Multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune inflammatory disease: prospects for its integrative management

Alternative Medicine Review, Dec, 2001 by Parris M. Kidd

Toxins and Other Environmental Factors Linked to MS

Environmental factors that are prime candidates for MS causation include toxins (solvents, pesticides), exposure to X-rays (diagnostic or occupational), and exposure to domesticated animals (dogs, cats, caged birds). (11)

Multiple sclerosis can occur in high concentrations within limited geographic areas. These clusters are reminiscent of other disease clusters stemming from community infectious or toxic exposure. In 1973 Eastman and colleagues reported on a cluster in Mansfield, Massachusetts. (44) There the frequency of MS in 1970 was 141 per 100,000 -- two to three times the prevalence rate reported in other portions of the northeastern United States. A historical analysis revealed that eight patients had lived within several blocks of each other in the center of the town in the 1930s. During that period the water supply was heavily contaminated with bacteria and perhaps also with toxins. The time window between this exposure and subsequent development of MS -- 23 years -- was in line with the estimated incubation period for MS. The authors failed to mention the center of town also housed a large iron foundry.

The Mercury Connection

Ingalls reviewed and analyzed several MS clusters (45) and suggested Mansfield's iron foundry probably also produced compounds of lead and/or mercury. He further demonstrated by mapping that the tiny town of Mossyrock, Washington (population 500) had a cluster of six very tightly localized cases. During the Great Depression one enterprising young man sought to improve his lot by salvaging "quicksilver" (mercury) from cinnabar (HgS, mercuric sulfide) leftover from an old mining venture in the area. He melted the cinnabar on the family stove in the presence of six siblings and cousins aged 14 to 18, all of whom subsequently developed MS.

The largest-ever MS cluster observed was the 1983-1985 "outbreak" of 30-40 cases that occurred in Key West, Florida. (45) Of 19 cases confirmed as MS, three-fourths were women and seven were nurses who worked at the same hospital. Across the street from the hospital was a landfill from which red matter oozed continuously, and which would regularly catch fire and fill the air with burning matter. The red matter was strongly suspected, although never officially confirmed, to be antifouling ship paint containing mercury. Soon after publishing his analysis of the Key West cluster, Ingalls published a reasoned claim that his own symptoms of MS were triggered by his mercury dental fillings. (46) Mercury is well known to combine with and alter the structure of numerous proteins. Huggins and Levy published a study (47) which involved the photolabeling of proteins in CSF drawn from MS patients before and after removal of their mercury amalgams. Previous to amalgam removal, the CSF had an abnormal content of multiple extraneous proteins. After amalgam removal (24-48 hours) there was marked absence of protein except for a single band of albumin. These researchers hypothesized that mercury from amalgam in the body could generate multiple abnormal proteins that might help trigger MS.