Posted by: Nancy Naylor
Mon May 26, 2008 9:05 pm (PDT)
I wanted to post my story along with some of the research I've been
doing. It's not edited and referenced and polished, but I wanted to
send it out nevertheless. Nancy :)
It Just Makes Sense - The Link Between Wireless Technology and Autism
When my daughter was diagnosed with autism, I wasn’t very surprised.
She had many of the signs: primarily the hands flapping, and the delay
in language skills. Like any parent, I wondered how and where all of
this had started. I researched all the theories on autism and my
daughter, Tiyana, was the exception to most of them. She has never
been vaccinated. She was exclusively breastfed. She has never had an
ear infection. She has never had an antibiotic. She has never eaten a
dairy product. I avoided fish and shellfish during pregnancy and took
large doses of all the prenatal vitamins. There didn’t seem to be a
theory that really stood out as applying to her. Of course, there are
many toxins in our environment and I figured she must be sensitive to
them. Plastics, pesticides, air pollution etc. are all around us. I
gave the TV-autism link theory some credibility. I also figured she
must have a fairly strong genetic disposition. None of this really
satisfied me, but like most parents I felt the need to shift my focus
from “why” to “what are we going to do now”. We found some very
effective therapies and some excellent practitioners. I still had the
question “why” in the back of my mind. In November of 2007 a study
came out on a possible link between autism and electro-magnetic
radiation coming from cell phones and wireless technology. I was
skeptical. I read a summary of the study’s findings. It suggested that
EMR inhibits the nerve cells ability to clear toxins- most notably
heavy metals- from the body, thereby facilitating the onset of
autistic symptoms. The bio-medical research of ASD shows that people
on the spectrum do not detoxify efficiently. This is due to impaired
methylation. This had already been established. The researchers in
this study took it a step further. Why did they believe that EMR that
is the cause of the inability to detoxify? They seemed to be jumping
to conclusions. Was this just yet another thing to blame for the rise
of autism? So I went to the study itself. I encourage everyone to do
the same! Once I read the study I found it was carried out in an
extremely comprehensive way and the conclusions were very compelling.
Basically, tests that measured the excretion of toxins - specifically
heavy metals - were done on the skin, urine, hair and stool of
autistic patients. In the beginning most patients were excreting very
low levels of heavy metals. Then, the patients exposure to EMF was
minimized by controlling the treatment areas and the patients homes.
Over time, the patients test results showed increased excretion of
heavy metals with this change in their environment. The conclusion was
that by controlling the patients EMF exposure their ability to
detoxify was increased. By contrast, exposure to EMFs may impair a
person’s ability to detoxify. The science was hard to deny and I was
intrigued. To my surprise, this study was largely ignored. Some gave
it minimal attention and others dismissed it altogether. Many
including the always-open-minded Lisa Jo Rudy of
about.com labeled it
“silly” for no apparent reason other than she wasn’t familiar with the
journal in which it was published. If this was the most discrediting
thing that the “experts” could say, I thought it deserved some serious
attention.
To us, the conclusions of the study made a lot of sense. We never had
a phone landline in our home. Cell phones were our main form of
distance communication. We have had WiFi internet since Tiyana was an
infant. I can remember the day that Tiyana was born I made several
calls on my cell phone while breastfeeding in my hospital bed. I knew
about cell phone risks, but I thought they were limited to actually
holding the phone to your head or another body part for extended
periods of time. I had never heard of second hand radiation. I never
thought about how having a cell phone could hurt my child. I certainly
never thought that wireless internet connections would have the
slightest effect on her. Using a wireless baby monitor that we
virtually never turned off only seemed like what every responsible
parent would do. Yet, here I was faced with some pretty convincing
evidence that these things could be contributing to her autism. This
could be an enormous part of the “why” that I had been looking for.
