Did you even read the article? The concern is that developing countries can't afford the single-dose vaccines we use here and that poor children could miss out on getting protection from devastating diseases. Would you rather your kid had polio or a tiny dose of mercury in a form that hasn't proven to be harmful?

Would you rather your kid had polio or a tiny dose of mercury in a form that hasn't proven to be harmful?

That's a false dichotomy.

But anyways, poor kids get the oral polio vaccine where developed countries give the attenuated form. They actually can get polio from this form of vaccine. Hence one of the reasons we don't serve it to our children. But it's what Indians, Africans, and Afghanistan children get. So what if they become paralyzed because of a vaccine. It's the price they have to pay right?

I don't know anything about polio; I was just using it as an example (although apparently a bad one). You get the idea though.

Mercury used to be common in vaccines. I'm sure I've had lots of shots with it in my lifetime. You probably have, too. Presumably we're both fine. That doesn't mean we shouldn't eliminate it where possible, like lead paint or asbestos insulation, but if the increased cost means someone doesn't get a shot at all, then it's cutting off your nose to spite your face.

"Mercury in any form whatsoever has never been proven to be safe. "

BULLSH**

ALL toxicity is dose related.

Completely true Shot a man. The body actually requires mercury(in extremely small amounts). Mercury is harmless in small enough amounts, and since this is a form that stays in the blood for a shorter period of time I believe thimerosal to be totally worth it.

Also, profits are ridiculously low on vaccines. PLEASE stop repeating your falsehood that it is all about profits

Wait until the bonehead Mom bloggers get a hold of this. The hysteria! The screeching in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS because they as moms know waaaaay more than real scientists. More ammo for them to reject vaccines and scientific thinking and to expose the rest of us to their kids sicknesses.

BULLSH**
ALL toxicity is dose related.

Please post scientific safety studies which determine at what level mercury is safe for all babies.

It was actually one of the top vaccinologist of all time who wrote an internal memo to Merck because he was concerned with the level of mercury in vaccines or the perception of the large levels which without scientific safety studies would be difficult for damage control.

'91 Memo Warned of Mercury in Shots

The March 1991 memo, obtained by The Times, said that 6-month-old children who received their shots on schedule would get a mercury dose up to 87 times higher than guidelines for the maximum daily consumption of mercury from fish.

"When viewed in this way, the mercury load appears rather large," said the memo from Dr. Maurice R. Hilleman, an internationally renowned vaccinologist. It was written to the president of Merck's vaccine division.

The memo was prepared at a time when U.S. health authorities were aggressively expanding their immunization schedule by adding five new shots for children in their first six months. Many of these shots, as well as some previously included on the vaccine schedule, contained thimerosal, an antibacterial compound that is nearly 50% ethyl mercury, a neurotoxin.

Federal health officials disclosed for the first time in 1999 that many infants were being exposed to mercury above health guidelines through routine vaccinations. The announcement followed a review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that was described at the time as a first effort to assess the cumulative mercury dose.

Mr. democrat:

The body actually requires mercury(in extremely small amounts).

Please explain in which physiological process that requires mercury and only mercury for survival.

Mercury in any form whatsoever has never been proven to be safe.

Either has denim. You don't see people throwing away their jeans. Raisins have never been proven to be safe to eat, yet that doesn't stop most people

You need to do better than that.

Mercury is put in as an antimicrobial. A cell killer.

Scary sounding words..."cell killer". I guess you'd refuse penicillin...another "cell killer"

it does nothing to enhance the products effectiveness.

A contaminated product does not work as well, don't you think? Maybe ask the meningitis patients...

Making a statement that says it's safe doesn't make it so.

The converse is also true, by the way. Incidentally, many randomized controlled trials don't hurt, right? Its funny how you trot those out when trying to prove flu vaccine ineffectiveness, but ignore them when trying to show mercury toxicity

Smacks of using the data selectively to promote your point

The AAP is a trade organization with it's main purpose to protect it's members

Wrong. firstly, ask any doctor--most of them don't agree with many of the political leanings of their group. They are usually made of academic researchers who haven't seen a patient in decades. They don't work to protect their members because they have nothing in common with them. How much does congress work to protect you, for example? Most people would say not much...

That's a false dichotomy.

Its really not. People not vaccinated for polio are at higher risk for contracting the disease. Im not sure what you are not understanding here

Please post scientific safety studies which determine at what level mercury is safe for all babies.

You are asking someone to screw in a lightbulb with a hammer. Its not the right tool for the job. epidemiology can only quantify a risk, not prove its absence.

How would you propose we show safe mercury levels in babies? Subject them all to gradually increasing doses until we reach toxicity? You are supposedly, in your mind, trying to protect children yet here you are advocating poisoning them...interesting.

But seriously, how? Important question robert, dont ignore it.

It was actually one of the top vaccinologist of all time

haha...exaggerate much? Assuming that were true, even Einstein was wrong before. Evidence and numbers and experiments made him right, not opinion.

Either has denim. You don't see people throwing away their jeans. Raisins have never been proven to be safe to eat, yet that doesn't stop most people

You need to do better than that.

irrelevant. Denim is not an injectable medical procedure

I guess you'd refuse penicillin...another "cell killer"

Per CDC 20 million prescription of antibiotics are unnecessarily prescribed every year. many of unnecessary side effects like that should have never happened.

A contaminated product does not work as well, don't you think? Maybe ask the meningitis patients...

It works the same. Does a contaminated product not raise antibodies?

Are you saying the single vial vaccines are less safe and effective because the don't contain nutritious mercury?

How much does congress work to protect you, for example?

Congress is not a trade organization. The AAP is.

Denim is not an injectable medical procedure

Irrelevant. The context doesn't matter. So you are saying that if I inject mecury as part of a medical procedure its toxic but if I did it for laughs its safe???

Nonsense. The why its administered is irrelevant

Per CDC 20 million prescription of antibiotics are unnecessarily prescribed every year. many of unnecessary side effects like that should have never happened.

Irrelevant. Its a "cell killer" that saves lives. The point is your needlessly charged language is an attempt to cover for no facts. One that failed

It works the same. Does a contaminated product not raise antibodies?

Really? Really? You really think a contaminated product "works the same" as a noncontaminated one??? i guess you don't need any blood tranfusionions screened then...

Clinically, they do not work the same at all. Contaminated drugs are much more dangerous than sterile ones. Come on...

Are you saying the single vial vaccines are less safe and effective because the don't contain nutritious mercury?

No. See above

Congress is not a trade organization. The AAP is.

Irrelevant. Youre trying unsuccessfully to dodge the issue---that a group which supposedly represents a population can often have different, if not opposite leanings as the people

This has got to be the dumbest move of all time by the AAP.

We are talking about vaccinating infants and children, why not err on the side of safety?

There is overwhelmingly evidence that thimerasol is dangerous. See SafeMinds.com

Or you can vaccinate your child with thimerasol a few times, I thought it was safe too, and watch him lose his speech forever. The vaccine could fix this problem in a heartbeat but they are too greedy. The AAP knows this but they are doormats.

Robert'

Contradict yourself much?

"It was actually one of the top vaccinologist of all time who wrote an internal memo to Merck because he was concerned with the level of mercury in vaccines or the perception of the large levels which without scientific safety studies would be difficult for damage control."

He was concerned with the level, not the presence.

I reiterate: ALL toxicity is dose related.

No contradiction.

Then stop eating tuna, and a lot of other seafood. They all have mercury in them.

Amanda,

No, the dumbest thing of all time is the conspiracy theory paranoia coming from parents who are looking for a reason for their child's autism. Thimerosal does not cause autism. The research that pointed to a thimerosal/autism link used flawed research.

That research has been called "the most damaging medical hoax of the last 100 years" due to the subsequent hysteria. The research funds that could have been funneled to real research on the causes of autism? The number of kids who have received no vaccinations and put so many others at risk? Ridiculous.

AmandaNYC,

We are talking about vaccinating infants and children, why not err on the side of safety?

Vaccinating your children is erring on the side of safety.

One thing that is interesting to me about this debate and I am not picking a side because I don't know enough about the effects of mercury on kids. Just out of curiosity, autism has been growing more and more each year. Now this could be due to more people genuinely getting autism or it could be that doctors are over reporting it or that they were under-reporting it before. Has there ever actually been a tie between the mercury in vaccinations and autism?

I'd also say that scientists are incredibly smart. There is no reason they can't find an alternative to this mercury based chemical. Povidone iodine is used in surgeries, why not use something like that? Must not be dangerous in the blood. It is used to sterilize things or maybe some other preservative. It smells to me that this is more about profits than patients. Although with as much mercury that has been pumped through everyone over the years due to fish and people being fine I do have my doubts as to whether its an actual concern. I think I'd be more concerned with actual problems like the @!$%#ty food everyone injects loaded with too many calories and also the preservatives in that. It's way more unhealthy to be a big fatty fat fat than to get an immunization. When's the last time the zealot mothers of america fed their kids chicken nuggets? I'd bet not long ago.

Then stop eating tuna, and a lot of other seafood. They all have mercury in them.

That is the recomendation for pregnant women.

Araney:

The research that pointed to a thimerosal/autism link used flawed research.

That research has been called "the most damaging medical hoax of the last 100 years" due to the subsequent hysteria. The research funds that could have been funneled to real research on the causes of autism? The number of kids who have received no vaccinations and put so many others at risk? Ridiculous.

You are confusing this issue with MMR which shows that you don't know this subject. You are parroting what you've heard from others and newstories. If you disagree please discuss this "flawed" research.

Eric:

Its really not (false dichotomy). People not vaccinated for polio are at higher risk for contracting the disease. Im not sure what you are not understanding here

A false dichotomy is an either or scenario. It pits two extremes against each other.

type of informal fallacy that involves a situation in which only two alternatives are considered, when in fact there is at least one additional option. The options may be a position that is between the two extremes (such as when there are shades of grey) or may be a completely different alternative.

False dilemma can arise intentionally, when fallacy is used in an attempt to force a choice (such as, in some contexts, the assertion that "if you are not with us, you are against us"). But the fallacy can also arise simply by accidental omission of additional options rather than by deliberate deception.

He's saying, and you're also arguing for, it's either get the mercury or get polio. This is not true.

These are not the only options. It's dishonest to state so.

A false dichotomy is an either or scenario. It pits two extremes against each other.

I know you can copy and paste the definition. I question your application of it, which reflects your understanding

He's saying, and you're also arguing for, it's either get the mercury or get polio. This is not true.

It can be. Its the same as saying "either don't drink and drive, or die in a car accident"....scary, and possibly hyperbole, but certainly true thousands of times over every year

@Robert:

You are confusing this issue with MMR which shows that you don't know this subject. You are parroting what you've heard from others and newstories. If you disagree please discuss this "flawed" research.

Not really. Technically you are correct that Wakefield's study regarding the MMR vaccine wasn't about thimerosal but about the vaccine as a whole, however it is where this issue comes from. People were looking for a reason for the result of that "study" and saw "mercury", then instantly latched onto it. Don't confuse the issue.

There hasn't been any study done that links thimosal to autism, at best, there's only a couple that concluded that it could be a factor and that more research needs to be done. There's been quite a bit of research done now and none support the idea that it causes it.

Mitchell

Evidence for Thimerosal Risk - Page 1

Neurochem Res. 2011 Feb 25. [Epub ahead of print]

Integrating Experimental (In Vitro and In Vivo) Neurotoxicity Studies of Low-dose Thimerosal Relevant to Vaccines.

Dórea JG.

Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidade de Brasília, C.P. 04322, 70919-970, Brasília, DF, Brazil, dorea@rudah.com.br.

Abstract

There is a need to interpret neurotoxic studies to help deal with uncertainties surrounding pregnant mothers, newborns and young children who must receive repeated doses of Thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs). This review integrates information derived from emerging experimental studies (in vitro and in vivo) of low-dose Thimerosal (sodium ethyl mercury thiosalicylate). Major databases (PubMed and Web-of-science) were searched for in vitro and in vivo experimental studies that addressed the effects of low-dose Thimerosal (or ethylmercury) on neural tissues and animal behaviour. Information extracted from studies indicates that: (a) activity of low doses of Thimerosal against isolated human and animal brain cells was found in all studies and is consistent with Hg neurotoxicity; (b) the neurotoxic effect of ethylmercury has not been studied with co-occurring adjuvant-Al in TCVs; (c) animal studies have shown that exposure to Thimerosal-Hg can lead to accumulation of inorganic Hg in brain, and that (d) doses relevant to TCV exposure possess the potential to affect human neuro-development. Thimerosal at concentrations relevant for infants' exposure (in vaccines) is toxic to cultured human-brain cells and to laboratory animals. The persisting use of TCV (in developing countries) is counterintuitive to global efforts to lower Hg exposure and to ban Hg in medical products; its continued use in TCV requires evaluation of a sufficiently nontoxic level of ethylmercury compatible with repeated exposure (co-occurring with adjuvant-Al) during early life.

