Suits to blame dental groups, companies for children's autism

ATLANTA - The families of nine autistic Georgia children plan to file suit this week claiming mercury exposure from dental fillings, vaccine preservatives and power plants caused or worsened the disability. <br> <br> The lawsuits seek damages that could run more than $100 million. Defendants include four drug makers, two dental industry groups and Georgia Power Company. <br> <br> Autism is caused by a neurological disorder and can severely impair social and developmental skills. <br> <br> Lawyers said they would file the suits in Fulton County State Court this week. They gave draft copies to The Associated Press. <br> <br> The suits blame the American Dental Association and Georgia Dental Association for endorsing amalgams, a type of dental filling that carries a high percentage of mercury. Mercury is a highly toxic but naturally occuring element. <br> <br> Federal health officials are studying the safety of amalgams. A lawyer for the ADA said no evidence suggests they lead to autism or are otherwise unsafe. <br> <br> Also named as defendants are four drug companies: American Home Products, GlaxoSmithKline, Armour Pharmaceutical and Johnson & Johnson. The suits blame them for producing pediatric vaccines with the mercury-laden preservative thimerosal. <br> <br> The suits name Georgia Power Company because plaintiffs claim that fossil fuel-burning plants sent more than 60 toxins into the air in Georgia, including heavy metals like mercury that made the children&#39;s autism worse.