I started to do some research and I started with that which was most
obvious: The numbers. I looked at the increase in the prevalence of
autism over the past 20-30 years and then at the increase in the
numbers of cellular telephone subscribers. The parallels were hard to
ignore. I also found a study from the Journal Medical Hypothesis
entitled Out of time: A possible link between mirror neurons, autism
and electromagnetic radiation by Ian M. Thornton. On top of his
clinical observations, he showed the correlation between children with
a diagnosis of autism attending US schools and US cellular phone
sales, during the period 1992–2003. The 2 were virtually identical. So
this wasn’t just my perception; it was scientific fact. I recalled
reading a blog on autism in which the writer said “there is nothing in
the data to support a dramatic increase fueled by toxins that only
emerged at the beginning of the 1990s.” Well now there is. We seem to
have been looking only for things we could smell, taste or touch, but
we have been leaving out consideration of electrical toxins. Their
impact appears to be significant. Beyond the numbers there are the
parallels in biological effects. Thus far, there don’t seem to be many
studies on the link between wireless radiation and autism. However,
there are many studies on the biomedical effects of autism; and there
are several on the biomedical effects of wireless radiation (mostly
related to studies on cancer). When you look at the two together the
results are stunning. The table below outlines what I have found so
far. And I’ve only just begun. The odds of these correlations simply
being coincidence are at the very least unlikely. Non-ionizing
Microwave Radiation Autism Spectrum Disorder Leaking Calcium Ions
Hypocalcemia Boys with autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are
at higher than normal risk for thinner, less dense bones when compared
to a group of boys the same age who do not have autism. – It is
assumed that this is because of the casein free diet that many ASD
children are on, but this has not been proven Weakened blood brain
Barrier Peptide molecules which come from the proteins of gluten and
casein products result in opiod activity in the brain because they
pass from the bloodstream into the blood brain barrier. This also may
explain how the toxins in the environment (or injected into the blood
stream) may pass the blood brain barrier and effect the child’s
nervous system. DNA damage –Increase in the single and double strand
breaks of DNA DNA damage and genetic mutations contribute to autism
Weakening of the immune system Antibodies found in the blood of
autistic children suggest that at least some cases of autism are cause
or contributed to by a misguided immune response Decrease in the
production of Melatonin Autistic children receiving melatonin
regularly exhibit benefits can be explained as a combination of better
sleep, better control of biological rhythms and high anti-oxidant
effect. Increase in apoptosis Studies indicate that autistic
cerebellum may be vulnerable to pro-apoptotic stimuli and to neuronal
atrophy as a consequence of decreased Bcl-2 levels. Decrease in levels
of Glutathione Studies have shown levels of the antioxidant
glutathione are typically about 50 percent lower in children with
autism Reduced Enzyme Activity/ Altered Enzyme Reactions Metabolic
abnormalities including enzyme defects have repeatedly been shown in
studies of children with ASD Increased oxidative stress Convincing
data demonstrate greater oxidative stress in groups of children with
autism, as compared to controls. Oxidized biomolecules in blood (lipid
peroxides in both red-cells and serum) and urine (isoprostanes) are
significantly elevated in autism. Autistic brain has significantly
increased lipofuscin after age seven, and a more specific oxidative
marker is found in cortical dendrites in even younger subjects.
Mitochondria Disfunction - shown to be induced by microwave exposure
Biomarkers for mitochondrial dysfunction have been identified in many
cases of autism and are believed to contribute to diagnostic symptoms
including: cognitive impairment, language deficits, abnormal energy
metabolism and chronic gastrointestinal problems Electromagnetic
fields- like those emitted by cell phones - have been shown to alter
regional cerebral blood flow. In conditions like autism and chronic
fatigue syndrome (CFS) it has been shown via SPECT (Single Proton
Emission Computed Tomography) scans that there is a decreased flow of
blood to the brain. Microwave radiation has been shown to produce
marked disruptions in energy production in cells. This has been noted
as well as decreased ATP and creatinine phosphate production. A
variety of biochemical, anatomical and neuroradiographical studies
imply a disturbance of brain energy metabolism in autistic patients.
This includes a deficiency of ATP and creatinine phosphate.