PMID: 21350943 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

______________________________________________________________________________

Middle East Current Psychiatry
January 2011 - Volume 18 - Issue 1 - p 6–10
doi: 10.1097/01.XME.0000392842.64112.64
Study of some biomarkers in hair of children with autism
Elsheshtawy, Emana; Tobar, Salwaa; Sherra, Khalida; Atallah, Sohaylab; Elkasaby, Rashac
Correspondence to Eman Elsheshtawy, Department of Psychiatry Mansoura University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura, Egypt Tel: +0187455403; fax: +26824738; e-mail: emanmdy@yahoo.com
Received August 8, 2010
Accepted November 25, 2010
Abstract
Introduction: Autism is a severe developmental disorder, which involves social withdrawal, communication deficits, and stereotypic repetitive behavior. The possible etiologies that precipitate autism symptoms remain controversial in many cases, but both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated. Mercury has gained much attention for a considerable period of time before other exacerbating or protective factors were suggested. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between autism and the level of some metals (namely mercury, lead, and copper) or zinc as a counteracting antioxidant element.
Methods: The study recruited 32 autistic children and 32 normal controls and all of them were subjected to KID-SCID, Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Stanford Binet intelligence test, and biochemical analysis of hair samples for the level of mercury, copper, lead and zinc.
Results: There were highly significant differences between the level of these substances in the hair of children with autism compared with controls, positive correlation of CARS score with both mercury and copper, while intelligence quotient has significant negative correlation with the level of lead in the hair. The level of zinc does not correlate with either CARS score or intelligence quotient.
Conclusion: These preliminary results suggest a complementary role for the studied elements in the pathogenesis of autistic disorder, which should be considered in the management plane.
______________________________________________________________________________

Folia Neuropathol. 2010;48(4):258-69.

Lasting neuropathological changes in rat brain after intermittent neonatal administration of thimerosal.

Olczak M, Duszczyk M, Mierzejewski P, Wierzba-Bobrowicz T, Majewska MD.

Department of Pharmacology and Physiology of the Nervous System, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, ul. Sobieskiego 9, Warsaw, Poland.

Abstract

Thimerosal, an organomercurial added as a preservative to some vaccines, is a suspected iatrogenic factor, possibly contributing to paediatric neurodevelopmental disorders including autism. We examined the effects of early postnatal administration of thimerosal (four i.m. injections, 12 or 240 μg THIM-Hg/kg, on postnatal days 7, 9, 11 and 15) on brain pathology in Wistar rats. Numerous neuropathological changes were observed in young adult rats which were treated postnatally with thimerosal. They included: ischaemic degeneration of neurons and "dark" neurons in the prefrontal and temporal cortex, the hippocampus and the cerebellum, pathological changes of the blood vessels in the temporal cortex, diminished synaptophysin reaction in the hippocampus, atrophy of astroglia in the hippocampus and cerebellum, and positive caspase-3 reaction in Bergmann astroglia. These findings document neurotoxic effects of thimerosal, at doses equivalent to those used in infant vaccines or higher, in developing rat brain, suggesting likely involvement of this mercurial in neurodevelopmental disorders.

PMID: 21225508 [PubMed - in process]Free Article

______________________________________________________________________________

Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2010 Oct-Dec;23(4):1015-20.

Luteolin and thiosalicylate inhibit HgCl2 and thimerosal-induced VEGF release from human mast cells.

Asadi S, Zhang B, Weng Z, Angelidou A, Kempuraj D, Alysandratos KD, Theoharides TC.

Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston.

Abstract

HgCl2 is a known environmental neurotoxin, but is also used as preservative in vaccines as thimerosal containing ethyl mercury covalently linked to thiosalicylate. We recently reported that mercury choloride (HgCl2) can stimulate human mast cells to release vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is also vasoactive and pro-inflammatory. Here we show that thimerosal induces significant VEGF release from human leukemic cultured LAD2 mast cells (at 1 microM 326∓12 pg/106 cells and 335.5±12 pg/106 cells at 10 microM) compared to control cells (242±21 pg/106 cells, n=5, p less than 0.05); this effect is weaker than that induced by HgCl2 at 10 microM (448±14 pg/106 cells) (n=3, p less than 0.05). In view of this finding, we hypothesize that the thiosalicylate component of thimerosal may have an inhibitory effect on VEGF release. Thimerosal (10 microM) added together with the peptide Substance P (SP) at 2 microM, used as a positive control, reduced VEGF release by 90 percent. Methyl thiosalicylate (1 or 10 microM) added with either SP or HgCl2 (10 microM) inhibited VEGF release by 100 percent, while sodium salicylate or ibuprofen had no effect. Pretreatment for 10 min with the flavonoid luteolin (0.1 mM) before HgCl2 or thimerosal compeletly blocked their effect. Luteolin and methyl thiosalicylate may be useful in preventing mercury-induced toxicity.

PMID: 21244751 [PubMed - in process]______________________________________________________________________________

Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars). 2010;70(2):147-64.

Influence of pediatric vaccines on amygdala growth and opioid ligand binding in rhesus macaque infants: A pilot study.

Hewitson L, Lopresti BJ, Stott C, Mason NS, Tomko J.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. lch1@pitt.edu

Abstract

This longitudinal, case-control pilot study examined amygdala growth in rhesus macaque infants receiving the complete US childhood vaccine schedule (1994-1999). Longitudinal structural and functional neuroimaging was undertaken to examine central effects of the vaccine regimen on the developing brain. Vaccine-exposed and saline-injected control infants underwent MRI and PET imaging at approximately 4 and 6 months of age, representing two specific timeframes within the vaccination schedule. Volumetric analyses showed that exposed animals did not undergo the maturational changes over time in amygdala volume that was observed in unexposed animals. After controlling for left amygdala volume, the binding of the opioid antagonist [(11)C]diprenorphine (DPN) in exposed animals remained relatively constant over time, compared with unexposed animals, in which a significant decrease in [(11)C]DPN binding occurred. These results suggest that maturational changes in amygdala volume and the binding capacity of [(11)C]DPN in the amygdala was significantly altered in infant macaques receiving the vaccine schedule. The macaque infant is a relevant animal model in which to investigate specific environmental exposures and structural/functional neuroimaging during neurodevelopment.

PMID: 20628439 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free Article

______________________________________________________________________________

Arch Toxicol. 2010 Nov;84(11):891-6. Epub 2010 Apr 13.

Identification and distribution of mercury species in rat tissues following administration of thimerosal or methylmercury.

Rodrigues JL, Serpeloni JM, Batista BL, Souza SS, Barbosa F Jr.

Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto--FCFRP, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, USP, Avenida do Café, s/n, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-903, Brazil.

Abstract

Methylmercury (Met-Hg) is one the most toxic forms of Hg, with a considerable range of harmful effects on humans. Sodium ethyl mercury thiosalicylate, thimerosal (TM) is an ethylmercury (Et-Hg)-containing preservative that has been used in manufacturing vaccines in many countries. Whereas the behavior of Met-Hg in humans is relatively well known, that of ethylmercury (Et-Hg) is poorly understood. The present study describes the distribution of mercury as (-methyl, -ethyl and inorganic mercury) in rat tissues (brain, heart, kidney and liver) and blood following administration of TM or Met-Hg. Animals received one dose/day of Met-Hg or TM by gavage (0.5 mg Hg/kg). Blood samples were collected after 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 120 h of exposure. After 5 days, the animals were killed, and their tissues were collected. Total blood mercury (THg) levels were determined by ICP-MS, and methylmercury (Met-Hg), ethylmercury (Et-Hg) and inorganic mercury (Ino-Hg) levels were determined by speciation analysis with LC-ICP-MS. Mercury remains longer in the blood of rats treated with Met-Hg compared to that of TM-exposed rats. Moreover, after 48 h of the TM treatment, most of the Hg found in blood was inorganic. Of the total mercury found in the brain after TM exposure, 63% was in the form of Ino-Hg, with 13.5% as Et-Hg and 23.7% as Met-Hg. In general, mercury in tissues and blood following TM treatment was predominantly found as Ino-Hg, but a considerable amount of Et-Hg was also found in the liver and brain. Taken together, our data demonstrated that the toxicokinetics of TM is completely different from that of Met-Hg. Thus, Met-Hg is not an appropriate reference for assessing the risk from exposure to TM-derived Hg. It also adds new data for further studies in the evaluation of TM toxicity.

PMID: 20386881 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

In other words, it is not settled….

______________________________________________________________________________

Cell Biol Toxicol. 2010 Apr;26(2):143-52. Epub 2009 Apr 9.

Induction of metallothionein in mouse cerebellum and cerebrum with low-dose thimerosal injection.

Minami T, Miyata E, Sakamoto Y, Yamazaki H, Ichida S.

Department of Life Sciences, Kinki University, Higashi-osaka, Osaka, Japan. minamita@life.kindai.ac.jp

Abstract

Thimerosal, an ethyl mercury compound, is used worldwide as a vaccine preservative. We previously observed that the mercury concentration in mouse brains did not increase with the clinical dose of thimerosal injection, but the concentration increased in the brain after the injection of thimerosal with lipopolysaccharide, even if a low dose of thimerosal was administered. Thimerosal may penetrate the brain, but is undetectable when a clinical dose of thimerosal is injected; therefore, the induction of metallothionein (MT) messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein was observed in the cerebellum and cerebrum of mice after thimerosal injection, as MT is an inducible protein. MT-1 mRNA was expressed at 6 and 9 h in both the cerebrum and cerebellum, but MT-1 mRNA expression in the cerebellum was three times higher than that in the cerebrum after the injection of 12 microg/kg thimerosal. MT-2 mRNA was not expressed until 24 h in both organs. MT-3 mRNA was expressed in the cerebellum from 6 to 15 h after the injection, but not in the cerebrum until 24 h. MT-1 and MT-3 mRNAs were expressed in the cerebellum in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, MT-1 protein was detected from 6 to 72 h in the cerebellum after 12 microg/kg of thimerosal was injected and peaked at 10 h. MT-2 was detected in the cerebellum only at 10 h. In the cerebrum, little MT-1 protein was detected at 10 and 24 h, and there were no peaks of MT-2 protein in the cerebrum. In conclusion, MT-1 and MT-3 mRNAs but not MT-2 mRNA are easily expressed in the cerebellum rather than in the cerebrum by the injection of low-dose thimerosal. It is thought that the cerebellum is a sensitive organ against thimerosal. As a result of the present findings, in combination with the brain pathology observed in patients diagnosed with autism, the present study helps to support the possible biological plausibility for how low-dose exposure to mercury from thimerosal-containing vaccines may be associated with autism.

PMID: 19357975 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2010 Mar 15;243(3):283-91. Epub 2009 Sep 2.

Mercury toxicokinetics--dependency on strain and gender.

Ekstrand J, Nielsen JB, Havarinasab S, Zalups RK, Söderkvist P, Hultman P.

Molecular and Immunological Pathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, Sweden.

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) exposure from dental amalgam fillings and thimerosal in vaccines is not a major health hazard, but adverse health effects cannot be ruled out in a small and more susceptible part of the exposed population. Individual differences in toxicokinetics may explain susceptibility to mercury. Inbred, H-2-congenic A.SW and B10.S mice and their F1- and F2-hybrids were given HgCl2 with 2.0 mg Hg/L drinking water and traces of (203)Hg. Whole-body retention (WBR) was monitored until steady state after 5 weeks, when the organ Hg content was assessed. Despite similar Hg intake, A.SW males attained a 20-30% significantly higher WBR and 2- to 5-fold higher total renal Hg retention/concentration than A.SW females and B10.S mice. A selective renal Hg accumulation but of lower magnitude was seen also in B10.S males compared with females. Differences in WBR and organ Hg accumulation are therefore regulated by non-H-2 genes and gender. Lymph nodes lacked the strain- and gender-dependent Hg accumulation profile of kidney, liver and spleen. After 15 days without Hg A.SW mice showed a 4-fold higher WBR and liver Hg concentration, but 11-fold higher renal Hg concentration, showing the key role for the kidneys in explaining the slower Hg elimination in A.SW mice. The trait causing higher mercury accumulation was not dominantly inherited in the F1 hybrids. F2 mice showed a large inter-individual variation in Hg accumulation, showing that multiple genetic factors influence the Hg toxicokinetics in the mouse. The genetically heterogeneous human population may therefore show a large variation in mercury toxicokinetics.

2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PMID: 19732784 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

___________________________________________________________________________________

Clin Chim Acta. 2010 Nov 11;411(21-22):1580-6. Epub 2010 Jul 16.

Making sense of epidemiological studies of young children exposed to thimerosal in vaccines.

Dórea JG.

