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October 25, 2005
By DAN OLMSTED
Throughout the 1920s a scientist named Morris Kharasch filed a blizzard of
applications with the U.S. Patent Office.
In 1924: "The present invention relates to the production of water soluble
organo-metallic compounds ... including mercury. ... This invention is of
particular importance in connection with the organic compounds having germicidal
or therapeutic value."
In 1926: "This invention relates to the treatment of infections of soil, and
more particularly to the use of mercury and other compounds in conjunction with
a fertilizer and its application to the infected soil."
Kharasch, who died in 1957, is widely known for work reflected in that 1924
patent: the creation of thimerosal, the ethyl-mercury-based preservative used in
a wide range of medical products including vaccines. It allowed for multidose
vials and mass vaccination.
Less recognized is his invention of similar ethyl-mercury applications for
fungicides, reflected in that 1926 patent for "the treatment of infections of
soil."
Until now, a possible link between ethyl mercury and autism has focused on
vaccines. But what about fungicides? In the last column we outlined a new theory
by Mark Blaxill, research chair of the advocacy group SafeMinds.
Blaxill's theory is simple: The possibility of fungicide exposure connects some
of the first 11 cases diagnosed by child psychiatrist Leo Kanner. The most
striking: Case 2, the son of a plant pathologist, and Case 3, the son of a
forestry professor at a southern university.
Case 1, Donald T., grew up in a small Mississippi town surrounded by land that
was being heavily planted with tree seedlings by the Civilian Conservation
Corps.
The idea that ethyl mercury -- in vaccines or anything else -- causes autism is
hotly debated. The notion has been firmly rejected by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and the Institute of Medicine, part of the National
Academies of Science. (In 1999 manufacturers were asked to phase out thimerosal
in routine childhood vaccines; fungicides no longer use mercury.)
No one doubts, however, that ethyl mercury is a potent neurotoxin especially
dangerous to the developing brains of infants. The question: Did "domesticating"
it inadvertently trigger the age of autism?
"What's fascinating is if you look at the natural history of autism and ethyl
mercury, there's a pretty interesting coincidence in time and place," said
SafeMinds' Blaxill.
-- A trademark for "Merthiolate," the brand name for thimerosal, was filed in
1928. Kharasch was the inventor. Innovations included water solubility, compound
stability and effectiveness.
-- A trademark for "Ceresan," an ethyl-mercury-based fungicide, was filed in
1929. Kharasch and Max Engelmann were the inventors. Innovations included
organic mercury usage, methods of delivery and compound stability.
-- The oldest child diagnosed with autism was Virginia S., born in 1931. That is
the first year records refer to thimerosal in vaccines.
-- In Europe, the first child that pediatrician Hans Asperger diagnosed with a
similar disorder was Fritz V., born in 1933. His mother talked of trips to her
"beloved mountains."
-- A German company manufactured a brand of ethyl-mercury fungicide.
Blaxill notes that Kharasch's work had enormous impact. He was a founder of the
Journal of Organic Chemistry and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
"Kharasch came to Chicago from the Ukraine at the age of 13, and spent most of
his professional career at the University of Chicago," according to the Web site
of the University of Michigan Chemistry Department. "Kharasch brought free
radicals, previously considered esoteric species, into the mainstream of organic
chemistry.
"Kharasch made pioneering studies on organomercurials important in agriculture
(as seed disinfectants) and medicine (the antiseptic merthiolate)."
We asked Boyd Haley, a professor and former chair of the chemistry department at
the University of Kentucky, to look at the early ethyl mercury fungicide and
thimerosal patents.
"You're on to something," said Haley, who is controversial for his belief that
mercury is behind a range of neurological disorders including autism.
"The whole problem -- and if you read these patents, it just jumps out at you --
is that ethyl mercury was not water-soluble. You had no delivery. All Kharasch
did was really very simple straightforward chemistry. He coupled ethyl mercury
to an organic acid to make it water-soluble."
Haley speculated that if ethyl-mercury-based fungicides caused some of the early
cases, it might have been because the fathers got it on their clothes, sprayed
it on their gardens or used it in their labs to control fungus.
"If they ever took any home or got it on their hands, they could end up with big
problems," Haley said.
Next, we'll look at other countries' use of fungicides for more possible dots to
connect.
This ongoing series on the roots and rise of autism welcomes reader comment.
E-mail:
dolmsted@upi.com
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