Aluminum
Aluminum is an adjuvant added to a vaccine to increase the response to the vaccine. The immune system is stimulated resulting in the creation of a large amount of antibodies. Aluminum heightens the inflammatory response to the vaccine.
Material Safety Data Sheet Aluminum hydroxide (MSDS)
June 8, 2015 - Beyond adjuvants: Immunomodulation strategies to enhance T cell immunity "The word adjuvant is derived from Latin, adiuvare, which means to aid. Adjuvants are compounds that enhance or shape the immune response. Adjuvants preferentially activate the innate immune system to ensure that lymphocytes recognize their cognate antigen in an inflammatory context to generate effective T and B cell responses. However T cell responses elicited by adjuvants approved for use in humans, such as alum or oil-in-water emulsion, could still be improved.
June 8, 2015 - Communicating the role and value of vaccine adjuvants "Despite many successes, vaccine development for many pathogens is currently constrained by the limited immune responses to vaccine antigens."..."This calls for a range of novel approaches to vaccine development and puts a spotlight on the increasing role that adjuvants are already playing in vaccines. This raises the issue of how best to ensure that their characteristics, purposes, and performance are understood. At the same time, it raises the more general issue of the degree to which educational and communication efforts are warranted for the full range of vaccine ingredients: preservatives, excipients, stabilizers and adjuvants. Recent experiences with several vaccine ingredients and alleged safety concerns – aluminium-based adjuvants and macrophagic myofasciitis, the preservative thimerosal and neurodevelopmen
April 17, 2015 - Al adjuvants can be tracked in viable cells by lumogallion staining "The mechanism behind the adjuvant effect of aluminium salts is poorly understood notwithstanding that aluminium salts have been used for decades in clinical vaccines."..."Staining of viable cells using lumogallion will be a useful method in investigations of the mechanisms behind aluminum adjuvants' differentiation of antigen-presenting cells into inflammatory cells. Information will be gained regarding the phagosomal pathways and the events inside the phagosomes, and thereby the ultimate fate of phagocytosed aluminum adjuvants could be resolved."
February 28, 2015 - Aluminium in Allergies and Allergen immunotherapy (full text) "A hot topic in the current debate is that aluminium is introduced into the body by vaccines. In the US 0.85, and in cases of documented efficacy up to 1.25 mg per single vaccine shot are recommended, in Europe up to 1.25 mg. For instance, vaccination patient information platforms put this amount in relation to 4.4 mg derived from vaccines during the same time slot in a baby’s life. In SCIT with up to '54 injections' during the whole course the accumulating dose may 'vary between 45 and 67,5 mg of aluminium'.
December 12, 2014 - Anti-Cancer Vaccines — A One-Hit Wonder? (full text) "In terms of drawbacks to the vaccines themselves, there have been side effects reported after vaccine administration. One of the biggest fears is the lack of selectivity of TAAs that can potentially lead to autoimmunity occurring in the patient. For example, cases of vitiligo (a condition that results in blotches of pigmentation loss in the skin) have been reported in patients receiving a melanoma vaccine."..."Examples of anti-cancer vaccine adjuvants currently approved for use in clinical practice include aluminium salts (alum), monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) in an oil-in-water emulsion (known as MF59), and a combination of MPL and alum known as AS04. Alum and oil-in-water emulsions both act as a vehicle, delivering and controlling the release of the vaccine antigen to the host immune system. They can also directly stimulate the innate immune system through an inflammatory response, which, in turn, facilitates and amplifies a cell-mediated or humoral immune response. MPL is derived from lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a pattern-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) recognized by a pattern recognition receptor (PRR), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) [49]. AS04 is licensed for use as an adjuvant in Fendrix (a HBV vaccine) and Cervarix (a HPV vaccine).
October 2014 - Systematic review of potential health risks posed by pharmaceutical, occupational and consumer exposures to metallic and nanoscale aluminum, aluminum oxides, aluminum hydroxide and its soluble salts "The scientific literature on the adverse health effects of Al is extensive. Health risk assessments for Al must take into account individual co-factors (e.g., age, renal function, diet, gastric pH). Conclusions from the current review point to the need for refinement of the PTWI, reduction of Al contamination in PN solutions, justification for routine addition of Al to vaccines, and harmonization of OELs for Al substances."
September 8, 2014 - A role for impaired regulatory T cell function in adverse responses to aluminum adjuvant-containing vaccines in genetically susceptible individuals "there is only a limited understanding of the response of regulatory T cells to aluminum adjuvants and the vaccines that contain them. Available studies in animal models show that although induced T regulatory cells may be induced concomitantly with effector T cells following aluminum-adjuvanted vaccination, they are unable to protect against sensitization, suggesting that under the Th2 immune-stimulating effects of aluminum adjuvants, Treg cells may be functionally compromised. Allergic diseases are characterized by immune dysregulation, with increases in IL-4 and IL-6, both of which exert negative effects on Treg function. For individuals with a 'genetic predisposition', the beneficial influence of adjuvants on immune responsiveness may be 'accompanied by immune dysregulation, leading to allergic diseases."
July 16, 2014 - Immunization with hepatitis B vaccine accelerates SLE-like disease in a murine model. "Mice immunized with HBVv and/or alum had decreased cells counts mainly of the red cell lineage (p < 0.001), memory deficits (p < 0.01), and increased activated microglia in different areas of the brain compare with mice immunized with PBS. Anxiety-like behavior was more pronounced among mice immunized with alum."
July 16, 2014 - Aluminium in allergen-specific subcutaneous immunotherapy – A German perspective "Increased concentrations of aluminium have been demonstrated in senile plaques in the brains of Alzheimer patients. The property of aluminium to produce amyloid-beta and cause damage to neurons, as well as epidemiologic connections, have been indicative of a relationship between aluminium and Alzheimer's disease for decades."..."The dose of aluminium salt in vaccines varies depending on the manufacturer; it could be as low as 170 μg per dose in Tripedia (diptheria/tetanus) o'
June 2014 - A case of lipoatrophy following quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine administration (pdf) "A 27-year-old woman presented to the dermatology clinic with a circular depression on her right arm without any local symptoms or previous inflammation. She had no medical problems and was not taking any medication. She reported a history of 3 intramuscular Gardasil injections on a 0-, 2-, and 6-month-schedule in the same arm, with the last injection given 9 months before the appearance of the lesion."..."We did not find in this case any other cause that could be related to lipoatrophy unless trauma of the injection itself is an etiology. We estimate that the injection was subcutaneous instead of intramuscular and that the aluminium granulations found in the macrophages correspond to the adjuvant found in the vaccine.
May 2014 - Post-vaccination granulomas caused by delayed-type reaction to aluminum salts "Aluminium salts are common adjuvants in all established inactivated vaccines. They are necessary to activate the humoral immune system. In the 1990s a Swedish study on an acellular vaccination against pertussis was started. Until 2013, 745 of 760,000 children with pruritic subcutaneous nodules were identified. In 77 % of these children a contact allergy to aluminium could be proven. Contact allergy to aluminium induced by vaccines causes pruritic subcutaneous nodules at the vaccination site. During infections of the upper respiratory tract the pruritus often escalates with inflammatory, erythematous and urticarial plaques."
April 24, 2014 - Inflammatory responses following intramuscular and subcutaneous immunization with aluminum-adjuvanted or non-adjuvanted vaccines "Aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines induced inflammatory nodules at the injection site, which expanded into the intra-muscular space without any muscle degeneration or necrosis, whereas non-adjuvanted vaccines did not. These nodules consisted of polymorph nuclear neutrophils with some eosinophils within the initial 48 h, then monocytes/macrophages 1 month later. Inflammatory nodules were observed 6 months after IM, had decreased in size, and were absorbed 12 months after IM, which was earlier than that after SC. Cytokine production was examined in the injected muscular tissues and 'AS04 adjuvanted HPV' induced higher IL-1β, IL-6, KC, MIP-1, and G-CSF levels in muscle tissues than any other vaccine, but similar serum cytokine profiles were observed to those induced by the other vaccines."
March 1, 2014 - Adjuvant-carrying synthetic vaccine particles augment the immune response to encapsulated antigen and exhibit strong local immune activation without inducing systemic cytokine release (full text) "Additionally, alum preferentially promotes Th2 type responses, which may exacerbate adverse inflammatory reactions to some respiratory pathogens, such as the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and does not efficiently augment cytotoxic T cell responses, which are necessary to provide protective immunity against many viral antigens or therapeutic immunity against cancer-related antigens. One of the main challenges of current vaccine development is to advance the clinical application of newly developed and potent adjuvants without compromising safety.
January 10, 2014 - Aluminum hydroxide nanoparticles show a stronger vaccine adjuvant activity than traditional aluminum hydroxide microparticles "Aluminum hydroxide is used as a vaccine adjuvant in various human vaccines. Unfortunately, despite its favorable safety profile, aluminum hydroxide can only weakly or moderately potentiate antigen-specific antibody responses. When dispersed in an aqueous solution, aluminum hydroxide forms particulates of 1–20 μm. There is increasing evidence that nanoparticles around or less than 200 nm as vaccine or antigen carriers have a more potent adjuvant activity than large microparticles.
Volume 2014 - Aluminum-Induced Entropy in Biological Systems: Implications for Neurological Disease "Although Al is neurotoxic, it is claimed by proponents that the concentrations at which Al is used in the vaccines do not represent a health hazard. For that reason, vaccine trials often treat an Al adjuvant-containing injection as a harmless “placebo” (a comparison benchmark or control treatment) or they use another Al-containing vaccine to treat a “control group,” despite evidence that Al in vaccine-relevant exposures is universally toxic to humans and animals. Its use in a supposed “placebo” or in any “control” treatment in vaccine trials is indefensible. It is precisely analogous to comparing fire A against fire B, to make the argument that since A is no hotter than B, A is therefore not a fire."
2014 - Autism Spectrum Disorders and Aluminum Vaccine Adjuvants "In regard to the risk of adjuvant toxicity in children, the following should be noted: (i) children should not be viewed as “small adults” as their unique physiology makes them more vulnerable to toxic insults; (ii) in adult humans Al adjuvants can cause a variety of serious autoimmune and inflammatory conditions including those affecting the brain, yet children are routinely exposed to much higher amounts of Al from vaccines than adults; (iii) compelling evidence has underscored the tight connection between the development of the immune system and that of the brain."..."In summary, research data suggests that vaccines containing Al may be a contributing etiological factor in the increasing incidence of autism."
December 11, 2013 - A Non-adjuvanted Transcutaneous Tetanus Patch Is Effective In Boosting Anti-Tetanus Toxoid Immune Responses "The booster effects of the TTx patches were assessed in a guinea pig model. The study revealed significant rises in TTx IgG titers by the TTx patches after a low-dose s.c. prime with TTx adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide. The TTx patch can therefore be considered as an effective alternative to a subcutaneous booster."
November 2013 - Administration of aluminium to neonatal mice in vaccine-relevant amounts is associated with adverse long term neurological outcomes. "Injections of a “high” and “low” Al adjuvant levels were designed to correlate to either the U.S. or Scandinavian paediatric vaccine schedules vs. control saline-injected mice. Both male and female mice in the “high Al” group showed significant weight gains following treatment up to sacrifice at 6 months of age. Male mice in the “high Al” group showed significant changes in light–dark box tests and in various measures of behaviour in an open field. Female mice showed significant changes in the light–dark box at both doses, but no significant changes in open field behaviours. These current data implicate Al injected in early postnatal life in some CNS alterations that may be relevant for a better understanding of the aetiology of ASD."
August 29, 2013' - Rapid loss of vaccine-acquired hepatitis B surface antibody after three doses of hepatitis B vaccination in HIV-infected persons "In multivariate analysis, time between the third dose and the first post-vaccine serology testing at 180–359 days (OR = 0.077, p = 0.049) and at ≥360 days (OR = 0.065, p = 0.019) were associated with poor vaccine responses. A significant decrease in seropositivity appeared as early as 180 days after the third vaccine dose, suggesting a rapid loss of vaccine-acquired hepatitis B surface antibody in HIV-infected persons."
June 14, 2013 - Kinetics of the inflammatory response following intramuscular injection of aluminum adjuvant "Aluminum-containing adjuvants are widely used in human and veterinary vaccines, but their mechanism of action is not well understood. Recent evidence suggests an important role for inflammation in the immune response to aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines."
April 4, 2013 - Slow CCL2-dependent translocation of biopersistent particles from muscle to brain (full text) - "Long-term biodistribution of nanomaterials used in medicine is largely unknown. This is the case for alum, the most widely used vaccine adjuvant, which is a nanocrystalline compound spontaneously forming micron/submicron-sized agglomerates. Although generally well tolerated, alum is occasionally detected within monocyte-lineage cells long after immunization in presumably susceptible individuals with systemic/neurologic manifestations or autoimmune (inflammatory) syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA)."..."Intramuscular injection of alum-containing vaccine was associated with the appearance of aluminum deposits in distant organs, such as spleen and brain where they were still detected one year after injection."
April 2013 - Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (Shoenfeld’s syndrome): clinical and immunological spectrum "The activation of the immune system by adjuvants, a desirable effect, '''could trigger manifestations of autoimmunity or autoimmune disease. Recently, a new syndrome was introduced, autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA), that includes postvaccination phenomena, macrophagic myofasciitis, Gulf War syndrome and siliconosis. This syndrome is characterized by nonspecific and specific manifestations of autoimmune disease. The main substances associated with ASIA are squalene (Gulf War syndrome), aluminum hydroxide (postvaccination phenomena, macrophagic myofasciitis) and silicone with siliconosis. Mineral oil, guaiacol and iodine gadital are also associated with ASIA."
April 2013 - Aluminum in the central nervous system (CNS): toxicity in humans and animals, vaccine adjuvants, and autoimmunity "A common assertion made about aluminum in children’s vaccines is that children obtain much more of this element from their diets, and hence, the small amount in most vaccines does not represent a significant risk factor for ASD. However, this assertion contradicts basic toxicological principles because injected aluminum bypasses the protective barriers of the gastrointestinal tract and thus will likely require a lower dose to produce a toxic outcome. In the case of aluminum, only *0.25 % of dietary aluminum is absorbed while aluminum hydroxide (the most common form of aluminum used in vaccines) '''when injected may be absorbed by the body at nearly 100 % efficiency over time.
April 2013 - How aluminum, an intracellular ROS generator promotes hepatic and neurological diseases: the metabolic tale "This Al-evoked phenomenon is coupled to diminished mitochondrial activity, anerobiosis, and the channeling of α-ketoacids towards anti-oxidant defense. The resulting metabolic reconfiguration leads to fat accumulation and a reduction in ATP synthesis, characteristics that are common to numerous medical disorders."
February 27, 2013 - Host DNA released in response to aluminum adjuvant enhances MHC class II-mediated antigen presentation and prolongs CD4 T-cell interactions with dendritic cells (full text) "Despite the widespread use of alum in vaccines, little is known about its mode of action. Injection of alum results in a rapid inflammatory response and release of multiple inflammatory cytokines (5, 6). IL-1β is detected a few hours after injection of alum into mice."
January 11, 2013 - Disparate adjuvant properties among three formulations of “alum” "Although the mechanisms that promote humoral responses to alum-adsorbed antigens are still enigmatic, alum' is thought' to form antigen depots and induce inflammatory signals that, in turn, promote antibody production. It was recently noted that Imject® alum, a commercial aluminum-containing adjuvant commonly used in animal studies, is not the physicochemical equivalent of aluminum adjuvant present in human vaccines. This difference raises concerns about the use of Imject® alum in animal research as a model for approved aluminum adjuvants."
November 7, 2012 - Empirical Data Confirm Autism Symptoms Related to Aluminum and Acetaminophen Exposure (pdf) "It has recently been proposed that aluminum, commonly used in vaccines as an adjuvant, may be the most significant factor in adverse reactions, and, furthermore, that the nervous system is especially vulnerable to aluminum toxicity."
October 11, 2012 - Sixty-four children with persistent itching nodules and contact allergy to aluminium after vaccination with aluminium-adsorbed vaccines—prognosis and outcome after booster vaccination (pdf) "The children with itching nodules induced by these vaccines had intense and long-lasting itching with a median duration of 4 years''', aggravated symptoms during intercurrent respiratory tract infections (39 %) and hypertrichosis, hyperpigmentation and eczema in the itching area (32 %). The median interval between vaccination and onset of symptoms was remarkably long, 3 months. Contact allergy to Alwas demonstrated in 352 of 455 children with persistent itching nodules (77 %)."..."The median duration of their itching nodules was 4.6 years (2.0–8.3 years). Another 20 children were nearly recovered after, so far, a median itching time of 6.3 years. Twelve children were improved after a median time of 3.8 years, while eight still were in the initial phase with daily itching after a median time of 11 months."
June 6, 2012 - Alum-adjuvanted H5N1 whole virus inactivated vaccine (WIV) enhanced inflammatory cytokine productions "Lymphocytes were obtained from 25 healthy subjects who had not received the H5 flu vaccine, to examine the impact of the various vaccine formulations. The cytokine (inflammatory) profile was analyzed when the white blood cells were exposed to aluminum adjuvant alone, aluminum added to H5 whole viron vaccine, H5 whole virun vaccine alone, and H5 split vaccine (regular flu shot antigen). Enhanced production of cytokines was induced by alum-adjuvanted H5 WIV may be related to the higher incidence of febrile reactions with stronger immune responses in children." Comment: Aluminum + whole virus flu shots = very strong reactions. This combination has been tried for years, always resulting in a vaccine that is not approved for use due to serious side' effects.
February 2012 - Aluminum as an adjuvant in Crohn’s disease induction "It is suggested that Al adjuvant activity can fit between the aberrations of innate and adaptive immune responses occurring in CD. The CD mucosa is confronted with numerous inappropriate bacterial components adsorbed on the Al compound surface, constituting a pro-inflammatory supra-adjuvant. Al fits the diagnostic criteria of the newly described autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants."
February 2012 - The spectrum of ASIA: ‘Autoimmune (Auto-inflammatory) Syndrome induced by Adjuvants’ (full text) "The use of medical adjuvants has become common practice and substances such as aluminum adjuvant are added to most human and animal vaccines, while the adjuvant silicone is extensively used for breast implants and cosmetic procedures."
February 2012 - Human adjuvant disease induced by foreign substances: a new model of ASIA (Shoenfeld's syndrome) (full text) "Last, but not least, in the past year the four medical conditions siliconosis, GWS, MMF, and post-vaccination phenomena were linked with previous exposure to an adjuvant."
February 2012 - Mechanisms of aluminum adjuvant toxicity and autoimmunity in pediatric populations "In turn, perturbations of the neuro-immune axis have been demonstrated in many autoimmune diseases encompassed in “ASIA” and are thought to be driven by a hyperactive immune response; and the same components of the neuro-immune axis that play key roles in brain development and immune function are heavily targeted by aluminum adjuvants. In summary, research evidence shows that increasing concerns about current vaccination practices may indeed be warranted. Because children may be most at risk of vaccine-induced complications, a rigorous evaluation of the vaccine-related adverse health impacts in the pediatric population is urgently needed." Comment: 'ASIA - Autoimmune Inflammatory Syndrome induced by Adjuvants – is a new syndrome that comprises four medical conditions: siliconosis (caused by silicon implants), the Gulf war syndrome, the macrophagic myofasciitis syndrome (often caused by aluminum) and post-vaccination phenomena. The syndrome is characterized by hyperactive immune responses accompanied by a long list of complex signs and symptoms.
February 2012 - Vaccine model of antiphospholipid syndrome induced by tetanus vaccine "Successful induction of anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) in two different non-autoimmune prone mouse strains, BALB/c and C57BL/6, was achieved by tetanus toxoid hyperimmunization using different adjuvants (glycerol or aluminium hydroxide), and different adjuvant pretreatments (glycerol or Complete Freund’s Adjuvant." '''Comment: Anti-phospholipid syndrome is a disorder in which the immune system produces antibodies against certain normal proteins in your blood. Anti-phospholipid syndrome can cause blood clots to form in arteries or veins as well as pregnancy complications, such as miscarriages and stillbirths'''.
January 17, 2012 - Hepatitis B vaccine induces apoptotic death in Hepa1-6 cells. "We conclude that exposure of Hepa1-6 cells to a low dose of adjuvanted hepatitis 'B' vaccine leads to loss of mitochondrial integrity', apoptosis induction, and cell death'''. Apoptosis effect was observed also in C2C12 mouse myoblast cell line after treated with low dose of vaccine (0.3, 0.1, 0.05 μg/ml). In addition In vivo apoptotic effect of hepatitis B vaccine was observed in mouse liver."
December 5, 2011 - Wide Variation in Reference Values for Aluminum Levels in Children "Some parents are requesting aluminum testing in their children with developmental issues. Although aluminum can be measured in plasma, serum, or urine, there is scant scientific information about normal ranges. We sought to determine the basis for laboratory reference ranges and whether these ranges are applicable to children."
November 28, 2011 - Updated aluminum pharmacokinetics following infant exposures through diet and vaccination "Exposure to aluminum in the general population can also occur through vaccination, since vaccines often contain aluminum salts (frequently aluminum hydroxide or aluminum phosphate) as adjuvants. Because concerns have been expressed by the public that aluminum in vaccines may pose a risk to infants, we developed an up-to-date analysis of the safety of aluminum adjuvants."Comment: The full text of this article essentially says any amount of aluminum is safe. Really?
November 2011 - Do aluminum vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism? "Aluminum is a neurotoxin and the most commonly used vaccine adjuvant. Our results, supported by the Hill's criteria for establishing causality between exposure and outcome indicate that a causal relationship may exist between the exposure to aluminum from vaccines and the rising prevalence of autism in the Western world." Comment: Quite a different conclusion than the article directly above this one.
September 9, 2011 - The common immunogenic etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome: from infections to vaccines via adjuvants to the ASIA syndrome. "Studies have examined and hypothesized about the possible biomedical and epidemiologic characteristics of the disease, including genetic predisposition, infections, endocrine abnormalities, and immune dysfunction and psychological and psychosocial factors. Recently, the AISA (autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants) syndrome was recognized, indicating the possible contribution of adjuvants and vaccines to the development of autoimmunity."
September 5, 2011 - SANE Vax Inc. Discovers Potential Bio-hazard Contaminant in Merck’s Gardasil™ HPV 4 Vaccine Gardasil victim found to have HPV DNA in her blood 2 Years Post-Vaccination 13 different vaccine vials – 13 different lots of Gardasil from around the world tested Results – 100% contamination with HPV Recombinant DNA. "SANE Vax Inc.’s research found that 100% of the 13 samples tested were contaminated with viral HPV DNA residue, including a synthetic construct for HPV11 major capsid protein L1 gene, a recombinant DNA genetically engineered specifically for manufacturing of the Gardasil vaccine. All DNA residue discovered was firmly attached to the insoluble aluminum adjuvant in the vaccine, requiring a new protocol for detection."
September 2011 - ToxGuide for Aluminum Aluminium (pdf) Children’s Health Children who are exposed to high levels of aluminum exhibit symptoms similar to those seen in adults, including neurological effects and skeletal effects. We do not know if children are more susceptible than adults to aluminum toxicity.
'
July 17, 2011 - DNA released from dying host cells mediates aluminum adjuvant activity "Here we report that, in mice, alum causes cell death and the subsequent release of host cell DNA, which acts as a potent endogenous immunostimulatory signal mediating alum adjuvant activity."
June 12, 2011 - Comparative activity of biodegradable nanoparticles with aluminum adjuvants: Antigen uptake by dendritic cells and induction of immune response in mice. Comment: This article actually says that the use of nano particles is better than using aluminum for an antigenic response. What will they think of next?
June 9, 2011 - Curcumin Attenuates Aluminum-Induced Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Rat Brain. "Curcumin supplementation to aluminum-treated rats was able to normalize significantly the activities of all the three mitochondrial complexes as well as reduced glutathione content in all the three regions of brain which were altered following aluminum treatment. We conclude that curcumin, by attenuating oxidative stress, as evident by hypoxia in histological observations and mitochondrial dysfunction holds promise as an agent that can potentially reduce aluminum-induced adverse effects in brain." Comment: Curcumin is the 'yellow spice'. There are hundreds of research articles published on its benefits.
June 2011 - ‘ASIA’: a new systemic autoimmune syndrome? "Therefore, the issue of vaccine-induced autoimmune disease may well be accepted by physicians and lawyers but, nonetheless, remains a controversial issue, carrying social and financial implications'''. Over the years, many interesting unsolved questions have been raised relating to the ability of vaccines to induce autoimmune diseases. Among others, the following questions are of importance:"
May 13, 2011 - Trends in adjuvant development for vaccines: DAMPs and PAMPs as potential new adjuvants (full text) "It has been proposed that alum can cause necrosis, resulting in the production of uric acid,which in turn activates NLRP3. The role of activation of this inflammasome pathway is still controversial since some groups have shown that the NLRP3 pathway might be dispensable for the adjuvant activity of alum in vivo." Comment: The NLRP3 gene plays a role in the regulation of inflammation, the immune response, and apoptosis (cell death). Mutations in this gene are associated with familial cold auto-inflammatory syndrome (FCAS), chronic infantile neurological cutaneous and articular (CINCA) syndrome, and neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID). Could it be that aluminum in vaccines given at 2-4-6 months of age is causing NLRP3 gene mutations, leading to a host of diseases in infants that are currently blamed on "defective genes"?
May 2011 - Immunological Links to Nonspecific Effects of DTwP and BCG Vaccines on Infant Mortality (full text) "From an immunological point of view, we hypothesize that the adverse effects of DTwP vaccine may occur because of the Th2-polarising effect of the aluminium phosphate adjuvant in the vaccine and because intramuscular administration of the vaccine may cause chronic inflammation at the site of injection." Comment: DTwP, the whole cell pertussis vaccine, is no longer used in the US but is used globally. This vaccine has high levels of is aluminum, shifting the immune response to the Th2 {high antibody} pathways.
April 22, 2011 - Do aluminum vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism? (pdf) "Moreover, the same pro-inflammatory mediators that are normally induced by aluminum adjuvants have been shown to be elevated in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain tissues of ASD patients. The aberrant neuroinflammatory cytokine profile in autistic brains was found concurrently with widespread microglial and astrocyte activation." (Table 1). Comment: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. CDC estimates that an average of 1 in 110 children in the U.S have an ASD.
April 4, 2011 - Aluminum Vaccine Adjuvants: Are they Safe? (reference) (pdf) Abstract: Aluminum is an experimentally demonstrated neurotoxin and the most commonly used vaccine adjuvant. Despite almost 90 years of widespread use of aluminum adjuvants, medical science’s understanding about their mechanisms of action is still remarkably poor. There is also a concerning scarcity of data on toxicology and pharmacokinetics of these compounds. In spite of this, the notion that aluminum in vaccines is safe appears to be widely accepted'''. Experimental research, however, clearly shows that aluminum adjuvants have a potential to induce serious immunological disorders in humans. In particular, aluminum in adjuvant form carries a risk for autoimmunity, long-term brain inflammation and associated neurological complications and may thus have profound and widespread adverse health consequences. In our opinion, the possibility that vaccine benefits may have been overrated and the risk of potential adverse effects underestimated, has not been rigorously evaluated in the medical and scientific community. We hope that the present paper will provide a framework for a much needed and long overdue assessment of this highly contentious medical issue. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 2011, 18, 2630-2637 Comment: This article is amazing. Every line could be highlighted. There can be no doubt that aluminum is harmful. Note that this is from a CHEMISTRY journal, not a medical journal. This article should be required reading for all pediatricians.
April 2011 - Aluminum and Alzheimer's Disease: After a Century of Controversy, Is there a Plausible Link? Abstract: “...Research reveals that: 1) very small amounts of aluminum are needed to produce neurotoxicity and this criterion is satisfied through dietary aluminum intake, 2) aluminum sequesters different transport mechanisms to actively traverse brain barriers, 3) incremental acquisition of small amounts of aluminum over a lifetime favors its selective accumulation in brain tissues, and 4) since 1911, experimental evidence has '''repeatedly demonstrated that chronic aluminum intoxication reproduces pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s Disease.”
January 27, 2011 - Microarray Analysis on Human Neuroblastoma Cells Exposed to Aluminum, β1–42-Amyloid or the β1–42-Amyloid Aluminum Complex (full text) "A typical pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the appearance in the brain of senile plaques made up of β-amyloid (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles. AD is also associated with an abnormal accumulation of some metal ions, and we have recently shown that one of these, aluminum (Al), plays a relevant role in affecting Aβ aggregation and neurotoxicity."
January 2011 - Gardasil Vaccination: Evaluating The Risks Versus Benefits Lucija Tomljenovic, PhD, (pdf) "Common symptoms of aluminum intoxication in both animals and humans include: progressive dementia, diminished performance in learning tasks, speech impairments, loss of psychomotor control, twitches, tremors, jerks, seizures, behavioural changes (paranoia, confusion, psychosis) and, in extreme circumstances, death. Of note, recent research demonstrates that aluminum in levels comparable to those routinely found in vaccines can cause the death of motor neurons and induce impairments in motor function and decrements in spatial memory capacity in mice.
December 2010 - Infants' exposure to aluminum from vaccines and breast milk during the first 6 months "Exclusively, breastfed infants (in Brazil) receiving a full recommended schedule of immunizations showed an exceedingly high exposure of aluminum (225 to 1750 μg per dose) when compared with estimated levels absorbed from breast milk (2.0 μg)."
March 22, 2010 - Department of Health and Human Services - The Food and Drug Administration Revision of the Requirements for Constituent Materials Aluminum (pdf) "The existing regulation limits the amount of aluminum per dose to no more than 0.85 mg if determined by assay or 1.14 mg if determined by calculation on the basis of the amount of aluminum compound added. In the Federal Register of October 23, 1981 (46 FR 51903), FDA published a rule entitled ``General Biological Products Standards; Aluminum in Biological Products (the October 1981 rule). The October 1981 rule amended Sec. 610.15(a) to increase the permissible level of aluminum per dose to 1.25 mg both to make the regulation consistent with World Health Organization standards, and because it appeared that certain groups (such as renal dialysis patients), who were understood to be at high risk of contracting hepatitis, might require a higher dosage of the hepatitis B vaccine, which would in turn, require amounts of aluminum as high as 1.25 mg per dose." Comment: Essentially this is saying the the "safe" dose of aluminum was increased from 0.85 per dose to 1.25mg per dose so they could give hepatitis B vaccines which large amounts of aluminum. No research. No science...just convenience.
January 29, 2010 - Currently Approved Prophylactic HPV Vaccines (free registration) Vaccine composition. Comment: The amount of aluminum is Gardasil vs Cervarix vaccines.
| Cervarix (GlaxoSmithKline) | Gardasil (Merck) | |
|---|---|---|
| Vaccine type | HPV-16 and HPV-18 VLP L1 capsid component |
HPV-6/11/16/18 VLP L1 capsid component |
| Concentration | 20 µg HPV-16 20 µg HPV-18 |
20 µg HPV-6 40 µg HPV-11 40 µg HPV-16 20 µg HPV-18 |
| Adjuvant | AS04: 500 µg aluminum hydroxide, 50 µg 3-deacylated monophosphoryl lipid A |
Alum: 225 µg aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate |
| Recombinant technology substrate system | Baculovirus expression system in cells | Yeast expression system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae |
December 23, 2009 - Disseminated Cutaneous Lymphoid Hyperplasia of 12 Years’ Duration Triggered by Vaccination "Vaccine-induced cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia (CLH) is rare. Its natural evolution is not well known, nor is its treatment. We report a case of B-cell CLH that occurred following Hepatitis B vaccination. The symptoms lasted 12 years and were efficiently treated by thalidomide. The lesions progressively enlarged and disseminated far from the injection sites. Thalidomide treatment finally led to complete remission. Aluminium hydroxide is used as adjuvant in the majority of vaccinations. In this case, occurrence of lesions far from the injection site of the vaccine suggested that it was not the only cause and that CLH may occur in other localizations after a vaccination."Comment: Cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia is a process that simulates a lymphoma (blood cell cancer) that develops in the skin and is benign. Conventional medicine doesn’t know what causes it, but admits that hyperplasia is a “reactive process to something.” Looks like that “something” could very well be aluminum because can be transported to other areas of the body by white blood cells.
November 1, 2009 - Aluminum exposure from parenteral nutrition in preterm infants: bone health at 15-year follow-up. (pdf) "Aluminum has known neurotoxicity and may impair short-term bone health. In a randomized trial, we showed reduced neurodevelopmental scores in preterm infants who were previously exposed to aluminum from parenteral nutrition solutions…Bone area (BA) and bone mineral content (BMC) of lumbar spine, hip, and whole body were measured in 13- to 15-year-olds who were born preterm and randomly assigned standard or aluminum-depleted parenteral nutrition solutions during the neonatal period. Fifty-nine children (32% of survivors) were followed. CONCLUSIONS: Neonates who are exposed to parenteral (IV) aluminum may have reduced lumbar spine and hip bone mass during adolescence, potential risk factors for later osteoporosis and hip fracture. Given our previous finding of adverse developmental outcome in these individuals and the sizeable number of contemporary infants who undergo intensive neonatal care and are still exposed to aluminum via parenteral feeding solutions, the potential adverse long-term consequences of early aluminum exposure now deserve renewed attention'''.
November 2009 - Aluminum hydroxide injections lead to motor deficits and motor neuron degeneration (full text) "This ALS “cluster” represents the second such ALS cluster described in the literature to date. Possible causes of GWS include several of the adjuvants in the anthrax vaccine and others. The most likely culprit appears to be aluminum hydroxide…. Aluminum-treated mice showed significantly increased apoptosis (cell death) of motor neurons and increases in reactive astrocytes and microglial proliferation within the spinal cord and cortex…. A second series of experiments was conducted on mice injected with six doses of aluminum hydroxide. Behavioral analyses in these mice revealed significant impairments in a number of motor functions as well as diminished spatial memory capacity. The demonstrated neurotoxicity of aluminum hydroxide and its relative ubiquity as an adjuvant suggest that greater scrutiny by the scientific community is warranted. Comment: Children have many doses of vaccines containing aluminum by 6-months of age.
November 2009 - Aluminium neurotoxicity: neurobehavioural and oxidative aspects In this review, the neuropathologies associated with aluminum exposure in terms of neurobehavioural changes have been discussed. In addition, the impact of a'luminum on the mitochondrial functions has also been highlighted.
November 2009 - Brain lesions comprised of aluminum-rich cells that lack microtubules may be associated with the cognitive deficit of Alzheimer's disease.The evidence suggests bioavailable aluminum gradually accumulates in cortical and limbic regions of susceptible subjects’ brains, eventually producing hippocampal lesions consisting of dysfunctional aluminum-rich microtubule-depleted pyramidal cells with damaged neurites and synapse loss. These lesions expand over time, disrupting afferent and efferent hippocampal circuitry [which leads to] the development of clinically overt dementia.
May 1, 2009 - Aluminum-induced Defective Mitochondrial Metabolism Perturbs Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Human Astrocytoma Cells (full text) "In this report, we demonstrate the ability of aluminum' to trigger mitochondrial dysfunction and ineffective adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production."''' '''Comment: Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is considered to be the "energy currency" of life. This molecule stores the energy in chemical bonds to fuel just about everything we do - from digestion and elimination to walking and thinking. Ineffective ATP production slows metabolism and activity of enzymes. This affect of aluminum is a serious hazard to health.
April 2009 - Towards an understanding of the adjuvant action of aluminium (pdf) "more recent experiments have shown that within hours of administration of aluminium salts to mice, pro-inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1β (Il-1β)13, CC-chemokine ligand 2 (CCl2; also known as mCp1), CCl11 (also known as eotaxin)7, histamine and Il-5 (A.S.m., unpublished observations), are detectable."
February 20, 2009 - Progressive circumscribed sclerosis – a novel side-effect of immunotherapy with aluminium-adsorbed allergen extracts "In the susceptible patient, aluminum may trigger an autoimmune reaction with progressive sclerosis as the key clinical feature." Comment: This condition, progressive circumscribed sclerosis, is related to scleroderma, a chronic autoimmune disease (primarily of the skin) characterized by fibrosis (hardening), vascular alterations, and autoantibodies.
January 21, 2009 - Aluminum in Vaccines: A Neurological Gamble (pdf) by Neil Z. Miller
| Aluminun Exposure | Amounts |
|---|---|
| At Birth | 250 mcg |
| 2 months | 1225 mcg |
| 4 months | 975 mcg |
| 6 months | 1000 mcg |
| 12 months | 600 mcg |
| 15 months | 625 mcg |
| 18 months | 250 mcg |
| Total | 4925 mcg |
Hepatitis B vaccine (Energix B) is given at birth, 2 and 6 months. Each dose contains 250 mcg of aluminum. The DTaP shot (Infanrix is given at 2, 4, 6 and 15 months. Each dose contains 625 mcg of aluminum. The Hib vaccine (Pedvax) is given at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months. The pneumococcal vaccine (PCV Prevnar) is given at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months. Each dose contains 125 mcg of aluminum.
December 2008 - Aluminum granuloma after administration of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine. Report of a case. "An ammonium aurintricarboxylate (Aluminon) stain demonstrated the presence of aluminum in the granular material. Aluminum granulomas should be included in the differential diagnosis of deep granulomatous reaction in young women, due to the high frequency of vaccination in this population."
November 12, 2008 - A role for the body burden of aluminium in vaccine-associated macrophagic myofasciitis and chronic fatigue syndrome (pdf) "Macrophages had strongly PAS-positive, finely grained cytoplasmic content and were markedly fluorescent with morin stain, demonstrating the presence of aluminum hydroxide within cells. Myofibre changes were limited to rounded atrophy of fibers hemmed by macrophagic infiltrates. The diagnosis of MMF which has been linked to the use of aluminium-based adjuvants in vaccines was supported by the fact that each of the five vaccinations received by the patient in April/May 2003 included an aluminium-based adjuvant."
January-February 2008 - Is Aluminum the New Thimerosal? "When, at two months, a baby gets its first big round of shots, the total dose of aluminum could vary from 295 mcg (if a non-aluminum HIB and the lowest-aluminum brand of DTaP are used) to a whopping 1,225 mcg (if the Hep B vaccine is given along with the brands with the highest aluminum contents)."
Calculating Aluminum in Vaccines
Here are the current levels of aluminum per shot of the following vaccines, as listed on each vaccine's packaging:
• DTaP (for Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis): 170-625 mcg, depending on manufacturer
• Hepatitis A: 250 mcg
• Hepatitis B: 250 mcg
• HIB (for meningitis; PedVaxHib brand only): 225 mcg
• HPV: 225 mcg
• Pediarix (DTaP-Hepatitis B-Polio combination): 850 mcg
• Pentacel (DTaP-HIB-Polio combination): 330 mcg
• Pneumococcus: 125 mcg
June 2008 - Macrophagic myofasciitis in children is a localized reaction to vaccination. "Macrophagic myofasciitis is a novel, "inflammatory myopathy" described after a variety of vaccinations, almost exclusively in adults. We examined the relevance of histological findings of this myopathy to the clinical presentation in pediatric patients. Muscle biopsies from 8 children (7 months to 6 years old) with histological features of macrophagic myofasciitis were reviewed and correlated with the clinical manifestations. We believe that macrophagic myofasciitis represents a localized histological hallmark of previous immunization with the aluminum hydroxide adjuvants contained in vaccines, rather than a primary or distinct inflammatory muscle disease."
November 28, 2007 - Melatonin reduces lipid and protein oxidative damage in synaptosomes due to aluminium "These results show that melatonin confers protection against Al-induced oxidative damage in synaptosomes and suggest that this indoleamine may be considered as a neuroprotective agent in Al toxicity because of its antioxidant activity."
July-August 2007 - Effect of Alternative Aluminum Adjuvants on the Absorption and Immunogenicity of HPV16 L1 VLPs in Mice (pdf) "Despite over 70 years of use as vaccine adjuvants, the physicochemical properties underlying the immune-stimulating effects of aluminum-containing adjuvants have not been fully defined. Nevertheless, aluminum adjuvants remain the predominant immune modulators in use in approved vaccines. It is believed that immune stimulation caused by aluminum-containing adjuvants is predominantly due to their direct stimulation of antigen presenting cells, as well as their ability to form an antigen depot at the site of injection. Recently however, the concept that antigen persists for long periods of time at injection sites has been challenged."
2007 - Aluminum adjuvant linked to Gulf War illness induces motor neuron death in mice. "Significant cognitive deficits in water-maze learning were observed in the combined aluminum and squalene group (4.3 errors per trial) compared with the controls (0.2 errors per trial) after 20 wk. Apoptotic neurons were identified in aluminum-injected animals that showed significantly increased activated caspase-3 labeling in lumbar spinal cord (255%) and primary motor cortex (192%) compared with the controls. Aluminum-treated groups also showed significant motor neuron loss (35%) and increased numbers of astrocytes (350%) in the lumbar spinal cord. The findings suggest a possible role for the aluminum adjuvant in some neurological features associated with GWI and possibly an additional role for the combination of adjuvants."
July-August 2006 - Pediatric macrophagic myofasciitis associated with motor delay. "Clinical presentations were similar in all children and were characterized by motor delay, hypotonia, and failure to thrive with an unrevealing evaluation for central nervous system disease, congenital, and mitochondrial myopathies."
May 2006 - Aluminum in hippocampal neurons from humans with Alzheimer's disease. "In the latter process, intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) appeared to displace nuclei and then enucleate the affected neurons during the course of their transformation into extracellular NFTs. Given that the NFTs we observed in human neurons always developed in conjunction with cytoplasmic aluminum, we hypothesize that aluminum plays an important role in their formation and should therefore be reconsidered as a causative factor for Alzheimer’s Disease."
January 2006 - Aluminum, Alzheimer’s Disease and the Geospatial Occurrence of Similar Disorders "However, it should be understood that most ingested aluminum remains unabsorbed by the body and there are little in the way of aluminum stores in the tissues of mammalian species. This is particularly true of the brain where normal concentrations of the element are around 1 part per million. Despite this, in a number of neurodegenerative disorders, focal accumulations of aluminum have been identified using a number of different analytic techniques. Such lesions consist of intraneuronal protein aggregates which once formed, cannot be properly broken down by the nerve cells and eventually cause their destruction. 'Comment: This dispels the notion that aluminum from food and the environment is causing brain cell degradation and functional disruption.
2006 - Aluminum and Alzheimer's disease, a personal perspective after 25 years. "We demonstrated that the abnormally high aluminum-related signal which we originally detected was actually located within the neurofibrillary tangle, itself, and was accompanied by excess concentrations of iron. Although it is unlikely that aluminum represents the sole etiologic cause of Alzheimer's disease, we believe that this highly reactive element, known to cross-link hyperphosphorylated proteins, may play an active role in the pathogenesis of critical neuropathologic lesion in Alzheimer's disease and other related disorders.
April 2005 - Targeting the innnate immune response with improved vaccine adjuvants (pdf) "Much of the activity in vaccine development until now has been directed to finding new protective antigens and ways to present them, rather than to optimizing immune responses against them. As a result, only a few delivery systems (for example, aluminum salts and the oil in water emulsion MF59) and no immune potentiators have been approved for human use in prophylactic vaccines. This lack of progress in licensure of immune potentiators as adjuvants is the result of perceived toxicity risks and the lack of a comprehensive approach toward discovery of adjuvants."
November 2005 - Nineteen cases of persistent pruritic nodules and contact allergy to aluminium after injection of commonly used aluminium-adsorbed vaccines "Rare cases of persistent pruritic nodules, sometimes associated with aluminium (Al) allergy, have been reported after the use of several Al adsorbed vaccines. During vaccine trials in the 1990s a high incidence of pruritic nodules were observed after the administration of diphtheria-tetanus acellular pertussis ('DTaP) vaccines from a single producer. The children had intensely itching nodules at the injection site, often aggravated during upper respiratory tract infections, and local skin alterations. So far, the symptoms have persisted for up to 7 years.' The median time between vaccination and onset of symptoms was 1 month. 16 children were skin tested for Al, all with positive reactions indicating delayed hypersensitivity to Al. The condition is not commonly known but is important to recognise, as the child and the family may suffer considerably.' Future vaccinations with Al-adsorbed vaccines may cause aggravation of the symptoms and the Al allergy. Al-containing skin products, such as antiperspirants, may cause contact dermatitis. Nodules may be mistaken for tumors....We conclude that intensely itching subcutaneous nodules, lasting for many years, and hypersensitivity to aluminium may occur after DTaP/polio+Hib vaccination of infants." Comment: How many of these nodules are diagnosed as something completely different because doctors are not aware of aluminum-vaccine related side effects? Seven years is a long time to suffer to avoid a transient childhood illness.
November 2005 - Macrophagic Myofasciitis in Childhood: A Controversial Entity "It is characterized by an infiltrate of densely packed macrophages, with granular periodic-acid-Schiff positive content, on muscle biopsies at the site of vaccination. The presence of aluminum inclusions in these macrophages points to an i'nappropriate reaction to aluminum used as an adjuvant in some vaccines." Comment: Macrophagic myofasciitis, determined by muscle biopsy, is diagnosed when muscle cells are found to be loaded with white blood cells called macrophages which migrate into muscles and organs to remove toxins. The conditions manifests as myalgias (muscle pain) of variable intensity, observed in 95% of the patients, usually associated with chronic debilitating fatigue (90%). Myalgias predominantly affect the limbs – notably the legs – and are often aggravated by exertion.
April 8, 2005 - Effects of Adsorption to Aluminum Salt Adjuvants on the Structure and Stability of Model Protein Antigens (full text) "Although aluminum salts are the most commonly used adjuvants in vaccines, what happens to the antigens when adsorbed to their surfaces has never been fully characterized. An understanding of how adsorption of aluminum salts affects the structure and stability of proteins is essential to their use as vaccines as well as the mechanism of adjuvant-mediated immune stimulation."