C.P. 04322, Universidade de Brasilia, 70919-970 Brasilia, DF, Brazil. dorea@rudah.com.br

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare epidemiological studies dealing with neurological issues (compatible with Hg toxicity) linked to exposing newborns and infants to intramuscular doses of preservative-Hg resulting from vaccination with thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCV).

METHODS: Major databases were searched for studies that addressed neurodevelopment outcomes other than autism. Eight studies were identified and compared.

RESULTS: Information extracted from the studies done in the USA, the UK, and Italy is important in understanding the complex interplay of variables but insufficient to establish non-toxicity for infants and young children still receiving TCV: a) there is ambiguity in some studies reporting neurodevelopment outcomes that seem to depend on confounding variables; b) the risk of neurotoxicity due to low doses of thimerosal is plausible at least for susceptible infants; c) there is a need to address these issues in less developed countries still using TCV in pregnant mothers, newborns, and young children.

CONCLUSIONS: Since the use of TCV is still inevitable in many countries, this increases the need to protect vulnerable infants and promote actions that strengthen neurodevelopment. Developing countries should intensify campaigns that include breastfeeding among efforts to help prime the central nervous system to tolerate exposure to neurotoxic substances, especially thimerosal-Hg.

2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PMID: 20638374 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

____________________________________________________________________________________

Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars). 2010;70(2):196-208.

Age-dependent lower or higher levels of hair mercury in autistic children than in healthy controls.

Majewska MD, Urbanowicz E, Rok-Bujko P, Namyslowska I, Mierzejewski P.

Department of Pharmacology and Physiology of the Nervous System, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland. majewska@ipin.edu.pl

Abstract

An association between autism and early life exposure to mercury is a hotly debated issue. In this study, 91 autistic Polish children, male and female, 3-4 and 7-9 years old, were compared to 75 age- and sex-matched healthy children with respect to: demographic, perinatal, clinical and developmental measures, parental age, birth order, morphometric measures, vaccination history, and hair mercury content. In demographic and perinatal measures there were no consistent differences between the autistic and control groups. Autistic children had a significantly greater prevalence of adverse reactions after vaccinations and abnormal development than controls. Between 45 and 80% of autistic children experienced developmental regress. Autistic children significantly differed from healthy peers in the concentrations of mercury in hair: younger autistics had lower levels, while older - higher levels than their respective controls. The results suggest that autistic children differ from healthy children in metabolism of mercury, which seems to change with age.

PMID: 20628443 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free Article

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Talanta. 2010 Jan 15;80(3):1158-63.

Methylmercury and inorganic mercury determination in blood by using liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and a fast sample preparation procedure.

Rodrigues JL, de Souza SS, de Oliveira Souza VC, Barbosa F Jr.

Laboratório de Toxicologia e Essencialidade de Metais, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

Abstract

Despite the necessity to differentiate chemical species of mercury in clinical specimens, there are a limited number of methods for this purpose. Then, this paper describes a simple method for the determination of methylmercury and inorganic mercury in blood by using liquid chromatography with inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LC-ICP-MS) and a fast sample preparation procedure. Prior to analysis, blood (250microL) is accurately weighed into 15-mL conical tubes. Then, an extractant solution containing mercaptoethanol, l-cysteine and HCl was added to the samples following sonication for 15min. Quantitative mercury extraction was achieved with the proposed procedure. Separation of mercury species was accomplished in less than 5min on a C18 reverse-phase column with a mobile phase containing 0.05% (v/v) mercaptoethanol, 0.4% (m/v) l-cysteine, 0.06molL(-1) ammonium acetate and 5% (v/v) methanol. The method detection limits were found to be 0.25microgL(-1) and 0.1microgL(-1) for inorganic mercury and methylmercury, respectively. Method accuracy is traceable to Standard Reference Material (SRM) 966 Toxic Metals in Bovine Blood from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The proposed method was also applied to the speciation of mercury in blood samples collected from fish-eating communities and from rats exposed to thimerosal. With the proposed method there is a considerable reduction of the time of sample preparation prior to speciation of Hg by LC-ICP-MS. Finally, after the application of the proposed method, we demonstrated an interesting in vivo ethylmercury conversion to inorganic mercury.

PMID: 20006068 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Neurotox Res. 2010 Jul;18(1):59-68. Epub 2009 Sep 16.

Are neuropathological conditions relevant to ethylmercury exposure?

Aschner M, Ceccatelli S.

Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. michael.aschner@vanderbilt.edu

Abstract

Mercury and mercurial compounds are among the environmentally ubiquitous substances most toxic to both wildlife and humans. Once released into the environment from both natural and anthropogenic sources, mercury exists mainly as three different molecular species: elemental, inorganic, and organic. Potential health risks have been reported from exposure to all forms; however, of particular concern for human exposure relate to the potent neurotoxic effects of methylmercury (MeHg), especially for the developing nervous system. The general population is primarily exposed to MeHg by seafood consumption. In addition, some pharmaceuticals, including vaccines, have been, and some continue to be, a ubiquitous source of exposure to mercurials. A significant controversy has been whether the vaccine preservative ethylmercury thiosalicylate, commonly known as thimerosal, could cause the development of autism. In this review, we have discussed the hypothesis that exposure to thimerosal during childhood may be a primary cause of autism. The conclusion is that there are no reliable data indicating that administration of vaccines containing thimerosal is a primary cause of autism. However, one cannot rule out the possibility that the individual gene profile and/or gene-environment interactions may play a role in modulating the response to acquired risk by modifying the individual susceptibility.

PMID: 19756911 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________________

J Environ Sci (China). 2009;21(12):1716-21.

Effects of methyl-, phenyl-, ethylmercury and mercurychlorid on immune cells of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina).

Kakuschke A, Valentine-Thon E, Fonfara S, Kramer K, Prange A.

GKSS Research Center Institute for Coastal Research, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany. antjekakuschke@web.de

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is present in the marine environment as a natural metal often enhanced through human activities. Depending on its chemical form, Hg can cause a wide range of immunotoxic effects. In this study, the influence of methyl-, ethyl- and phenylmercury as well as mercurychloride on immune functions was evaluated. Two parameters of cellular immunity, proliferation and mRNA cytokine expression of interleukin-2, -4, and transforming growth factor beta, were investigated in harbor seal lymphocytes after in vitro exposure to Hg compounds. While all Hg compounds had a suppressive effect on proliferation, differences between juvenile and adult seals were found. Lymphocytes from juveniles showed a higher susceptibility to the toxic effect compared to lymphocytes from adults. Furthermore, the degree of inhibition of proliferation varied among the four Hg compounds. The organic compounds seem to be more immunotoxic than the inorganic compound. Finally, for the cytokine expression of methylmercury-incubated lymphocytes, time-dependent changes were observed, but no dose-dependency was found. Marine mammals of the North Sea are burdened with Hg, and lymphocytes of harbor seals may be functionally impaired by this metal. The present in vitro study provides baseline information for future studies on the immunotoxic effects of Hg on cellular immunity of harbor seals.

PMID: 20131603 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________________

Cases J. 2009 Nov 18;2:199.

The usefulness of chelation therapy for the remission of symptoms caused by previous treatment with mercury-containing pharmaceuticals: a case report.

Corsello S, Fulgenzi A, Vietti D, Ferrero ME.

Dipartimento di Morfologia umana e Scienze Biomediche-Città Studi, Università di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 31 20133, Milan, Italy. scorsello3@aol.com

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: A great deal of data regarding the toxicology of mercury has been recently reported. Although the most common human exposures to mercury are currently mercury vapour from amalgam tooth fillings, methylmercury from seafood and ethylmercury as a preservative in vaccines, in the past mercury compounds have been used in the treatment of syphilis.

CASE PRESENTATION: Mercury intoxication was found in a 67 year-old Italian man affected by neurological symptoms of apparently unknown origin. The patient developed syphilis forty years ago and then underwent therapy with mercurials to treat his chronic bacterial infection. We treated the patient with disodium edetate chelation therapy. Six months after the beginning of the therapy, the patient's neurological symptoms began to decrease, and were completely cured after two years of therapy.

CONCLUSION: This case supports the use of chelation therapy with disodium edetate to remove damages caused by mercury intoxication.

Don’t know what kind of mercury, however. It may not have been ethylmercury.

________________________________________________________________________________

FASEB J. 2009 Aug;23(8):2374-83. Epub 2009 Mar 23.

Cellular and mitochondrial glutathione redox imbalance in lymphoblastoid cells derived from children with autism.

James SJ, Rose S, Melnyk S, Jernigan S, Blossom S, Pavliv O, Gaylor DW.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, 1120 Marshall St., Little Rock, AR 72202, USA. jamesjill@uams.edu

Abstract

Research into the metabolic phenotype of autism has been relatively unexplored despite the fact that metabolic abnormalities have been implicated in the pathophysiology of several other neurobehavioral disorders. Plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress have been reported in autistic children; however, intracellular redox status has not yet been evaluated. Lymphoblastoid cells (LCLs) derived from autistic children and unaffected controls were used to assess relative concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized disulfide glutathione (GSSG) in cell extracts and isolated mitochondria as a measure of intracellular redox capacity. The results indicated that the GSH/GSSG redox ratio was decreased and percentage oxidized glutathione increased in both cytosol and mitochondria in the autism LCLs. Exposure to oxidative stress via the sulfhydryl reagent thimerosal resulted in a greater decrease in the GSH/GSSG ratio and increase in free radical generation in autism compared to control cells. Acute exposure to physiological levels of nitric oxide decreased mitochondrial membrane potential to a greater extent in the autism LCLs, although GSH/GSSG and ATP concentrations were similarly decreased in both cell lines. These results suggest that the autism LCLs exhibit a reduced glutathione reserve capacity in both cytosol and mitochondria that may compromise antioxidant defense and detoxification capacity under prooxidant conditions.

PMID: 19307255 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]PMCID: PMC2717775Free PMC Article

________________________________________________________________________________

Biometals. 2009 Oct;22(5):697-700. Epub 2009 Feb 11.

Are toxic biometals destroying your children's future?

Drum DA.

poohpadon@wowway.com

Abstract

Cadmium, arsenic, lead, and mercury have been linked to autism, attention deficit disorder, mental retardation and death of children. Mercury in thimerosal found in many vaccines and flu shots contributes significantly to these problems. Decomposition of the thimerosal can produce more toxic compounds, either methylethylmercury or diethylmercury, in the body. These compounds have a toxicity level similar to dimethylmercury. Within the human body, a mitochondrial disorder may release the more toxic form of mercury internally. Young children and pregnant women must minimize internal exposure to the vaccines and flu shots containing mercury.

PMID: 19205900 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2009 Mar;61(2):133-6. Epub 2008 Sep 3.

Gender-selective toxicity of thimerosal.

Branch DR.

Departments of Medicine and Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. don.branch@utoronto.ca

Abstract

A recent report shows a correlation of the historical use of thimerosal in therapeutic immunizations with the subsequent development of autism; however, this association remains controversial. Autism occurs approximately four times more frequently in males compared to females; thus, studies of thimerosal toxicity should take into consideration gender-selective effects. The present study was originally undertaken to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of thimersosal in male and female CD1 mice. However, during the limited MTD studies, it became apparent that thimerosal has a differential MTD that depends on whether the mouse is male or female. At doses of 38.4-76.8mg/kg using 10% DMSO as diluent, seven of seven male mice compared to zero of seven female mice tested succumbed to thimerosal. Although the thimerosal levels used were very high, as we were originally only trying to determine MTD, it was completely unexpected to observe a difference of the MTD between male and female mice. Thus, our studies, although not directly addressing the controversy surrounding thimerosal and autism, and still preliminary due to small numbers of mice examined, provide, nevertheless, the first report of gender-selective toxicity of thimerosal and indicate that any future studies of thimerosal toxicity should take into consideration gender-specific differences.

PMID: 18771903 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Toxicol In Vitro. 2009 Sep;23(6):1092-9. Epub 2009 Jun 2.

Increase in intracellular Zn2+ concentration by thimerosal in rat thymocytes: intracellular Zn2+ release induced by oxidative stress.

Hashimoto E, Oyama TB, Oyama K, Nishimura Y, Oyama TM, Ueha-Ishibashi T, Okano Y, Oyama Y.

Laboratory of Cellular Signaling, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan.

