As this article illustrates, vaccines aren't the only cause of autism, yet the evidence is very compelling of the link between mercury and autism. It is actually the mercury that is used as a preservative (thimerosal) in vaccines that is one of the primary factors for the link between vaccines and autism.

Exposure to pollution from coal-fired power plants appears to be another factor that can contribute to brain injury in children. The hundreds of coal-burning plants around the United States release approximately 48 tons of mercury into the environment each year. For every 1,000 pounds of this mercury, there is a 61 percent increase in the annual rate of autism.

Another route of mercury exposure that is essential for everyone (especially pregnant women) to be aware of is seafood.

The accumulation of toxic mercury, methyl mercury, found in fish and other seafood is caused by pollution that ends up in the ocean, lakes and streams of the world. Fish and other marine animals, especially the biggest and longest-lived ones, concentrate this mercury in their bodies. Eating these fish can further increase the burden of mercury that may already be building in your body.

The third major source of mercury exposure is dental fillings, or amalgams, that contain mercury. An average filling contains an estimated 800 milligrams of amalgam, with the average middle-aged adult having eight fillings. The average North American adult has 3.2 grams (8 fillings x 800 mg per filling x 50 percent of total amalgam is mercury) of potential mercury and mercury vapor to go into the lungs, blood and brain from dental fillings alone -- an average of about three-millionths of a gram a day.

If you'd like to learn more, start with this article about how mercury may be ruining your life.

Gary Craig's Comment:

For those families dealing with autism, you should know that consistent application of EFT could help with the angers, frustrations and other behavior problems that accompany this affliction. As an example, Linda Johnson wrote the following on the EFT Web site.

"With my autistic son, I tapped one night as a surrogate for 'focus and attention,' 'hearing what people are saying,' 'better social connection' and 'neurological symptoms.' The next morning, for the first time, he got dressed without prompting at each step while watching the news on television. An absolute first. Doing two things at the same time."

Gary Craig is a pioneering developer of EFT, a profoundly effective emotional/mental healing approach. Dr. Mercola attributes much of the incredible and permanent patient successes at his clinic, The Optimal Wellness Center, to the fact that EFT is used with every patient to address all three levels of healing: mind, body and spirit. Of the thousands of natural treatments Dr. Mercola has studied and used in his 20 years of practicing medicine, he feels that EFT is the greatest healing technique that exists. Read more about Gary Craig's EFT Course.

Related Articles:

Why Don't the Amish Have Autistic Children?

Autism Rates Rise With Increased Mercury Pollution

Mercury Pollutes Nation's Rivers, Lakes