This chart barely scratches the surface on this topic, but it raises
some questions that need answers. Just to be clear, I am not
suggesting that this is the cause of all cases of autism. I also don’t
believe this is an open and shut case. I’m only suggesting that we
need more research on this subject, by people with a deep
understanding of both electronics and autism. There is particular
concern about children partly because they are more vulnerable - as
their skulls are thinner and their nervous systems are still
developing - and because they will be exposed to more of the radiation
during their lives. We need to look at how wireless radiation may
interact with other factors in our environment including heavy metals,
pesticides, the water quality, other electrical appliances and wiring
in our homes. In the meantime, we should move into this wireless age
with caution. We should carefully consider the possible impact of
having WiFi in our schools, daycare centers and homes. Our children
and future generations are counting on us. The more we find out what
is causing this condition, the more we can do to help our children
recover and help future generations grow and develop as nature
intended. Wireless Radiation in the Etiology and Treatment of Autism:
Clinical Observations and Mechanisms (11/12/07) - Tamara J. Mariea and
George L. Carlo Journal of the Australasian College of Nutritional &
Environmental Medicine
Out of time: A possible link between mirror neurons, autism and
electromagnetic Radiation Ian M. Thornton Medical Hypotheses (2006)
67, 378–382 19 January 2006
http://intl.elsevierhealth.com/journals/mehy
Targeting cerebral Bcl-2 expression as a potential therapeutic target
in autism: Potential usefulness of human recombinant nerve growth
factor. Medical Hypotheses, Volume 67, Issue 5, Pages 1256-1257 M.
Boso, S. di Nemi, F. Barale, E. Emanuele
Exposure to cell phone radiation up-regulates apoptosis genes in
primary cultures of neurons and astrocytes 19 September 2006
Neuroscience Letters 412
(2007) 34–38 Tian-Yong Zhaoa, Shi-Ping Zoua, Pamela E. Knappb,
Metabolic Approaches to the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Journal. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Springer
Netherlands Volume
30, Number 5 / October, 2000
Carlo, George and Schram, Martin Cell Phones: Invisible Hazards in the
Wireless Age Carroll & Graf
(January 22, 2002)
Reduction in anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in autistic cerebellum
Hossein, Fatemi S.; Halt Amy R.; Stary, Joel M.; Realmuto, George M.;
Jalali-Mousavi, Maryam Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
2001, vol. 12, no5, pp. 929-933.
Levels of Bcl-2 and P53 are altered in superior frontal and cerebellar
cortices of autistic subjects. Araghi-Niknam M, Fatemi SH.Department
of Neuroscience, Division of Neuroscience Research, University of
Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
55455, USA. Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2003 Dec;23(6):945-52
Goldberg, Gerald Would you put your head in a Microwave Oven: 2006
Author House. Bloomington, IN
The Biological Effects of Weak Electromagnetic Fields: What the power
and telecom companies would prefer us not to know Andrew Goldsworthy,
2007
http://www.radiationresearch.org/goldsworthy_bio_weak_em_07.pdf
Theoretical Model of Sunderland University’s Autism Research Unit
http://www.empowerautismtoday.org.uk/metabolic.html
Are Microwaves a/the Major Causal Factor in CFS/ME? by Professor Paul
Doyon
http://www.mast-victims.org/index.php?content=news&action=view&type=country&id=89
Evidence of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism and Implications for
Treatment Daniel A. Rossignol, J. Jeffrey Bradstreet International
Child Development Resource Center, 3800 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Suite
105, Melbourne, FL 32934
http://adventuresinautism.blogspot.com/2008/03/evidence-of-mitochondrial-dysfunction.html
Thin Bones Seen In Boys with Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/news/releases/thin_bones_in_autism_012908.cfm
Autism: a mitochondrial disorder? . Medical Hypotheses , Volume 50 ,
Issue 6 , Pages 497 - 500 J . Lombard
Do You Have Microwave/EMR Sickness?
by Paul Raymond Doyon
http://www.cassmd.com/microwave.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/10/981031181106.htm
http://www.udaan.org/drugs/autrx2.html http://1whey2health.com/glutathione-autism.htm
http://asa.confex.com/asa/2005/techprogram/S1181.HTM
http://www.mountshastaecology.org/17other01cellphones.html
http://www.antennafreeunion.org/ http://www.energyfields.org
http://www.bioinitiative.org http://www.safewireless.org/
http://www.yourkidscellphone.com/ http://www.emfhealthsolutions.com/
http://www.radiationresearch.org/ http://www.energyfields.org/science/chronicles.html