Abstract

Thimerosal (TMR), an ethylmercury-containing preservative in pharmaceutical products, was recently reported to increase intracellular Zn(2+) concentration. Therefore, some health concerns about the toxicity of TMR remain because of physiological and pathological roles of Zn(2+). To reveal the property of TMR-induced increase in intracellular Zn(2+) concentration, the effect of TMR on FluoZin-3 fluorescence, an indicator of intracellular Zn(2+), of rat thymocytes was examined. TMR at concentrations ranging from 0.3 microM to 10 microM increased the intensity of FluoZin-3 fluorescence in a concentration-dependent manner under external Ca(2+)- and Zn(2+)-free condition. The threshold concentration was 0.3-1 microM. The increase in the intensity was significant when TMR concentration was 1 microM or more. N,N,N',N'-Tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN), a chelator for intracellular Zn(2+), completely attenuated the TMR-induced augmentation of FluoZin-3 fluorescence. Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and N-ethylmaleimide, reducing cellular thiol content, significantly increased FluoZin-3 fluorescence intensity and decreased 5-chloromethylfluorescein (5-CMF) fluorescence intensity, an indicator for cellular thiol. The correlation coefficient between TMR-induced augmentation of FluoZin-3 fluorescence and attenuation of 5-CMF fluorescence was -0.882. TMR also attenuated the 5-CMF fluorescence in the presence of TPEN. Simultaneous application of H(2)O(2) and TMR synergistically augmented the FluoZin-3 fluorescence. It is suggested that TMR increases intracellular Zn(2+) concentration via decreasing cellular thiol content.

PMID: 19497362 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2009 Apr;25(2):113-9.

Comparative toxicity of preservatives on immortalized corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells.

Epstein SP, Ahdoot M, Marcus E, Asbell PA.

Department of Ophthalmology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA. seth.epstein@mssm.edu

Abstract

PURPOSE: Nearly all eye drops contain preservatives to decrease contamination. Nonpreservatives such as disodium-ethylene diamine tetra-acetate (EDTA) and phosphate-buffered saline are also regularly added as buffering agents. These components can add to the toxicity of eye drops and cause ocular surface disease. To evaluate the potential toxicity of these common components and their comparative effects on the ocular surface, a tissue culture model utilizing immortalized corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells was utilized.

METHODS: Immortalized human conjunctival and corneal epithelial cells were grown. At confluency, medium was replaced with 100 microL of varying concentrations of preservatives: benzalkonium chloride (BAK), methyl paraben (MP), sodium perborate (SP), chlorobutanol (Cbl), and stabilized thimerosal (Thi); varying concentrations of buffer: EDTA; media (viable control); and formalin (dead control). After 1 h, solutions were replaced with 150 microL of MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazonium bromide). After 4 h, solutions decanted, 100 microL of acid isopropanol added, and the optical density determined at 572 nm to evaluate cell viability.

RESULTS: Conjunctival and corneal cell toxicity was seen with all preservatives. Depending upon concentration, BAK exhibited from 56% to 89% toxicity. In comparison, Cbl exhibited from 50% to 86%, MP from 30% to 76%, SP from 23% to 59%, and Thi from 70% to 95%. EDTA with minimal toxicity (from 6% to 59%) was indistinguishable from SP.

CONCLUSIONS: Generally, the order of decreasing toxicity at the most commonly used concentrations: Thi (0.0025%) > BAK (0.025%) > Cbl (0.25%) > MP (0.01%) > SP (0.0025%) approximately EDTA (0.01%). Even at low concentration, these agents will cause some degree of ocular tissue damage.

PMID: 19284328 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]PMCID: PMC2958436Free PMC Article

______________________________________________________________________________

J Med Food. 2009 Oct;12(5):1098-104.

Effects of glucan on immunosuppressive actions of mercury.

Vetvicka V, Vetvickova J.

Department of Pathology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA. vaclav@iglou.com

Abstract

Global cycling of mercury results in the presence of mercury salts in the environment. The well-established negative effects of mercury on the immune system led us to the study whether natural immunomodulator glucan can overcome the immunosuppressive effects of mercury. Two types of mercury, thimerosal and mercury acetate, were administered in a dose of 2-8 mg/L of drinking water to mice. After 2 weeks, all mice exhibited profound suppression of both cellular (phagocytosis, natural killer cell activity, mitogen-induced proliferation, and expression of CD markers) and humoral (antibody formation and secretion of interleukin-6, interleukin-12, and interferon-gamma) responses. The mice were then fed with a diet containing a standard dose of glucan. Our results showed that simultaneous treatment with mercury and glucan resulted in significantly lower immunotoxic effects of mercury, which suggests that glucans can be successfully used as a natural remedy of low-level exposure to mercury.

PMID: 19857075 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Wonder what, if any, cell damage occurs when injected.

______________________________________________________________________________

Curr Med Chem. 2008;15(28):3000-10.

Kawasaki's disease, acrodynia, and mercury.

Mutter J, Yeter D.

Department of Environmental and Complementary Medicine, Salusmed Medical Center, Wieslistrasse 34, CH - 8267 Berlingen, Switzerland. jo.mutter@web.de

Abstract

A superantigen or autoimmunity has been hypothesized to be the main cause of the Kawasaki's Disease but the etiology is unknown. Medical literature, epidemiological findings, and some case reports have suggested that mercury may play a pathogenic role. Several patients with Kawasaki's Disease have presented with elevated urine mercury levels compared to matched controls. Most symptoms and diagnostic criteria which are seen in children with acrodynia, known to be caused by mercury, are similar to those seen in Kawasaki's Disease. Genetic depletion of glutathione S-transferase , a susceptibility marker for Kawasaki's Disease, is known to be also a risk factor for acrodynia and may also increase susceptibility to mercury . Coinciding with the largest increase (1985-1990) of thimerosal (49.6% ethyl mercury) in vaccines, routinely given to infants in the U.S. by 6 months of age (from 75microg to 187.5microg), the rates of Kawasaki's Disease increased ten times, and, later (1985-1997), by 20 times. Since 1990 88 cases of patients developing Kawasaki's Disease some days after vaccination have been reported to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) including 19% manifesting symptoms the same day. The presented pathogenetic model may lead to new preventive- and therapeutic strategies for Kawasaki's disease.

PMID: 19075648 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Toxicol In Vitro. 2008 Jun;22(4):927-34. Epub 2008 Feb 1.

Genotoxicity of thimerosal in cultured human lymphocytes with and without metabolic activation sister chromatid exchange analysis proliferation index and mitotic index.

Eke D, Celik A.

Mersin University, Faculty of Science and Letters, Department of Biology, 33343 Mersin, Turkey.

Abstract

Thimerosal is an antiseptic containing 49.5% of ethyl mercury that has been used for years as a preservative in many infant vaccines and in flu vaccines. Thimerosal is an organic mercurial compound used as a preservative in biomedical preparations. In this study, we evaluated the genotoxic effect of thimerosal in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes using sister chromatid exchange analysis in culture conditions with and without S9 metabolic activation. This study is the first report investigating the genotoxic effects of thimerosal in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocyte cells using sister chromatid exchange analysis. An analysis of variance test (ANOVA) was performed to evaluate the results. Significant induction of sister chromatid exchanges was seen at concentrations between 0.2 and 0.6 microg/ml of thimerosal compared with negative control. A significant decrease (p<0.001) in mitotic index (MI) and proliferation index (PRI) as well as an increase in SCE frequency (p<0.001) was observed compared with control cultures. Our results indicate the genotoxic and cytotoxic effect of TH in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes at tested doses in cultures with/without S9 fraction.

PMID: 18321677 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Chem Res Toxicol. 2008 Feb;21(2):483-93. Epub 2008 Jan 16.

Thiol-modulated mechanisms of the cytotoxicity of thimerosal and inhibition of DNA topoisomerase II alpha.

Wu X, Liang H, O'Hara KA, Yalowich JC, Hasinoff BB.

Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba, 50 Sifton Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada.

Abstract

Thimerosal is an organic mercury compound that is widely used as a preservative in vaccines and other solution formulations. The use of thimerosal has caused concern about its ability to cause neurological abnormalities due to mercury accumulation during a normal schedule of childhood vaccinations. While the chemistry and the biological effects of methylmercury have been well-studied, those of thimerosal have not. Thimerosal reacted rapidly with cysteine, GSH, human serum albumin, and single-stranded DNA to form ethylmercury adducts that were detectable by mass spectrometry. These results indicated that thimerosal would be quickly metabolized in vivo because of its reactions with protein and nonprotein thiols. Thimerosal also potently inhibited the decatenation activity of DNA topoisomerase II alpha, likely through reaction with critical free cysteine thiol groups. Thimerosal, however, did not act as a topoisomerase II poison and the lack of cross-resistance with a K562 cell line with a decreased level of topoisomerase II alpha (K/VP.5 cells) suggested that inhibition of topoisomerase II alpha was not a significant mechanism for the inhibition of cell growth. Depletion of intracellular GSH with buthionine sulfoximine treatment greatly increased the K562 cell growth inhibitory effects of thimerosal, which showed that intracellular glutathione had a major role in protecting cells from thimerosal. Pretreatment of thimerosal with glutathione did not, however, change its K562 cell growth inhibitory effects, a result consistent with the rapid exchange of the ethylmercury adduct among various thiol-containing cellular reactants. Thimerosal-induced single and double strand breaks in K562 cells were consistent with a rapid induction of apoptosis. In conclusion, these studies have elucidated some of the chemistry and biological activities of the interaction of thimerosal with topoisomerase II alpha and protein and nonprotein thiols and with DNA.

PMID: 18197631 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Apoptosis is “programmed cell death”.

______________________________________________________________________________

Altern Ther Health Med. 2008 Nov-Dec;14(6):46-53.

A possible central mechanism in autism spectrum disorders, part 1.

Blaylock RL.

Belhaven College, Jackson, Mississippi, USA.

Abstract

The autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of related neurodevelopmental disorders that have been increasing in incidence since the 1980s. Despite a considerable amount of data being collected from cases, a central mechanism has not been offered. A careful review of ASD cases discloses a number of events that adhere to an immunoexcitotoxic mechanism. This mechanism explains the link between excessive vaccination, use of aluminum and ethylmercury as vaccine adjuvants, food allergies, gut dysbiosis, and abnormal formation of the developing brain. It has now been shown that chronic microglial activation is present in autistic brains from age 5 years to age 44 years. A considerable amount of evidence, both experimental and clinical, indicates that repeated microglial activation can initiate priming of the microglia and that subsequent stimulation can produce an exaggerated microglial response that can be prolonged. It is also known that one phenotypic form of microglia activation can result in an outpouring of neurotoxic levels of the excitotoxins, glutamate and quinolinic acid. Studies have shown that careful control of brain glutamate levels is essential to brain pathway development and that excesses can result in arrest of neural migration, as well as dendritic and synaptic loss. It has also been shown that certain cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, can, via its receptor, interact with glutamate receptors to enhance the neurotoxic reaction. To describe this interaction I have coined the term immunoexcitotoxicity, which is described in this article.

PMID: 19043938 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________________

J Neurol Sci. 2008 Aug 15;271(1-2):110-8. Epub 2008 May 15.

Thimerosal exposure in infants and neurodevelopmental disorders: an assessment of computerized medical records in the Vaccine Safety Datalink.

Young HA, Geier DA, Geier MR.

The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, United States.

Abstract

The study evaluated possible associations between neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) and exposure to mercury (Hg) from Thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs) by examining the automated Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD). A total of 278,624 subjects were identified in birth cohorts from 1990-1996 that had received their first oral polio vaccination by 3 months of age in the VSD. The birth cohort prevalence rate of medically diagnosed International Classification of Disease, 9th revision (ICD-9) specific NDs and control outcomes were calculated. Exposures to Hg from TCVs were calculated by birth cohort for specific exposure windows from birth-7 months and birth-13 months of age. Poisson regression analysis was used to model the association between the prevalence of outcomes and Hg doses from TCVs. Consistent significantly increased rate ratios were observed for autism, autism spectrum disorders, tics, attention deficit disorder, and emotional disturbances with Hg exposure from TCVs. By contrast, none of the control outcomes had significantly increased rate ratios with Hg exposure from TCVs. Routine childhood vaccination should be continued to help reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases, but efforts should be undertaken to remove Hg from vaccines. Additional studies should be conducted to further evaluate the relationship between Hg exposure and NDs.

PMID: 18482737 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________________

Neurotoxicology. 2008 May;29(3):532-45. Epub 2008 Feb 23.

Immunologic and neurodevelopmental susceptibilities of autism.

Pessah IN, Seegal RF, Lein PJ, LaSalle J, Yee BK, Van De Water J, Berman RF.

School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. inpessah@ucdavis.edu

Abstract

Symposium 5 focused on research approaches that are aimed at understanding common patterns of immunological and neurological dysfunction contributing to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD. The session focused on genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors that might act in concert to influence autism risk, severity and co-morbidities, and immunological and neurobiological targets as etiologic contributors. The immune system of children at risk of autism may be therefore especially susceptible to psychological stressors, exposure to chemical triggers, and infectious agents. Identifying early biomarkers of risk provides tangible approaches toward designing studies in animals and humans that yield a better understanding of environmental risk factors, and can help identify rational intervention strategies to mitigate these risks.

PMID: 18394707 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]PMCID: PMC2475601Free PMC Articlehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2475601/?tool=pubmed

See Section VII – “Examination of Thimerosal Effects in neonatal SJL/J Mice at Vaccination-Associated Exposure Levels”
______________________________________________________________________________

J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2007 Dec;70(24):2092-5.

