic disorders. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2007 May 15;70(10):837-51.
How anyone could, in 2013, continue to cite the deeply discredited Geier family (father and son) is beyond me. See for example http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2006/06/20/mark-geier-and-david-geier-carry-on-misrepresenting/ or http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2006/10/10/mark-geier-david-geier-and-the-vsd/
Those are just criticism of just this paper. Others from the father-son team garnered even more scathing criticism.
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
30. The Changing Prevalence of Autism In California(Original Taylor Number=24)
Correct Citation: Blaxill MF, Baskin DS, Spitzer WO Commentary on on Croen et al. (2002), The Changing Prevalence of Autism in California, J Autism Dev Disord. 2003 April;33(2):223-226
Note the date on this paper: 2003. A decade ago. It is a commentary on a previously published article, which concluded "These data suggest that improvements in detection and changes in diagnosis account for the observed increase in autism; whether there has also been a true increase in incidence is not known." The Blaxill et al. commentary is merely that, a commentary, and expresses the authors’ own rather biased beliefs.
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
31. Mitochondrial Energy-Deficient Endophenotype in Autism (Original Taylor number = 46)
Correct citation Gargus JJ, Imtias F Mitochondrial Energy-Deficient Endophenotype in Autism Am J Biochem Biotechn 2008 4 (2): 198-207.
Vaccines are not mentioned in the paper. It is a discussion of possible rare subtype(s) of autism with genetic mutations causing mitochondrial deficiencies.
Note: this and other papers in this issue were published in a special issue of the American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology supported by Autism Speaks: autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/american-journal-biochemistry-and-biotechnology
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
32. Bridging from Cells to Cognition in Autism Pathophysiology: Biological Pathways to Defective Brain Function and Plasticity (Original Taylor number = 26)
Correct citation: Anderson MP, Hooker BS, Herbert MR, 2008 Bridging from Cells to Cognition in Autism Pathophysiology: Biological Pathways to Defective Brain Function and Plasticity. Am J Biochem Biotechn 2008 4 (2): 167-176.. DOI: 10.3844/ajbbsp.2008.167.176
This is a speculative article on the possible non-genetic causation mechanisms for autism. Vaccines, vaccination, nor immunization are not mentioned in the article.
Note: this and other papers in this issue were published in a special issue of the American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology supported by Autism Speaks, autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/american-journal-biochemistry-and-biotechnology
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
33. Heavy-Metal Toxicity—With Emphasis on Mercury (Original Taylor Number = 27)
Correct citation: Neustadt J, Pieczenik, S 2007 Heavy-Metal Toxicity – With Emphasis on Mercury (Research Review) 2007 IMJC 6(2) 26-32 (https://stevepieczenik.com/pdf/Heavy%20Metals%20Article.pdf accessed 7/27/13)
This is an article from a fringe journal for naturopaths. The article is alarmist about amalgam fillings as a risk of mercury toxicity, but nowhere mentions vaccines.
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
34. Evidence of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism and Implications for Treatment (Original Taylor Number = 28)
Correct citation:, Rossignol, DA, Bradstreet JJ 2008. Evidence of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism and Implications for Treatment, Am J Biochem Biotechn 2008 4 (2): 208-217.
This study has nothing to do with vaccines.
Note: this and other papers in this issue were published in a special issue of the American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology supported by Autism Speaks:autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/american-journal-biochemistry-and-biotechnology
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
35. Proximity to point sources of environmental mercury release as a predictor of autism prevalence (Original Taylor number = 29)
Correct citation: Palmer RF, Blanchard S, Wood R. Proximity to point sources of environmental mercury release as a predictor of autism prevalence. Health Place. 2009 Mar;15(1):18-24. Epub 2008 Feb 12.
A deeply flawed paper.
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2008/05/01/wait-its-not-mercury-in-vaccines-its-mer/: “If [Palmer] has an obvious source of bias, it may well explain much; if he does not I’m left with the less satisfying conclusion that he is just not a very good scientist at all. I also have to wonder about the quality of the peer review of this particular journal. After all, if I, who am not an epidemiologist, can spot the glaring flaws in this study, why couldn’t the peer reviewers?”
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
36. Epidemiology of autism spectrum disorder in Portugal: prevalence, clinical characterization, and medical conditions (Original Taylor number = 30)
Correct citation: Oliveira G, Ataíde A, Marques C, Miguel TS, Coutinho AM, Mota-Vieira L, Gonçalves E, Lopes NM, Rodrigues V, Carmona da Mota H, Vicente AM. Epidemiology of autism spectrum disorder in Portugal: prevalence, clinical characterization, and medical conditions. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2007 Oct;49(10):726-33.
I was puzzled as to why this paper was included, but the survey found "A diversity of associated medical conditions was documented in 20%, with an unexpectedly high rate of mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders." Poling and others have used this finding to claim that "up to 20% of children with autism have mitochondrial disorders". The paper does not discuss vaccination at all.
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
37. Thimerosal induces neuronal cell apoptosis by causing cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor release from mitochondria. (Original Taylor number = 31)
Correct citation: Yel L, Brown LE, Su K, Gollapudi S, Gupta S. Thimerosal induces neuronal cell apoptosis by causing cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor release from mitochondria. Int J Mol Med. 2005 Dec;16(6):971-7.
An in-vitro study on a specific cell line exposed to high doses of thimerosal.
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
38. Mitochondrial mediated thimerosal-induced apoptosis in a human neuroblastoma cell line (SK-N-SH). (Original Taylor number = 32)
Correct citation: Humphrey ML, Cole MP, Pendergrass JC, Kiningham KK. Mitochondrial mediated thimerosal-induced apoptosis in a human neuroblastoma cell line (SK-N-SH).Neurotoxicology. 2005 Jun;26(3):407-16.
An in-vitro study on a specific cell line exposed to high doses of thimerosal.
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
39. Possible Immunological Disorders in Autism: Concomitant Autoimmunity and Immune Tolerance (Original Taylor number = 33)
Correct citation: Kawashti MI, Amin OR, Rowehy NG. Possible immunological disorders in autism: concomitant autoimmunity and immune tolerance. Egypt J Immunol. 2006;13(1):99-104.
A small (60 subject)study on differences in immunological profiles between autistic children and typically-developing siblings. Study has not been replicated.
Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
The complete series
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 1)
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 2)
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 3)
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 4)
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