Ah, but you missed out on the phthalates laden chew toys as a baby, UT...

I had the asthma bad though.

Do infections protect against asthma and atopy (ie. eczema).

I just got my shot today.

As for the mercury preservatives in vaccines, I've been following the debate. Our son is autistic, so we are of course concerned that their is the possibility that something we did to protect him injured him.

I don't know if it's going to turn out be be Thimerosal, or just a reaction to a combination of vaccines, but the statistics for Autism in the US are frightening and seem to indicate that the cause might be something more prevalent in the US than elsewhere in the world.

I don't know if they have the same number and type of vaccinations in Europe, so that's a place to start.

Jinx: It pays to be skeptical about health claims!

Europe is where they first completely outlawed thimerosal in vaccines several years ago, and autism rates there have continued to rise.

From e-medicine.

~Mercury in any form is toxic. The difference lies in how it is absorbed, the clinical signs and symptoms, and the response to treatment modalities. Mercury poisoning can result from vapor inhalation, ingestion, injection, or absorption through the skin.~

Better diagnostic skills and more willingness to diagnose/understand/"label"?

just pondering, not trying to be confrontational....

I had the same thought and I haven't rejected or tied myself to any theory. 'Autism spectrum' runs the gamut from 'Rain Man' to Aspergers. An Aspergers label could be attached to almost any socially awkward individual.

In some cases an Autism label might be key to some kind of funding, and since it is more of a symptom than a disease that can be quantified, case workers might be tempted to over apply the label.

Still, the sheer numbers seem to point to something concrete.

Got one last Friday. Third year in a row.

yay!

.....sorry, what was the question?

As far as mercury exposure goes, coal-fired power plants are the biggest source.

Flu. Shot.