Evaluation of cytotoxicity attributed to thimerosal on murine and human kidney cells.

Park EK, Mak SK, Kültz D, Hammock BD.

Department of Entomology and Cancer Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, USA. eunkee.park@ddb.nsw.gov.au

Abstract

Renal inner medullary collecting duct cells (mIMCD3) and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) were used for cytoscreening of thimerosal and mercury chloride (HgCl2). Thimerosal and HgCl2 acted in a concentration-dependent manner. In mIMCD3 cells the 24-h LC50 values for thimerosal, thiosalicylic acid, 2,2-dithiosalicylic acid, and 2-sulfobenzoic acid were 2.9, 2200, >1000, and >10,000 microM, respectively. The 24-h LC50 value for HgCl2 in mIMCD3 cells was 40 microM. In HEK293 cells, the 24-h LC50 value for thimerosal was 9.5 microM. These data demonstrate that the higher cytotoxicity produced by thimerosal on renal cells with respect to similar compounds without Hg may be related to this metal content. The present study also establishes mIMCD3 cells as a valuable model for evaluation of cytotoxicity of nephrotoxic compounds.

PMID: 18049999 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Toxicol Sci. 2007 Nov;100(1):109-17. Epub 2007 Aug 13.

Thimerosal-induced apoptosis in human SCM1 gastric cancer cells: activation of p38 MAP kinase and caspase-3 pathways without involvement of [Ca2+]i elevation.

Liu SI, Huang CC, Huang CJ, Wang BW, Chang PM, Fang YC, Chen WC, Wang JL, Lu YC, Chu ST, Chou CT, Jan CR.

Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 813.

Abstract

Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative in some vaccines. The effect of thimerosal on human gastric cancer cells is unknown. This study shows that in cultured human gastric cancer cells (SCM1), thimerosal reduced cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Thimerosal caused apoptosis as assessed by propidium iodide-stained cells and caspase-3 activation. Although immunoblotting data revealed that thimerosal could activate the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), only SB203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor) partially prevented cells from apoptosis. Thimerosal also induced [Ca2+](i) increases via Ca2+ influx from the extracellular space. However, pretreatment with (bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate)/AM, a Ca2+ chelator, to prevent thimerosal-induced [Ca2+](i) increases did not protect cells from death. The results suggest that in SCM1 cells, thimerosal caused Ca2+-independent apoptosis via phosphorylating p38 MAPK resulting in caspase-3 activation.

PMID: 17698513 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free Article

______________________________________________________________________________

Toxicology. 2007 Feb 28;231(1):40-57. Epub 2006 Nov 25.

Cell death and cytotoxic effects in YAC-1 lymphoma cells following exposure to various forms of mercury.

Yole M, Wickstrom M, Blakley B.

Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, 52 Campus Drive, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK S7N 5B4, Canada. yole@sask.usask.ca

Erratum in:

• Toxicology. 2008 Jan 14;243(1-2):244-5.

Abstract

The effects of 1 min-4 h exposures to four Hg compounds (mercuric chloride [HgCl2], methyl mercuric chloride [CH3HgCl], p-chloromercuribenzoate [p-CMB] and thimerosal [TMS; ethylmercurithiosalicylate]) on cell death, microtubules, actin, CD3 receptor expression, protein tyrosine phosphorylation (PTyr-P) and intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) levels were investigated in YAC-1 lymphoma cells using flow cytometry. YOPRO-1 (YP) and propidium iodide (PI) dye uptake indicated all forms of Hg tested were toxic at concentrations ranging from 25.8-48.4 microM, with two distinct patterns of effects. Early apoptosis was prolonged for CH3HgCl- and TMS-treated cells, with more than 50% remaining YP+/PI- after 4h. Both CH3HgCl and TMS induced complete loss of beta-tubulin fluorescence, indicative of microtubule depolymerization and inhibition of tubulin synthesis and/or beta-tubulin degradation, while F-actin fluorescence diminished to a lesser degree and only after loss beta-tubulin. CH3HgCl and TMS induced an almost immediate two-fold increase in CD3 fluorescence, with levels returning to baseline within minutes. With continued exposure, CD3 fluorescence was reduced to approximately 50% of baseline values. Both compounds also increased PTyr-P two- to three-fold immediately, with levels returning to baseline at 4h. Similarly, two- to three-fold increases in [Ca2+]i were noted after 1 min exposure. [Ca2+]i increased progressively, reaching levels five- to eight-fold greater than control values. In contrast, dye uptake was delayed with HgCl2 and p-CMB, although cell death proceeded rapidly, with almost all non-viable cells being late apoptotic (YP+/PI+) by 4h. p-CMB produced early reductions in F-actin, and after 4h, complete loss of F-actin with only partial reduction of total beta-tubulin was seen with both p-CMB and HgCl2. HgCl2 reduced CD3 expression and PTyr-P slightly within minutes, while p-CMB produced similar effects on CD3 only at 4h, at which time PTyr-P was increased two- to three-fold. Both compounds increased [Ca2+]i within minutes, though levels remained under twice the baseline concentration after 15 min exposure. With continued exposure, [Ca2+]i increased to levels two- to five-fold greater than control values. These findings indicate the two groups of Hg compounds may induce cell death by distinct pathways, reflecting interactions with different cellular targets leading to cell death.

PMID: 17210217 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Toxicology. 2007 Jan 5;229(1-2):23-32. Epub 2006 Sep 24.

Dose and Hg species determine the T-helper cell activation in murine autoimmunity.

Havarinasab S, Björn E, Ekstrand J, Hultman P.

Molecular and Immunological Pathology (AIR), Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden. saiha@imk.liu.se

Abstract

Inorganic mercury (mercuric chloride--HgCl(2)) induces in mice an autoimmune syndrome (HgIA) with T cell-dependent polyclonal B cell activation and hypergammaglobulinemia, dose- and H-2-dependent production of autoantibodies targeting the 34 kDa nucleolar protein fibrillarin (AFA), and systemic immune-complex deposits. The organic mercury species methylmercury (MeHg) and ethylmercury (EtHg--in the form of thimerosal) induce AFA, while the other manifestations of HgIA seen after treatment with HgCl(2) are present to varying extent. Since these organic Hg species are converted to the autoimmunogen Hg(2+) in the body, their primary autoimmunogen potential is uncertain and the subject of this study. A moderate dose of HgCl(2) (8 mg/L drinking water--internal dose 148 micro gHg/kg body weight [bw]/day) caused the fastest AFA response, while the induction was delayed after higher (25 mg/L) and lower (1.5 and 3 mg/L) doses. The lowest dose of HgCl(2) inducing AFA was 1.5 mg/L drinking water which corresponded to a renal Hg(2+) concentration of 0.53 micro g/g. Using a dose of 8 mg HgCl(2)/L this threshold concentration was reached within 24 h, and a consistent AFA response developed after 8-10 days. The time lag for the immunological part of the reaction leading to a consistent AFA response was therefore 7-9 days. A dose of thimerosal close to the threshold dose for induction of AFA (2 mg/L drinking water--internal dose 118 micro gHg/kg bw per day), caused a renal Hg(2+) concentration of 1.8 micro g/g. The autoimmunogen effect of EtHg might therefore be entirely due to Hg(2+) formed from EtHg in the body. The effect of organic and inorganic Hg species on T-helper type 1 and type 2 cells during induction of AFA was assessed as the presence and titre of AFA of the IgG1 and IgG2a isotype, respectively. EtHg induced a persistent Th1-skewed response irrespectively of the dose and time used. A low daily dose of HgCl(2) (1.5-3 mg/L) caused a Th1-skewed AFA response, while a moderate dose (8 mg/L) after 2 weeks resulted in a balanced or even Th2-skewed response. Higher daily doses of HgCl(2) (25 mg/L) caused a balanced Th2-Th1 response already from onset. In conclusion, while metabolically formed Hg(2+) might be the main AFA-inducing factor also after treatment with EtHg, the quality of the Hg-induced AFA response is modified by the species of Hg as well as the dose.

PMID: 17084957 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________________

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2007 May;20(5):385-90.

A prospective study of thimerosal-containing Rho(D)-immune globulin administration as a risk factor for autistic disorders.

Geier DA, Geier MR.

The Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Silver Spring, MD, USA.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the relationship between prenatal mercury exposure from thimerosal (49.55% mercury by weight)-containing Rho(D)-immune globulins (TCRs) and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

METHODS: The Institutional Review Board of the Institute for Chronic Illnesses approved the present study. A total of 53 consecutive non-Jewish Caucasian patients with ASDs (Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth ed. - DSM IV) born between 1987 and 2001 who presented to the Genetic Centers of America for outpatient genetic/developmental evaluations were prospectively collected from June 1, 2005 through March 31, 2006. Imaging and laboratory testing were conducted on each patient to rule out other causal factors for their ASDs. As race-matched controls, the frequency of Rh negativity was determined from 926 non-Jewish Caucasian pregnant women who had presented for outpatient prenatal genetics care to the Genetic Centers of America between 1980 and 1989.

RESULTS: Children with ASDs (28.30%) were significantly more likely (odds ratio 2.35, 95% confidence interval 1.17-4.52, p < 0.01) to have Rh-negative mothers than controls (14.36%). Each ASD patient's mother was determined to have been administered a TCR during her pregnancy.

CONCLUSION: The results provide insights into the potential role prenatal mercury exposure may play in some children with ASDs.

PMID: 17674242 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________________

J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2007 May 15;70(10):837-51.

A case series of children with apparent mercury toxic encephalopathies manifesting with clinical symptoms of regressive autistic disorders.

Geier DA, Geier MR.

Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.

Abstract

Impairments in social relatedness and communication, repetitive behaviors, and stereotypic abnormal movement patterns characterize autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It is clear that while genetic factors are important to the pathogenesis of ASDs, mercury exposure can induce immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions similar to traits defining or associated with ASDs. The Institutional Review Board of the Institute for Chronic Illnesses (Office for Human Research Protections, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, IRB number IRB00005375) approved the present study. A case series of nine patients who presented to the Genetic Centers of America for a genetic/developmental evaluation are discussed. Eight of nine patients (one patient was found to have an ASD due to Rett's syndrome) (a) had regressive ASDs; (b) had elevated levels of androgens; (c) excreted significant amounts of mercury post chelation challenge; (d) had biochemical evidence of decreased function in their glutathione pathways; (e) had no known significant mercury exposure except from Thimerosal-containing vaccines/Rho(D)-immune globulin preparations; and (f) had alternate causes for their regressive ASDs ruled out. There was a significant dose-response relationship between the severity of the regressive ASDs observed and the total mercury dose children received from Thimerosal-containing vaccines/Rho (D)-immune globulin preparations. Based upon differential diagnoses, 8 of 9 patients examined were exposed to significant mercury from Thimerosal-containing biologic/vaccine preparations during their fetal/infant developmental periods, and subsequently, between 12 and 24 mo of age, these previously normally developing children suffered mercury toxic encephalopathies that manifested with clinical symptoms consistent with regressive ASDs. Evidence for mercury intoxication should be considered in the differential diagnosis as contributing to some regressive ASDs.

PMID: 17454560 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Toxicol Sci. 2006 Jul;92(1):246-53. Epub 2006 Apr 19.

Thimerosal induces apoptosis in a neuroblastoma model via the cJun N-terminal kinase pathway.

Herdman ML, Marcelo A, Huang Y, Niles RM, Dhar S, Kiningham KK.

Department of Pharmacology, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, 1542 Spring Valley Drive, Huntington, WV 25704, USA.

Abstract

The cJun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-signaling pathway is activated in response to a variety of stimuli, including environmental insults, and has been implicated in neuronal apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the role that the JNK pathway plays in neurotoxicity caused by thimerosal, an ethylmercury-containing preservative. SK-N-SH cells treated with thimerosal (0-10 microM) showed an increase in the phosphorylated (active) form of JNK and cJun with 5 and 10 microM thimerosal treatment at 2 and 4 h. To examine activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription, cells were transfected with a pGL2 vector containing four AP-1 consensus sequences and then treated with thimerosal (0-2.5 microM) for 24 h. Luciferase studies showed an increase in AP-1 transcriptional activity upon thimerosal administration. To determine the components of the AP-1 complex, cells were transfected with a dominant negative to either cFos (A-Fos) or cJun (TAM67). Reporter analysis showed that TAM67, but not A-Fos, decreased AP-1 transcriptional activity, indicating a role for cJun in this pathway. To assess which components are essential to apoptosis, cells were treated with a cell-permeable JNK inhibitor II (SP600125) or transfected with TAM67, and the downstream effectors of apoptosis were analyzed. Cells pretreated with SP600125 showed decreases in activation of caspases 9 and 3, decreases in degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and decreased levels of proapoptotic Bim, in comparison to cells treated with thimerosal alone. However, cells transfected with TAM67 showed no changes in those same components. Taken together, these results indicate that thimerosal-induced neurotoxicity occurs through the JNK-signaling pathway, independent of cJun activation, leading ultimately to apoptotic cell death.

PMID: 16624850 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free Article
______________________________________________________________________________

Mol Carcinog. 2006 Sep;45(9):657-66.

Thimerosal induces apoptosis and G2/M phase arrest in human leukemia cells.

Woo KJ, Lee TJ, Bae JH, Jang BC, Song DK, Cho JW, Suh SI, Park JW, Kwon TK.

Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Taegu, South Korea.

Abstract

Thimerosal is an organomercury compound with sulfhydryl-reactive properties. The ability of thimerosal to act as a sulfhydryl group is related to the presence of mercury. Due to its antibacterial effect, thimerosal is widely used as preservatives and has been reported to cause chemically mediated side effects. In the present study, we showed that the molecular mechanism of thimerosal induced apoptosis in U937 cells. Thimerosal was shown to be responsible for the inhibition of U937 cells growth by inducing apoptosis. Treatment with 2.5-5 microM thimerosal but not thiosalicylic acid (structural analog of thimerosal devoid of mercury) for 12 h produced apoptosis, G(2)/M phase arrest, and DNA fragmentation in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with caspase inhibitor significantly reduced thimerosal-induced caspase 3 activation. In addition, thimerosal-induced apoptosis was attenuated by antioxidant Mn (III) meso-tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin (Mn-TBAP). These data indicate that the cytotoxic effect of thimerosal on U937 cells is attributable to the induced apoptosis and that thimerosal-induced apoptosis is mediated by reactive oxygen species generation and caspase-3 activation.

PMID: 16649253 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
___________________________________________________________________________________

Neurotoxicology. 2006 Sep;27(5):685-92. Epub 2006 Jun 16.

Cultured lymphocytes from autistic children and non-autistic siblings up-regulate heat shock protein RNA in response to thimerosal challenge.

Walker SJ, Segal J, Aschner M.

Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27156, USA. swalker@wfubmc.edu

Abstract

There are reports suggesting that some autistic children are unable to mount an adequate response following exposure to environmental toxins. This potential deficit, coupled with the similarity in clinical presentations of autism and some heavy metal toxicities, has led to the suggestion that heavy metal poisoning might play a role in the etiology of autism in uniquely susceptible individuals. Thimerosal, an anti-microbial preservative previously added routinely to childhood multi-dose vaccines, is composed of 49.6% ethyl mercury. Based on the levels of this toxin that children receive through routine immunization schedules in the first years of life, it has been postulated that thimerosal may be a potential triggering mechanism contributing to autism in susceptible individuals. One potential risk factor in these individuals may be an inability to adequately up-regulate metallothionein (MT) biosynthesis in response to presentation of a heavy metal challenge. To investigate this hypothesis, cultured lymphocytes (obtained from the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange, AGRE) from autistic children and non-autistic siblings were challenged with either 10 microM ethyl mercury, 150 microM zinc, or fresh media (control). Following the challenge, total RNA was extracted and used to query "whole genome" DNA microarrays. Cultured lymphocytes challenged with zinc responded with an impressive up-regulation of MT transcripts (at least nine different MTs were over-expressed) while cells challenged with thimerosal responded by up-regulating numerous heat shock protein transcripts, but not MTs. Although there were no apparent differences between autistic and non-autistic sibling responses in this very small sampling group, the differences in expression profiles between those cells treated with zinc versus thimerosal were dramatic. Determining cellular response, at the level of gene expression, has important implications for the understanding and treatment of conditions that result from exposure to neurotoxic compounds.

PMID: 16870260 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

___________________________________________________________________________________

Altern Ther Health Med. 2006 Jul-Aug;12(4):16-7.

Are mercury amalgam fillings safe for children? An evaluation of recent research results.

Rode D.

EcoNugenics Inc, Santa Rosa, California, USA.

Abstract

Two recent clinical trials on the safety of amalgam fillings in children found no evidence of harmful effects from mercury-containing dental fillings after following children for 5-7 years. This review suggests the studies' results are limited by (1) sample sizes that were too small to allow detection of genetic variations in mercury toxicity at a rate of 1 in 100 or lower, (2) a lack of control for other sources of mercury, and (3) a population that may have been skewed by excluding children with autism during a time when autism was escalating due, in part, to increased frequency of thimerosal-containing vaccine use.

PMID: 16862738 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

____________________________________________________________________________________

Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2006 Aug;27(4):401-13.

A meta-analysis epidemiological assessment of neurodevelopmental disorders following vaccines administered from 1994 through 2000 in the United States.

Geier DA, Geier MR.

The Institute for Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, MD 20905, USA. mgeier@comcast.net

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Thimerosal is an ethylmercury-containing compound (49.6% mercury by weight) used as at the preservative level in vaccines (0.005% to 0.01%).

METHODS: Statistical modeling in a meta-analysis epidemiological assessment of the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) for neurodevelopment disorders (NDs) reported following Diphtheria-Tetanus-whole-cell-Pertussis (DTP) vaccines in comparison to Diphtheria-Tetanus-whole-cell-Pertussis-Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (DTPH) vaccines (administered: 1994-1997) and following Thimerosal-containing Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular-Pertussis (DTaP), vaccines in comparison to Thimerosal-free DTaP vaccines (administered: 1997-2000), was undertaken.

RESULTS: Significantly increased adjusted (sex, age, vaccine type, vaccine manufacturer) risks of autism, speech disorders, mental retardation, personality disorders, thinking abnormalities, ataxia, and NDs in general, with minimal systematic error or confounding, were associated with TCV exposure.

CONCLUSION: It is clear from the results of the present epidemiological study and other recently published data associating mercury exposure with childhood NDs, additional ND research should be undertaken in the context of evaluating mercury-associated exposures, especially from Thimerosal-containing vaccines.

PMID: 16807526 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Acta Microbiol Immunol Hung. 2005;52(1):95-103.

Being on the track of thimerosal. Review.

Mádi A.

Signalling and Apoptosis Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary. madi@indi.biochem.dote.hu

Abstract

The common preservative thimerosal is one of the most important organic mercury compounds human populations are exposed to. It has toxic effect on several cell lines, and it also induces programmed cell death in in vitro experiments. Association is suggested between application of thimerosal-containing vaccines and the occurrence of neurodevelopmental disorders, like autism. While specific recommendations were made to eliminate thimerosal from vaccines, consistent evidence is still lacking for an association of exposure and disease. Unfortunately, it is very hard to study the molecular background of complex human diseases directly; however, investigations on more simple model organisms may lead to a better understanding of thimerosal as a possible disease inducing factor.

PMID: 15957237 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Med Sci Monit. 2005 Apr;11(4):CR160-70. Epub 2005 Mar 24.

A two-phased population epidemiological study of the safety of thimerosal-containing vaccines: a follow-up analysis.

Geier DA, Geier MR.

MedCon, Inc., USA.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Thimerosal is an ethylmercury-containing preservative in vaccines. Toxicokinetic studies have shown children received doses of mercury from thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs) that were in excess of safety guidelines. Previously, an ecological study showing a significant association between TCVs and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) in the US was published in this journal.

MATERIAL/METHODS: A two phased population-based epidemiological study was undertaken. Phase one evaluated reported NDs to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) following thimerosal-containing Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular-Pertussis (DTaP) vaccines in comparison to thimerosal-free DTaP vaccines administered from 1997 through 2001. Phase two evaluated the automated Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) for cumulative exposures to mercury from TCVs at 1-, 2-, 3-, and 6-months-of-age for infants born from 1992 through 1997 and the eventual risk of developing NDs.

RESULTS: Phase one showed significantly increased risks for autism, speech disorders, mental retardation, personality disorders, and thinking abnormalities reported to VAERS following thimerosal-containing DTaP vaccines in comparison to thimerosal-free DTaP vaccines. Phase two showed significant associations between cumulative exposures to thimerosal and the following types of NDs: unspecified developmental delay, tics, attention deficit disorder (ADD), language delay, speech delay, and neurodevelopmental delays in general.

CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that exposure to mercury from TCVs administered in the US was a consistent significant risk factor for the development of NDs. It is clear from these data and other recent publications linking TCVs with NDs that additional ND research should be undertaken in the context of evaluating mercury-associated exposures and thimerosal-free vaccines should be made available.

PMID: 15795695 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2005 Oct;26(5):439-46.

Mercury and autism: accelerating evidence?

Mutter J, Naumann J, Schneider R, Walach H, Haley B.

Institute for Environmental Medicine and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Freiburg, Germany. joachim.mutter@uniklinik-freiburg.de

Abstract

The causes of autism and neurodevelopmental disorders are unknown. Genetic and environmental risk factors seem to be involved. Because of an observed increase in autism in the last decades, which parallels cumulative mercury exposure, it was proposed that autism may be in part caused by mercury. We review the evidence for this proposal. Several epidemiological studies failed to find a correlation between mercury exposure through thimerosal, a preservative used in vaccines, and the risk of autism. Recently, it was found that autistic children had a higher mercury exposure during pregnancy due to maternal dental amalgam and thimerosal-containing immunoglobulin shots. It was hypothesized that children with autism have a decreased detoxification capacity due to genetic polymorphism. In vitro, mercury and thimerosal in levels found several days after vaccination inhibit methionine synthetase (MS) by 50%. Normal function of MS is crucial in biochemical steps necessary for brain development, attention and production of glutathione, an important antioxidative and detoxifying agent. Repetitive doses of thimerosal leads to neurobehavioral deteriorations in autoimmune susceptible mice, increased oxidative stress and decreased intracellular levels of glutathione in vitro. Subsequently, autistic children have significantly decreased level of reduced glutathione. Promising treatments of autism involve detoxification of mercury, and supplementation of deficient metabolites.

PMID: 16264412 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Environ Health Perspect. 2005 Aug;113(8):1015-21.

Comparison of blood and brain mercury levels in infant monkeys exposed to methylmercury or vaccines containing thimerosal.

Burbacher TM, Shen DD, Liberato N, Grant KS, Cernichiari E, Clarkson T.

Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA. tmb@u.washington.edu

Abstract

Thimerosal is a preservative that has been used in manufacturing vaccines since the 1930s. Reports have indicated that infants can receive ethylmercury (in the form of thimerosal) at or above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for methylmercury exposure, depending on the exact vaccinations, schedule, and size of the infant. In this study we compared the systemic disposition and brain distribution of total and inorganic mercury in infant monkeys after thimerosal exposure with those exposed to MeHg. Monkeys were exposed to MeHg (via oral gavage) or vaccines containing thimerosal (via intramuscular injection) at birth and 1, 2, and 3 weeks of age. Total blood Hg levels were determined 2, 4, and 7 days after each exposure. Total and inorganic brain Hg levels were assessed 2, 4, 7, or 28 days after the last exposure. The initial and terminal half-life of Hg in blood after thimerosal exposure was 2.1 and 8.6 days, respectively, which are significantly shorter than the elimination half-life of Hg after MeHg exposure at 21.5 days. Brain concentrations of total Hg were significantly lower by approximately 3-fold for the thimerosal-exposed monkeys when compared with the MeHg infants, whereas the average brain-to-blood concentration ratio was slightly higher for the thimerosal-exposed monkeys (3.5 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.5 +/- 0.3). A higher percentage of the total Hg in the brain was in the form of inorganic Hg for the thimerosal-exposed monkeys (34% vs. 7%). The results indicate that MeHg is not a suitable reference for risk assessment from exposure to thimerosal-derived Hg. Knowledge of the toxicokinetics and developmental toxicity of thimerosal is needed to afford a meaningful assessment of the developmental effects of thimerosal-containing vaccines.

PMID: 16079072 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]PMCID: PMC1280342Free PMC Article

______________________________________________________________________________

Neurotoxicology. 2005 Jun;26(3):407-16.

Mitochondrial mediated thimerosal-induced apoptosis in a human neuroblastoma cell line (SK-N-SH).

Humphrey ML, Cole MP, Pendergrass JC, Kiningham KK.

Department of Pharmacology, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25704-9388, USA.

Abstract

Environmental exposure to mercurials continues to be a public health issue due to their deleterious effects on immune, renal and neurological function. Recently the safety of thimerosal, an ethyl mercury-containing preservative used in vaccines, has been questioned due to exposure of infants during immunization. Mercurials have been reported to cause apoptosis in cultured neurons; however, the signaling pathways resulting in cell death have not been well characterized. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the mode of cell death in an in vitro model of thimerosal-induced neurotoxicity, and more specifically, to elucidate signaling pathways which might serve as pharmacological targets. Within 2 h of thimerosal exposure (5 microM) to the human neuroblastoma cell line, SK-N-SH, morphological changes, including membrane alterations and cell shrinkage, were observed. Cell viability, assessed by measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the medium, as well as the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, showed a time- and concentration-dependent decrease in cell survival upon thimerosal exposure. In cells treated for 24 h with thimerosal, fluorescence microscopy indicated cells undergoing both apoptosis and oncosis/necrosis. To identify the apoptotic pathway associated with thimerosal-mediated cell death, we first evaluated the mitochondrial cascade, as both inorganic and organic mercurials have been reported to accumulate in the organelle. Cytochrome c was shown to leak from the mitochondria, followed by caspase 9 cleavage within 8 h of treatment. In addition, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) was cleaved to form a 85 kDa fragment following maximal caspase 3 activation at 24 h. Taken together these findings suggest deleterious effects on the cytoarchitecture by thimerosal and initiation of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis.

