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New York Times contributor David Kirby explores the chilling possibility that a vaccine additive may be fueling an apparent epidemic of autism, ADD, speech delay and other disorders in America’s children.

In the 1990’s, reported autism cases among American children began spiking, from about 1 in 10,000 in 1987 to a shocking 1 in 166 today.  In this period, new shots containing a mercury-based preservative called Thimerosal were added to the nation’s already crowded vaccination schedule. At the same time, some parents noticed that their healthy children were descending into silent, disturbed, and physically ill behavior after receiving vaccinations.  In 1999, the FDA announced that children were being exposed to mercury at very young ages at levels far exceeding federal regulations, but the public health establishment failed to take parental concerns about the impact seriously.

Evidence of Harm explores both sides of this controversy, which has pitted families and their allies against the federal government, public health agencies, and powerful pharmaceutical giants.  It examines:

• Story of Thimerosal: a mercury-based additive approved by the FDA in the 1930’s as a vaccine preservative and never subsequently tested by the Agency
• Increase in reported autism cases and apparent parallel to the increase in number and frequency of Thimerosal-containing vaccinations
• Private meeting at which FDA, CDC, medical and pharmaceutical company representatives discussed data on neurological childhood disorders related to mercury in vaccines
• Mysterious rider to the 2002 Homeland Security bill which would free drug companies of liability in lawsuits regarding Thimerosal
• State and federal lawsuits filed by families against the drug makers seeking compensation for the lifelong care of their ill children
• New biological research indicating a link between Thimerosal exposure and neurological disorders

This disturbing, important book examines both the personal stories of families and the unfolding political drama in the courts and halls of Congress.

DAVID KIRBY has been a contributor to The New York Times for seven years, where he writes science and health articles, and has been a journalist for over fifteen years.  He lives in Brooklyn, New York.