Vaccines and toxins

"... What's behind it: Vaccines do contain a variety of substances besides the viral or bacterial components. There are preservatives as well as adjuvants, which are substances that help vaccines grab the attention of the immune system and prompt it to create antibodies. One adjuvant that some are focusing on is aluminum, which at chronic high levels can contribute to nerve, brain, and kidney damage. Because several new vaccines containing aluminum have been added to the schedule, some parents and doctors worry that the extra exposure might push levels out of the safety zone -- particularly given that there's already aluminum pretty much everywhere: in water, breast milk, formula, and the air we breathe. "I'm concerned that health officials haven't done any human-infant research to make sure the amount of aluminum in the vaccines is safe," says Dr. Sears.

The facts: Everyday exposure to aluminum is generally not considered hazardous -- most adults ingest 7 to 9 milligrams (mg) every day through food alone (up to 200 mg if they pop antacids), and formula contains anywhere from .05 mg/L to .93 mg/L. Very little of the aluminum taken in orally is absorbed, and what does make it into the bloodstream is excreted within days. Although the aluminum in vaccines is, of course, injected, there doesn't seem to be evidence it poses any danger for healthy kids. The amount of aluminum injected is no more than .85 mg per dose, and the CDC, the Institute of Medicine, and the World Health Organization have all deemed the levels babies receive from shots to be safe...."

Parenting.com, Jessica Snyder Sachs
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/family/11/05/par.vaccine.kids/index.html
November 2008