In 1999, the FDA and other organizations admitted that certain
infant and toddler vaccines contain thimerosal, which is 49.6% ethylmercury
by weight and which is a known neurotoxin. Although the amount of
ethylmercury injected into infants and toddlers is "low", susceptibility
varies across individuals. In 2000, Bernard et al completed a paper linking
vaccinal thimerosal with autism and related syndromes such as ADHD, OCD,
Tourette's, and anorexia. That paper was based upon an thorough,
multi-person review of medical literature and described traits-similarities
between autism and mercury-poisoning. Furthermore, medical literature
offers a number of mechanisms by which thimerosal-induced neurobehavioral
problems can occur. 

During May and June of 2000, Bernard et al and several other individuals
made presentations to the FDA, NIMH, NICHD, NIEHS, and CDC in regard to
neurologic problems being created by physician-injected ethylmercury
received during mandatory vaccinations. On July 18, The U.S. Congress House
Committee on Goverment Reform had a hearing about neurologic damage from
vaccinal ethylmercury. On July 31, 2000, a coalilition of parents,
physicians, researchers, and other interested individuals filed a petition
requesting that the FDA immediately prevent the use of vaccines containing
thimerosal. A press release describing that petition offers additional
information. 
SafeMinds
petition to FDA   

Three versions of the Bernard et al thimerosal autism paper are linked
below: the long version first distributed on April 3, 2000, and two short
versions: one focusing upon traits-similarities, the other more technical. 

Also linked below is a set of documents assembled as a press-information
kit made available at a congressional hearing about mercury and autism
(July 18, 2000, Dan Burton, R-IN; House Committee on Goverment Reform).
These documents include:
     -a letter to U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher.
          (with several addenda of technical support, including
          Dale Hattis citations about susceptibility)
     -a letter to the Dan Burton, for the July 18th hearing.
     -a cover sheet raising the possibility that the CDC and allied
     organizations are soft-selling the effect that thimerosal has had
     upon tens of thousands of children.

Importantly, if thimerosal is causing many cases of autism, ADHD, OCD,
Tourette's Syndrome, and anorexia, then chelation therapies ought be
initiated nationally. For many children, delay will mean that improvements
that might have been induced will instead be minimized. At least one CDC
study already has found statistically significant thimerosal effects in
children. Use of thimerosal vaccines ought be halted immediately. There is
no need to neurologically damage additional infants and toddlers.

Teresa Binstock
Researcher in Developmental & Behavioral Neuroanatomy
August 6, 2000

A long version of the thimerosal ethylmercury hypothesis of autism. This version has three parts, LV1 (abstract, synopsis, table), LV2 (main text), and LV3 (citations).

A shorter version of the thimerosal ethylmercury hypothesis of autism. This version focuses upon comparing trait-similarities between mercury poisoning and autism-spectrum disorders.

Another short version of the thimerosal ethylmercury hypothesis of autism. This version offers additional bases for the thimerosal/autism hypothesis, including neuroanatomy, epileptiform activity, and susceptibility.

My press information kit for the Congressional Mercury Autism hearing includes several sections, including a critique of the "Joint Statement" of June 22, 2000, by the PHS, CDC, ACIP, AAP, and AAFP -- as well as a sketch about susceptibility for low-dose exposures, and my letters to David Satcher, Surgeon General, and to Dan Burton's Committee.

Lyn Redwood has an informative page about autism and mercury: