Trace Amounts
Trace Amounts: Autism, Mercury, and the Hidden Truth is a 2014 anti-vaccination biographic film by Eric Gladen, who claims to have experienced mercury poisoning after receiving a tetanus vaccine. In the film, he presents his investigation on the cause of his condition, argues that vaccines should be made without mercury, and claims that mercury and aluminum content of vaccines is linked to autism, a claim that is contrary to the scientific consensus.[1][2][3][4][5] The film questions a 2011 journal article which described the vaccine-autism connection as "the most damaging medical hoax of the last 100 years".[1][6][7]
The film has been promoted by celebrities including Robert De Niro & Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.[8][9][10] It was marketed through targeted "boutique screenings" to celebrities known to be sympathetic to the anti-vaccination cause, including Jim Carrey, Ed Begley, Jr., and Bob Sears,[11] and is credited with inspiring Carrey's "Twitter meltdown" following passage of California Senate Bill 277, which removed personal belief exemptions from vaccination requirements.[5][12] It has also been used by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in his lobbying efforts targeting Oregon lawmakers who could influence Oregon Senate Bill 442, which sought to remove personal belief exemptions from vaccination requirements, but was subsequently withdrawn.[13][14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Flaherty, DK (October 2011). "The Vaccine-autism Connection: A Public Health Crisis Caused by Unethical Medical Practices and Fraudulent Science". Ann Pharmacother. 45 (10): 1302–1304. doi:10.1345/aph.1Q318. PMID 21917556. S2CID 39479569.
- ^ "Thimerosal and Vaccines". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ Rubinstein Reiss, Dorit (24 July 2024). "Review of Trace Amounts – bad science and conspiracies". Skeptical Raptor. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ Kaplan, Sarah (10 January 2017). "The truth about vaccines, autism and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s conspiracy theory". The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ a b Moyer, Justin Wm. (1 July 2015). "Jim Carrey calls Calif. governor 'corporate fascist' in vaccine law rant". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ Immunization Safety Review Committee; Board on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Institute of Medicine (2004). Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. doi:10.17226/10997. ISBN 0-309-09237-X. PMID 20669467.
- ^ Doja, Asif; Roberts, Wendy (2006). "Immunizations and autism: a review of the literature". Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. 33 (4): 341–346. doi:10.1017/s031716710000528x. PMID 17168158.
- ^ Boodman, Eric (13 April 2016). "Robert De Niro defends discredited idea linking vaccines to autism". Stat News. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ Kloor, Keith (13 April 2015). "Collide-a-Scape: The Robert Kennedy Jr. Anti-Vaccine Tour". Discover Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ "Panel sides with science, passes vaccine measure". The Sacramento Bee. April 8, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
- ^ Foxhall, Emily (February 5, 2015). "The anti-vaccine crowd gets its Hollywood moment at premiere". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
- ^ Baum, Gary (February 2, 2015). "Secret Anti-Vaxxer Film Campaign Targeted Jim Carrey, Other Wealthy Celebs". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
- ^ Yoo, Saerom (March 6, 2015). "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Oregon lawmakers: Reject vaccine bill". Statesman Journal. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
- ^ Yoo, Saerom (March 12, 2015). "Oregon senator to propose new school vaccine policy". Statesman Journal. Retrieved November 9, 2015.