November 2004 - Immunisation with aluminium-containing vaccine of a child with itching nodule following previous vaccination. We studied the incidence, clinical course, prognosis and occurrence of aluminium (Al) allergy in children with itching nodules at the injection site for aluminum hydroxide adsorbed vaccines from a single producer (Statens Serum Institute (SSI), Denmark). Itching nodules were diagnosed in 645 of 76,000 vaccinees (0.8%) and occurred after both subcutaneous and intramuscular injection. The children have intense chronic or intermittent itching often with secondary skin changes. So far 154 of 627 children, who could be followed, have recovered after 1-82 (median 37) months. 352 of 455 (77%) children with itching nodules had positive epicutaneous tests. 17 of 211 (8%) symptomless siblings who had received SSI vaccines had positive tests. The 54 siblings who had never received an SSI vaccine had negative tests.
September 2004 - Persistent itching nodules after the fourth dose of diphtheria-tetanus toxoid vaccines without evidence of delayed hypersensitivity to aluminum. We identified 3-6 children per 10,000 with a local itching nodule persisting for at least 2 months. There were no significant differences between the vaccine groups. Contact allergy to aluminum was not detected. Continued surveillance of persistent itching nodules and aluminum contact allergy is, however, warranted for vaccines containing pertussis toxoid and aluminum.
February 2004 - Adverse events after immunisation with aluminium-containing DTP vaccines: systematic review of the evidence. "The frequencies of local reactions of all types, collapse or convulsions, and persistent crying or screaming did not differ between the two cohorts of the trials. In older children, there was no association between exposure to aluminium-containing vaccines and onset of (local) induration, swelling, or a raised temperature, but there was an association with local pain lasting up to 14 days (2.05 [1.25-3.38]). We found no evidence that aluminium salts in vaccines cause any serious or long-lasting adverse events. Despite a lack of good-quality evidence we do not recommend that any further research on this topic is undertaken." Comment: With all the the studies prior, and after, they make a statement like above? Sounds like when things are not looking good for vaccines our government agencies would like to shut the door. Very similar to the vaccine and autism statement.
February 2004 - Aluminum Encephalopathy Syndrome The diagnosis of aluminum encephalopathy syndrome is suggested by the presence of typical symptoms in a child with chronic renal disease who has been taking aluminum-containing products. The diagnosis is confirmed by elevated plasma and bone aluminum concentrations and by typical EEG and imaging findings. Aluminum encephalopathy syndrome must be differentiated from uremic encephalopathy and electrolyte imbalances such as acute hypercalcemia and severe phosphate depletion.
February 2004 - Itching nodules and aluminium allergy induced by vaccination with adsorbed vaccines "The high incidence of itching nodules and sensitization to aluminium after SSI vaccines is unexplained, because the Al salt used is present in many other adsorbed vaccines. Contact allergy to aluminium is not a trivial problem; as the children grow older, the number of cases with eczema after deodorant, sun skin protectors and other aluminium containing skin care products steadily increase."
February 2004 - Chronic exposure to aluminum in drinking water increases inflammatory parameters selectively in the brain. A link between aluminum exposure and age-related neurological disorders has long been proposed. Although the exact mechanism by which the metal may influence disease processes is unknown, there is evidence that exposure increases in both oxidative stress and inflammatory events. Aluminum exposure alone may not be sufficient to cause abnormal production of senile plaques directly but does exacerbate underlying events associated with brain aging and could contribute to progression of neurodegeneration.
December 2003 - Unexpectedly high incidence of persistent itching nodules and delayed hypersensitivity to aluminum in children after the use of adsorbed vaccines from a single manufacturer. During trials of aluminum adsorbed diphtheria-tetanus/acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccines from a single producer, persistent itching nodules at the vaccination site were observed in an unexpectedly high frequency. Itching nodules were found in 645 children out of about 76,000 vaccinees (0.8%) after both subcutaneous (s.c.) and intramuscular (i.m.) injection. The itching was intense and long-lasting. So far, 75% still have symptoms after a median duration of 4 years. Contact hypersensitivity to aluminum was demonstrated in 77% of the children with itching nodules and in 8% of the symptomless siblings who had received the same vaccines (P<0.001). Children with persistent itching nodules and/or aluminum sensitization should be warned about aluminum containing products (e.g. vaccines and antiperspirants).
November 2003 - Neurological adverse event after administration of the hepatitis A vaccine. "A previously healthy, 20-year-old male marine reservist experienced headache, visual disturbance, fatigue, vomiting, and behavioral changes beginning less than 3 hours after receiving the second step of a VAQTA hepatitis A vaccine (Merck, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey). The patient was afebrile, and a complete physical examination was normal with the exception of cognition and behavior. Minor inconsistencies in his response to questions rapidly progressed to severe delirium, requiring physical and pharmacologic restraint;: Complete blood count; serum levels of electrolytes, calcium, and creatinine; and liver function were normal. Phosphorous level was low at 1.7 mg/dL and corrected with supplementation."..."One possible explanation may be an in advertent intravascular injection resulting in toxicity from aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate, a component of the vaccine. An acute toxicity to such a small amount of aluminum (0.45 mg) would be unusual, but would be supported by the patient's low phosphorous level. Acute self-limited encephalopathy after the administration of the hepatitis A vaccine is rare; however, health care providers should be aware of this potential adverse reaction."
October 2003 - Macrophagic myofasciitis: inflammatory, vaccination-associated muscular disease. "Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) is a rare inflammatory muscle disorder characterized by a characteristic infiltration of muscle tissue by PAS-positive macrophages, which is caused by pathological persistence of vaccine-derived aluminium hydroxide."
February 2003 - Lessons from macrophagic myofasciitis: towards definition of a vaccine adjuvant-related syndrome. Electron microscopy, microanalytical studies, experimental procedures, and an epidemiological study recently demonstrated that the lesion is due to persistence for years at site of injection of an aluminum adjuvant used in vaccines against hepatitis B virus, hepatitis A virus, and tetanus toxoid. Aluminum hydroxide is known to potently stimulate the immune system and to shift immune responses towards a Th-2 profile.
2003 - Adverse reactions to vaccines (full text translation)
May 2002 - Macrophagic myofasciitis: a summary of Dr. Gherardi's presentations. "Dr. Gherardi believes that MMF, a syndrome of ascending myalgias, fatigue and diffuse musculoskeletal pain, may be related to a chronic immune response to aluminum granulomas persisting at the sites of prior immunization with aluminum adjuvated vaccines."
March-April 2002 - Aluminum phagocytosis in quadriceps muscle following vaccination in children: relationship to macrophagic myofasciitis Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) is a rare, seemingly emerging entity among adult patients in France. We encountered two children with the first two cases of MMF in North America. Both children received age-appropriate immunizations.
September 2001 - Macrophagic myofasciitis lesions assess long-term persistence of vaccine-derived aluminium hydroxide in muscle. "We conclude that the MMF lesion is secondary to intramuscular injection of aluminium hydroxide-containing vaccines, shows both long-term persistence of aluminium hydroxide and an ongoing local immune reaction, and is detected in patients with systemic symptoms which appeared subsequently to vaccination."
September 2001 - Assessment of injection site reactions to an acellular pertussis-based combination vaccine, including novel use of skin tests with vaccine antigens. Recent reports indicate that children receiving a fifth consecutive dose of DTPa vaccine have a moderate likelihood of developing a large injection site reaction, the etiology of which remains unknown. … Presence of alum in most test solutions might have confounded the results as it caused non-specific inflammation when applied alone. We conclude that local reactions to a fifth dose of DTPa-type vaccine are frequent and sometimes extensiv'e but not incapacitating and that concurrent skin testing has potential to identify the vaccine antigens and immune mechanism contributing to local reactions with more refinement of the method.
