Busy yesterday and today, but I saw a brief mention of a study yesterday that Orac has discussed in more detail today. The study questions whether an "autism epidemic," as frequently cited in the anti-vaccination literature, has really occurred in the United States or not.
So, in nearly all states, as the reporting of autism cases for special education administrative purposes increased, the reporting of mental retardation and learning disabilities declined correspondingly, suggesting that children who once would have been classified as mentally retarded or learning disabled were now more appropriately being classified as having autism or ASDs.
Much more at the link.
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One of the key arguments by advocates claiming a link between mercury in childhood vaccines is that there is an "epidemic" of autism. They'll claim that autism was unknown before the 1930's, when thimerosal was first introduced into vaccines.
I must admit that I've never heard of Margerite Kelly. Apparently she's some sort of advice columnist for the Washington Post.
I know I've been hard on a lot of legislators, including woo-friendly clods such as Tom Harkin, Ron Paul, and
In my most recent blog entry, I argue that the burden of proof has shifted.
Orac has a follow-up post here.