07/01/2016 / By Vicki Batts
A recent study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives highlights some new understandings as to why the number of people suffering with autoimmune diseases continues to skyrocket. Many of these conditions were nearly nonexistent, at least before the dawn of vaccination.
Research conducted by scientists from the University of Michigan Medical and Public Health Schools has indicated that mercury, such as what is used in vaccines as a preservative, may also trigger autoimmune conditions in women of child-bearing age. The researchers, led by Dr. Emily Somers, PhD., analyzed data from women aged 16 to 49 and compared levels of mercury exposure to rates of antinuclear antibody positivity — a marker for autoimmunity.
Autoimmunity is defined by an abnormal immune system response that leads to the attack of the body’s own cells, and results in systemic inflammation and a variety of diseases and conditions. The researchers discovered that women with higher levels of mercury exposure also had a higher prevalence of autoantibodies — or antibodies responsibly for autoimmune disease. Based on the direct link observed between the two, the researchers concluded that their data indicated mercury as a risk factor for autoimmune disease.
In fact, Dr. Somers. suggests that mercury may actually be the primary risk factor for the development of such conditions. This could explain why so many children are beginning to suffer from autoimmune diseases, after being vaccinated to the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccination guidelines. In their conclusion, Dr. Somers states, “In our study, mercury stood out as the main risk factor for autoimmunity.” She goes on to note that even low levels of mercury that are generally regarded as safe can still be problematic and lead to subclinical autoimmunity in child-bearing aged females. In other words, even small amounts of mercury could still provoke an autoimmune response.
The research team also notes that these subclinical autoimmune responses could predate the onset of discernible disease by several years, and state, “[T]hus, methylmercury exposure may be relevant to future autoimmune disease risk.” All of this indicates that mercury exposure can lead to long-term health effects that may or may not be immediately evident.
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autoimmune disease, mercury in vaccines, vaccines
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