May 2001 - Central nervous system disease in patients with macrophagic myofasciitis. "Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF), a condition newly recognized in France, is manifested by diffuse myalgias and characterized by highly specific myopathological alterations which have recently been shown to represent an unusually persistent local reaction to intramuscular injections of aluminium-containing vaccines."
February 2001 - Differential Toxicity of Aluminum Salts in Human Cell Lines of Neural Origin: Implications for Neurodegeneration "Human cell lines of neural origin were utilized to study the effect of lipophilic aluminum acetylacetonate and non-lipophilic aluminum sulfate on cell proliferation and viability. Although analysis of aluminum species in the cell culture media demonstrated that there are positively charged Al species present in solutions prepared with both aluminuml salts, only the aluminum acetylacetonate salt caused changes in cell proliferation and viability."
October 2000 - Aluminum Compounds Review of Toxicological Literature Abridged Final Report (pdf) Comment: Extensive review of aluminum in the environment and potential toxicology issues. 84 pgs.
August-September 1997 - In vivo absorption of aluminium-containing vaccine adjuvants using 26Al. Aluminum hydroxide and aluminum phosphate adjuvants, labelled with 26Al (radioactive aluminum) were injected intramuscularly (i.m.) in New Zealand White rabbits. Blood and urine samples were collected for 28 days and analyzed for the radioactive 26Al to determine the absorption and elimination of aluminum hydroxide and aluminum adjuvants. 26Al was present in the first blood sample (1 h) for both adjuvants. The area under the blood level curve for 28 days indicates that three times more aluminum was absorbed from aluminum phosphate adjuvant than aluminum hydroxide adjuvant. The distribution profile of aluminum to tissues was the same for both adjuvants (kidney > spleen > liver > heart > lymph node > brain). This study has demonstrated that in vivo mechanisms are available to eliminate aluminum-containing adjuvants after injection. '''Comment: This is a very important study that shows that the aluminum at the injection site does not stay at the injection site, but moves to other organs in the' body.
May 1997 - Aluminum neurotoxicity in preterm infants receiving intravenous-feeding solutions. In preterm infants, prolonged intravenous feeding with solutions containing aluminum is associated with impaired neurologic development.
October 1996 - Aluminium and injection site reactions. (pdf) Four cases of injection site reaction were examined microscopically using routine staining and electron probe microanalysis. All four cases included collections of histiocytes (a form of white blood cell) which contained faint granular brownish refractile material within their cytoplasm; ultra structural examination showed this to be aluminum. Two cases showed a prominent inflammatory reaction; Two cases showed unusual features not described previously. This report highlights the changes encountered in aluminum injection sites reactions and emphasizes that the lesions have a wider range of histological appearances than described previously.
December 1994 - Studies of aluminum neurobehavioral toxicity in the intact mammal. '''Comment: Extensive abstract -- good for review of all types of behavioral problems associated with aluminum.
April 1994 - Adverse reactions after diphtheria-tetanus booster in 10-year-old schoolchildren in relation to the type of vaccine given for the primary vaccination. "The study indicates that there was a real basis for the increase in spontaneous notifications of local side-effects to the school DT booster in Sweden. The most likely cause for the increase seems to be the aluminium adjuvant in the vaccine given for primary vaccination, a late and unexpected consequence of a change in the infant immunization programme."
1993 - Aluminum as an adjuvant in vaccines and post-vaccine reactions "The mechanism of action of the aluminium adjuvants is not completely understood and is very complex. The basic factors of the mode of action: 1) the complex of antigen and aluminium gel is more immunogenic in structure than free antigen, 2) effect "depot"--The antigen stimulus last longer, 3) the production of local granulomas. Vaccines adsorbed onto aluminium salts are a more frequent cause of local post-vaccinal reactions than plain vaccines."
June 29, 1992 - Aluminum allergy caused by DTP vaccine. "Of the three patch test methods used, testing with 2% AlCl3 occluded with a Finn Chamber proved to be the most sensitive. Immunization of children who have been shown to be allergic to aluminium should be carried out with vaccines which do not contain aluminium."
May 1992 - Vaccination granulomas and aluminium allergy: course and prognostic factors. 21 children who had cutaneous granulomas following immunization with a vaccine containing aluminum hydroxide, and who had positive patch tests to aqueous aluminum chloride and/or to a Finn Chamber, were followed for 1 to 8 years. During the period of observation, the symptoms cleared in 5 children, improved in 11, and 5 remained unchanged. The course of the granulomas could not be correlated with sex or atopy, nor with intensity of the initial aluminum patch test. 4 children were patch tested again with aluminum.
April 1992 - Aluminium-adjuvanted vaccines transiently increase aluminium levels in murine brain tissue. Aluminum is widely used as an adjuvant in human vaccines, and children can often receive up to 3.75 mg of aluminum during the first six months of life. We show that intraperitoneal injection of aluminum adsorbed vaccines into mice causes a transient rise in brain tissue aluminum levels peaking around the second and third day after injection. This rise is not seen in the saline control group of animals or with vaccine not containing aluminum. It is likely that aluminum is transported to the brain by the iron-binding protein transferrin and enters the brain via specific transferrin receptors. Comment: Interesting that the time frame most frequently seen for SIDS (cot death), as studied by Dr Vira Schribner, was within 3-4 days of vaccines.
1991 - Possible Involvement of Aluminum Salts in Erythema Multiforme, Encephalopathy, or Other Adverse Events After Pertussis Immunization "Interest has developed recently in the potential health effects of aluminum, particularly in the setting of chronic renal failure, in which aluminum is not excreted from the body normally (Alfrey, 1984; Monteagudo et al., 1989)."
December 1990 - Aluminum Compounds Used as Adjuvants in Vaccines Comment: Just because it has been used since 1929 doesn't mean it is safe.
Spring 1989 - Aluminum-induced neurotoxicity: alterations in membrane function at the blood-brain barrier. Thus, there appears to be an active process moving aluminum out of brain extracellular fluid (ECF) and into the brain tissue, supporting the conclusion that an active process moves aluminum out of brain ECF. Comment: This is a lengthy abstract with a lot of specific information about transport of aluminum INTO brain tissues. Very significant information.
March 1988 - Allergy to non-toxoid constituents of vaccines and implications for patch testing. "We report 3 patients with persistent symptoms at vaccination sites. All were allergic to aluminium and one to thiomersal and neomycin too."
November 1986 - Contact sensitivity to aluminum Contact sensitivity to aluminum is rare. Sensitization occurs during continuous application of aluminum containing antiperspirants or by aluminum adjuvants in vaccines and pollen extracts. Two types of reaction pattern are known: persistent granuloma at the injection site and recurrent eczema. We report a patient with a positive patch test reaction to aluminum hydroxide who had been sensitized by aluminum adsorbed triple vaccine, Previous reports are reviewed.
April 1979 - Behavioral effects of aluminum ingestion on animal and human subjects. Abnormally high brain aluminum concentrations have been detected in hemodialysis patients who died of an unexplained encephalopathy (brain inflammation). As a result, this study was undertaken to examine whether the ingestion of aluminum produces behavioral aberrations in non-dialysed human subjects and rats with normal renal function. It was found that orally ingested aluminum is absorbed by rats and deposited in the brain. High brain aluminum levels are associated with rapid general activity, decreased ability to maintain activity, and increased sensitivity to flicker. Behavioral tests were also given to elderly human subjects and performance correlated with serum aluminum level. High serum levels of aluminum in elderly humans are associated with impaired visual and motor coordination, poor long-term memory, and increased sensitivity to flicker.' Comment: The significance of this study is that science has known since at least 1979 that aluminum causes serious brain inflammation and dementia. Why do we need "more studies"? Why do we keep using aluminum in vaccines, assuming it is safe, when it is not?