PMID: 15869795 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Toxicol Sci. 2005 Jul;86(1):132-40. Epub 2005 Apr 20.

Effects of thimerosal on NGF signal transduction and cell death in neuroblastoma cells.

Parran DK, Barker A, Ehrich M.

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory for Neurotoxicity Studies, Virginia Tech, 1 Duckpond Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0442, USA.

Abstract

Signaling through neurotrophic receptors is necessary for differentiation and survival of the developing nervous system. The present study examined the effects of the organic mercury compound thimerosal on nerve growth factor signal transduction and cell death in a human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y cells). Following exposure to 100 ng/ml NGF and increasing concentrations of thimerosal (1 nM-10 microM), we measured the activation of TrkA, MAPK, and PKC-delta. In controls, the activation of TrkA MAPK and PKC-delta peaked after 5 min of exposure to NGF and then decreased but was still detectable at 60 min. Concurrent exposure to increasing concentrations of thimerosal and NGF for 5 min resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in TrkA and MAPK phosphorylation, which was evident at 50 nM for TrkA and 100 nM for MAPK. Cell viability was assessed by the LDH assay. Following 24-h exposure to increasing concentrations of thimerosal, the EC50 for cell death in the presence or absence of NGF was 596 nM and 38.7 nM, respectively. Following 48-h exposure to increasing concentrations of thimerosal, the EC50 for cell death in the presence and absence of NGF was 105 nM and 4.35 nM, respectively. This suggests that NGF provides protection against thimerosal cytotoxicity. To determine if apoptotic versus necrotic cell death was occurring, oligonucleosomal fragmented DNA was quantified by ELISA. Control levels of fragmented DNA were similar in both the presence and absence of NGF. With and without NGF, thimerosal caused elevated levels of fragmented DNA appearing at 0.01 microM (apoptosis) to decrease at concentrations >1 microM (necrosis). These data demonstrate that thimerosal could alter NGF-induced signaling in neurotrophin-treated cells at concentrations lower than those responsible for cell death.

PMID: 15843506 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free Article

______________________________________________________________________________

Toxicol In Vitro. 2005 Mar;19(2):191-8.

Flow-cytometric analysis on cytotoxic effect of thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines, on lymphocytes dissociated from rat thymic glands.

Ueha-Ishibashi T, Oyama Y, Nakao H, Umebayashi C, Hirama S, Sakai Y, Ishida S, Okano Y.

Laboratory of Cellular Signaling, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokushima, Minami-Jyosanjima 1-1, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan.

Abstract

There is a concern on the part of public health community that adverse health consequence by thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines for infants, may occur among infants during immunization schedule. Therefore, the cytotoxic action of thimerosal was examined on lymphocytes dissociated from thymic glands of young rats using a flow cytometer and respective fluorescent probes for monitoring changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and membrane potential, and for discriminating intact living cells, apoptotic living cells and dead cells. Incubation with thimerosal at 3 microM or more (up to 30 microM) for 60 min depolarized the membranes, associated with increasing the [Ca2+]i. Thimerosal at 30 microM induced an apoptotic change in membranes of almost all living cells. Furthermore, the prolonged incubation with 30 microM thimerosal induced a loss of membrane integrity, leading to cell death. Since the blood concentration of thimerosal after receiving vaccines is theoretically submicromolar, it may be unlikely that thimerosal affects lymphocytes of infants.

PMID: 15649632 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Neurotoxicology. 2005 Jan;26(1):1-8.

Thimerosal neurotoxicity is associated with glutathione depletion: protection with glutathione precursors.

James SJ, Slikker W 3rd, Melnyk S, New E, Pogribna M, Jernigan S.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA. jamesjill@uams.edu

Abstract

Thimerosol is an antiseptic containing 49.5% ethyl mercury that has been used for years as a preservative in many infant vaccines and in flu vaccines. Environmental methyl mercury has been shown to be highly neurotoxic, especially to the developing brain. Because mercury has a high affinity for thiol (sulfhydryl (-SH)) groups, the thiol-containing antioxidant, glutathione (GSH), provides the major intracellular defense against mercury-induced neurotoxicity. Cultured neuroblastoma cells were found to have lower levels of GSH and increased sensitivity to thimerosol toxicity compared to glioblastoma cells that have higher basal levels of intracellular GSH. Thimerosal-induced cytotoxicity was associated with depletion of intracellular GSH in both cell lines. Pretreatment with 100 microM glutathione ethyl ester or N-acetylcysteine (NAC), but not methionine, resulted in a significant increase in intracellular GSH in both cell types. Further, pretreatment of the cells with glutathione ethyl ester or NAC prevented cytotoxicity with exposure to 15 microM Thimerosal. Although Thimerosal has been recently removed from most children's vaccines, it is still present in flu vaccines given to pregnant women, the elderly, and to children in developing countries. The potential protective effect of GSH or NAC against mercury toxicity warrants further research as possible adjunct therapy to individuals still receiving Thimerosal-containing vaccinations.

PMID: 15527868 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Int J Mol Med. 2005 Dec;16(6):971-7.

Thimerosal induces neuronal cell apoptosis by causing cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor release from mitochondria.

Yel L, Brown LE, Su K, Gollapudi S, Gupta S.

Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA. lyel@uci.edu

Abstract

There is a worldwide increasing concern over the neurological risks of thimerosal (ethylmercury thiosalicylate) which is an organic mercury compound that is commonly used as an antimicrobial preservative. In this study, we show that thimerosal, at nanomolar concentrations, induces neuronal cell death through the mitochondrial pathway. Thimerosal, in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, decreased cell viability as assessed by calcein-ethidium staining and caused apoptosis detected by Hoechst 33258 dye. Thimerosal-induced apoptosis was associated with depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, generation of reactive oxygen species, and release of cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria to cytosol. Although thimerosal did not affect cellular expression of Bax at the protein level, we observed translocation of Bax from cytosol to mitochondria. Finally, caspase-9 and caspase-3 were activated in the absence of caspase-8 activation. Our data suggest that thimerosal causes apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells by changing the mitochondrial microenvironment.

PMID: 16273274 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2004 Jan 15;194(2):169-79.

Dose-response study of thimerosal-induced murine systemic autoimmunity.

Havarinasab S, Lambertsson L, Qvarnström J, Hultman P.

Molecular and Immunological Pathology (AIR), Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden.

Abstract

The organic compound ethylmercurithiosalicylate (thimerosal), which is primarily present in the tissues as ethylmercury, has caused illness and several deaths due to erroneous handling when used as a disinfectant or as a preservative in medical preparations. Lately, possible health effects of thimerosal in childhood vaccines have been much discussed. Thimerosal is a well-known sensitizing agent, although usually of no clinical relevance. In rare cases, thimerosal has caused systemic immune reactions including acrodynia. We have studied if thimerosal might induce the systemic autoimmune condition observed in genetically susceptible mice after exposure to inorganic mercury. A.SW mice were exposed to 1.25-40 mg thimerosal/l drinking water for 70 days. Antinucleolar antibodies, targeting the 34-kDa protein fibrillarin, developed in a dose-related pattern and first appeared after 10 days in the two highest dose groups. The lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) for antifibrillarin antibodies was 2.5 mg thimerosal/l, corresponding to an absorbed dose of 147 microg Hg/kg bw and a concentration of 21 and 1.9 microg Hg/g in the kidney and lymph nodes, respectively. The same LOAEL was found for tissue immune-complex deposits. The total serum concentration of IgE, IgG1, and IgG2a showed a significant dose-related increase in thimerosal-treated mice, with a LOAEL of 5 mg thimerosal/l for IgG1 and IgE, and 20 mg thimerosal/l for IgG2a. The polyclonal B-cell activation showed a significant dose-response relationship with a LOAEL of 10 mg thimerosal/l. Therefore, thimerosal induces in genetically susceptible mice a systemic autoimmune syndrome very similar to that seen after treatment with inorganic mercury, although a higher absorbed dose of Hg is needed using thimerosal. The autoimmune syndrome induced by thimerosal is different from the weaker and more restricted autoimmune reaction observed after treatment with an equipotent dose of methylmercury.

PMID: 14736497 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

What is the significance of these finding re: the doses of thimerosal infants and children have received?

______________________________________________________________________________

Mol Psychiatry. 2004 Sep;9(9):833-45.

Neurotoxic effects of postnatal thimerosal are mouse strain dependent.

Hornig M, Chian D, Lipkin WI.

Jerome L and Dawn Greene Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. mady.hornig@columbia.edu

Abstract

The developing brain is uniquely susceptible to the neurotoxic hazard posed by mercurials. Host differences in maturation, metabolism, nutrition, sex, and autoimmunity influence outcomes. How population-based variability affects the safety of the ethylmercury-containing vaccine preservative, thimerosal, is unknown. Reported increases in the prevalence of autism, a highly heritable neuropsychiatric condition, are intensifying public focus on environmental exposures such as thimerosal. Immune profiles and family history in autism are frequently consistent with autoimmunity. We hypothesized that autoimmune propensity influences outcomes in mice following thimerosal challenges that mimic routine childhood immunizations. Autoimmune disease-sensitive SJL/J mice showed growth delay; reduced locomotion; exaggerated response to novelty; and densely packed, hyperchromic hippocampal neurons with altered glutamate receptors and transporters. Strains resistant to autoimmunity, C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ, were not susceptible. These findings implicate genetic influences and provide a model for investigating thimerosal-related neurotoxicity.

PMID: 15184908 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Toxicology. 2004 Jan 15;195(1):77-84.

Effect of thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines, on intracellular Ca2+ concentration of rat cerebellar neurons.

Ueha-Ishibashi T, Oyama Y, Nakao H, Umebayashi C, Nishizaki Y, Tatsuishi T, Iwase K, Murao K, Seo H.

Laboratory of Cellular Signaling, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan.

Abstract

The effect of thimerosal, an organomercurial preservative in vaccines, on cerebellar neurons dissociated from 2-week-old rats was compared with those of methylmercury using a flow cytometer with appropriate fluorescent dyes. Thimerosal and methylmercury at concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 10 microM increased the intracellular concentration of Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in a concentration-dependent manner. The potency of 10 microM thimerosal to increase the [Ca2+]i was less than that of 10 microM methylmercury. Their effects on the [Ca2+]i were greatly attenuated, but not completely suppressed, under external Ca(2+)-free condition, suggesting a possibility that both agents increase membrane Ca2+ permeability and release Ca2+ from intracellular calcium stores. The effect of 10 microM thimerosal was not affected by simultaneous application of 30 microM L-cysteine whereas that of 10 microM methylmercury was significantly suppressed. The potency of thimerosal was similar to that of methylmercury in the presence of L-cysteine. Both agents at 1 microM or more similarly decreased the cellular content of glutathione in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting an increase in oxidative stress. Results indicate that thimerosal exerts some cytotoxic actions on cerebellar granule neurons dissociated from 2-week-old rats and its potency is almost similar to that of methylmercury.

PMID: 14698570 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Int J Toxicol. 2004 Nov-Dec;23(6):369-76.

Neurodevelopmental disorders following thimerosal-containing childhood immunizations: a follow-up analysis.

Geier D, Geier MR.

MedCon, Inc., Maryland, USA.

Abstract

The authors previously published the first epidemiological study from the United States associating thimerosal from childhood vaccines with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) based upon assessment of the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). A number of years have gone by since their previous analysis of the VAERS. The present study was undertaken to determine whether the previously observed effect between thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines and NDs are still apparent in the VAERS as children have had a chance to further mature and potentially be diagnosed with additional NDs. In the present study, a cohort of children receiving thimerosal-containing diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccines in comparison to a cohort of children receiving thimerosal-free DTaP vaccines administered from 1997 through 2000 based upon an assessment of adverse events reported to the VAERS were evaluated. It was determined that there were significantly increased odds ratios (ORs) for autism (OR = 1.8, p < .05), mental retardation (OR = 2.6, p < .002), speech disorder (OR = 2.1, p < .02), personality disorders (OR = 2.6, p < .01), and thinking abnormality (OR = 8.2, p < .01) adverse events reported to the VAERS following thimerosal-containing DTaP vaccines in comparison to thimerosal-free DTaP vaccines. Potential confounders and reporting biases were found to be minimal in this assessment of the VAERS. It was observed, even though the media has reported a potential association between autism and thimerosal exposure, that the other NDs analyzed in this assessment of the VAERS had significantly higher ORs than autism following thimerosal-containing DTaP vaccines in comparison to thimerosal-free DTaP vaccines. The present study provides additional epidemiological evidence supporting previous epidemiological, clinical and experimental evidence that administration of thimerosal-containing vaccines in the United States resulted in a significant number of children developing NDs.

PMID: 15764492 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Med Sci Monit. 2004 Mar;10(3):PI33-9. Epub 2004 Mar 1.

A comparative evaluation of the effects of MMR immunization and mercury doses from thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines on the population prevalence of autism.

Geier DA, Geier MR.

President, MedCon, Inc, Silver Spring, MD, USA.

Comment in:

• Med Sci Monit. 2005 Oct;11(10):LE13-4.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of MMR immunization and mercury from thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines on the prevalence of autism.

MATERIAL/METHODS: Evaluations of the Biological Surveillance Summaries of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Education datasets, and the CDC's yearly live birth estimates were undertaken

RESULTS: It was determined that there was a close correlation between mercury doses from thimerosal--containing childhood vaccines and the prevalence of autism from the late 1980s through the mid-1990s. In contrast, there was a potential correlation between the number of primary pediatric measles-containing vaccines administered and the prevalence of autism during the 1980s. In addition, it was found that there were statistically significant odds ratios for the development of autism following increasing doses of mercury from thimerosal-containing vaccines (birth cohorts: 1985 and 1990-1995) in comparison to a baseline measurement (birth cohort: 1984). The contribution of thimerosal from childhood vaccines (>50% effect) was greater than MMR vaccine on the prevalence of autism observed in this study.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study agree with a number of previously published studies. These studies have shown that there is biological plausibility and epidemiological evidence showing a direct relationship between increasing doses of mercury from thimerosal-containing vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders, and measles-containing vaccines and serious neurological disorders. It is recommended that thimerosal be removed from all vaccines, and additional research be undertaken to produce a MMR vaccine with an improved safety profile.

PMID: 14976450 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2003 Sep-Dec;16(3):189-99.

Infections, toxic chemicals and dietary peptides binding to lymphocyte receptors and tissue enzymes are major instigators of autoimmunity in autism.

Vojdani A, Pangborn JB, Vojdani E, Cooper EL.

Lab. Comparative Immunology, Dept. Neurobiology, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. DrAri@msn.com

Abstract

Similar to many complex autoimmune diseases, genetic and environmental factors including diet, infection and xenobiotics play a critical role in the development of autism. In this study, we postulated that infectious agent antigens such as streptokinase, dietary peptides (gliadin and casein) and ethyl mercury (xenobiotic) bind to different lymphocyte receptors and tissue enzyme (DPP IV or CD26). We assessed this hypothesis first by measuring IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against CD26, CD69, streptokinase (SK), gliadin and casein peptides and against ethyl mercury bound to human serum albumin in patients with autism. A significant percentage of children with autism developed anti-SK, anti-gliadin and casein peptides and anti-ethyl mercury antibodies, concomitant with the appearance of anti-CD26 and anti-CD69 autoantibodies. These antibodies are synthesized as a result of SK, gliadin, casein and ethyl mercury binding to CD26 and CD69, indicating that they are specific. Immune absorption demonstrated that only specific antigens, like CD26, were capable of significantly reducing serum anti-CD26 levels. However, for direct demonstration of SK, gliadin, casein and ethyl mercury to CD26 or CD69, microtiter wells were coated with CD26 or CD69 alone or in combination with SK, gliadin, casein or ethyl mercury and then reacted with enzyme labeled rabbit anti-CD26 or anti-CD69. Adding these molecules to CD26 or CD69 resulted in 28-86% inhibition of CD26 or CD69 binding to anti-CD26 or anti-CD69 antibodies. The highest % binding of these antigens or peptides to CD26 or CD69 was attributed to SK and the lowest to casein peptides. We, therefore, propose that bacterial antigens (SK), dietary peptides (gliadin, casein) and Thimerosal (ethyl mercury) in individuals with pre-disposing HLA molecules, bind to CD26 or CD69 and induce antibodies against these molecules. In conclusion, this study is apparently the first to demonstrate that dietary peptides, bacterial toxins and xenobiotics bind to lymphocyte receptors and/or tissue enzymes, resulting in autoimmune reaction in children with autism.

PMID: 14611720 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

________________________________________________________________________________________

Anal Chem. 2003 Aug 15;75(16):4120-4.

Determination of methylmercury, ethylmercury, and inorganic mercury in mouse tissues, following administration of thimerosal, by species-specific isotope dilution GC-inductively coupled plasma-MS.

Qvarnström J, Lambertsson L, Havarinasab S, Hultman P, Frech W.

Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. johanna.qvarnstrom@chem.umu.se

Abstract

Isotopically enriched HgO standards were used to synthesize CH3(200)Hg+ and C2H5(199)Hg+ using Grignard reagents. These species were employed for isotope dilution GC-ICPMS to study uptake and biotransformation of ethylmercury in mice treated with thimerosal, (sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate) 10 mg L(-1) in drinking water ad libitum for 1, 2.5, 6, or 14 days. Prior to analysis, samples were spiked with aqueous solutions of CH3(200)Hg+, C2H5(199)Hg+, and 201Hg2+ and then digested in 20% tetramethylammonium hydroxide and extracted at pH 9 with DDTC/toluene. Extracted mercury species were reacted with butylmagnesium chloride to form butylated derivatives. Absolute detection limits for CH3Hg+, C2H5Hg+, and Hg2+ were 0.4, 0.2, and 0.6 pg on the basis of 3sigma of five separate blanks. Up to 9% of the C2H5Hg+ was decomposed to Hg2+ during sample preparation, and it is therefore crucial to use a species-specific internal standard when determining ethylmercury. No demethylation, methylation, or ethylation during sample preparation was detected. The ethylmercury component of thimerosal was rapidly taken up in the organs of the mice (kidney, liver, and mesenterial lymph nodes), and concentrations of C2H5Hg+ as well as Hg2+ increased over the 14 days of thimerosal treatment. This shows that C2H5Hg+ in mice to a large degree is degraded to Hg2+. Increased concentrations of CH3Hg+ were also observed, which was found to be due to impurities in the thimerosal.

PMID: 14632125 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pediatr Rehabil. 2003 Apr-Jun;6(2):97-102.

An assessment of the impact of thimerosal on childhood neurodevelopmental disorders.

Geier DA, Geier MR.

The Genetic Centers of America, 14 Redgate Court, Silver Spring, MD 20905, USA.

Abstract

The prevalence of autism in the US has risen from 1 in approximately 2500 in the mid-1980s to 1 in approximately 300 children in the mid-1990s. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether mercury from thimerosal in childhood vaccines contributed to neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurodevelopmental disorder dose-response curves for increasing mercury doses of thimerosal in childhood vaccines were determined based upon examination of the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) database and the 2001 US' Department of Education Report. The instantaneous dosage of mercury children received in comparison to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s maximum permissible dose for the oral ingestion of methylmercury was also determined. The dose-response curves showed increases in odds ratios of neurodevelopmental disorders from both the VAERS and US Department of Education data closely linearly correlated with increasing doses of mercury from thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines and that for overall odds ratios statistical significance was achieved. Similar slopes and linear regression coefficients for autism odds ratios in VAERS and the US Department of Education data help to mutually validate each other. Controls employed in the VAERS and US Department of Education data showed minimal biases. The evidence presented here shows that the occurrence of neurodevelopmental disorders following thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines does not appear to be coincidental.

PMID: 14534046 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

________________________________________________________________________________________

Int J Toxicol. 2003 Jul-Aug;22(4):277-85.

Reduced levels of mercury in first baby haircuts of autistic children.

Holmes AS, Blaxill MF, Haley BE.

SafeMinds, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

Abstract

Reported rates of autism have increased sharply in the United States and the United Kingdom. One possible factor underlying these increases is increased exposure to mercury through thimerosal-containing vaccines, but vaccine exposures need to be evaluated in the context of cumulative exposures during gestation and early infancy. Differential rates of postnatal mercury elimination may explain why similar gestational and infant exposures produce variable neurological effects. First baby haircut samples were obtained from 94 children diagnosed with autism using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM IV) criteria and 45 age- and gender-matched controls. Information on diet, dental amalgam fillings, vaccine history, Rho D immunoglobulin administration, and autism symptom severity was collected through a maternal survey questionnaire and clinical observation. Hair mercury levels in the autistic group were 0.47 ppm versus 3.63 ppm in controls, a significant difference. The mothers in the autistic group had significantly higher levels of mercury exposure through Rho D immunoglobulin injections and amalgam fillings than control mothers. Within the autistic group, hair mercury levels varied significantly across mildly, moderately, and severely autistic children, with mean group levels of 0.79, 0.46, and 0.21 ppm, respectively. Hair mercury levels among controls were significantly correlated with the number of the mothers' amalgam fillings and their fish consumption as well as exposure to mercury through childhood vaccines, correlations that were absent in the autistic group. Hair excretion patterns among autistic infants were significantly reduced relative to control. These data cast doubt on the efficacy of traditional hair analysis as a measure of total mercury exposure in a subset of the population. In light of the biological plausibility of mercury's role in neurodevelopmental disorders, the present study provides further insight into one possible mechanism by which early mercury exposures could increase the risk of autism.

PMID: 12933322 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

________________________________________________________________________________________

Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2003 Jun;228(6):660-4.

Neurodevelopmental disorders after thimerosal-containing vaccines: a brief communication.

Geier MR, Geier DA.

The Genetic Centers of America, Silver Spring, Maryland 20905, USA. mgeier@erols.com

Comment in:

• Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2003 Oct;228(9):991-2; discussion 993-4.

Abstract

We were initially highly skeptical that differences in the concentrations of thimerosal in vaccines would have any effect on the incidence rate of neurodevelopmental disorders after childhood immunization. This study presents the first epidemiologic evidence, based upon tens of millions of doses of vaccine administered in the United States, that associates increasing thimerosal from vaccines with neurodevelopmental disorders. Specifically, an analysis of the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) database showed statistical increases in the incidence rate of autism (relative risk [RR] = 6.0), mental retardation (RR = 6.1), and speech disorders (RR = 2.2) after thimerosal-containing diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccines in comparison with thimerosal-free DTaP vaccines. The male/female ratio indicated that autism (17) and speech disorders (2.3) were reported more in males than females after thimerosal-containing DTaP vaccines, whereas mental retardation (1.2) was more evenly reported among male and female vaccine recipients. Controls were employed to determine if biases were present in the data, but none were found. It was determined that overall adverse reactions were reported in similar-aged populations after thimerosal-containing DTaP (2.4 +/- 3.2 years old) and thimerosal-free DTaP (2.1 +/- 2.8 years old) vaccinations. Acute control adverse reactions such as deaths (RR = 1.0), vasculitis (RR = 1.2), seizures (RR = 1.6), ED visits (RR = 1.4), total adverse reactions (RR = 1.4), and gastroenteritis (RR = 1.1) were reported similarly after thimerosal-containing and thimerosal-free DTaP vaccines. An association between neurodevelopmental disorders and thimerosal-containing DTaP vaccines was found, but additional studies should be conducted to confirm and extend this study.

PMID: 12773696 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free Article

______________________________________________________________________________

Mutat Res. 2003 Jun 6;537(2):151-68.

Characterization of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of different compounds in CHO K5 cells with the comet assay (single-cell gel electrophoresis assay).

Kiffe M, Christen P, Arni P.

Syngenta Crop Protection AG, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland. michael.kiffe@pharma.novartis.com

Abstract

Different variants of the comet assay were used to study the genotoxic and cytotoxic properties of the following eight compounds: chloral hydrate, colchicine, hydroquinone, DL-menthol, mitomycin C, sodium iodoacetate, thimerosal and valinomycin. Colchicine, mitomycin C, sodium iodoacetate and thimerosal induced genotoxic effects. The other compounds were found to be inactive. The compounds were tested in the standard comet assay as well as in the all cell comet assay (recovery of floating cells after treatment), designed in our laboratory for adherently-growing cells. This latter procedure proved to be more adequate for the assessment of the cytotoxicity for some of the compounds tested (hydroquinone, DL-menthol, thimerosal, valinomycin). Colchicine was positive in the standard comet assay (3h treatment) and in the all cell comet assay (24h treatment). Sodium iodoacetate and thimerosal were positive in the standard and/or the all cell comet assay. Chloral hydrate, hydroquinone, sodium iodoacetate, mitomycin C and thimerosal were also tested in the modified comet assay using lysed cells. Mitomycin C and thimerosal showed effects in this assay, whereas sodium iodoacetate was inactive. This indicates that it does not induce direct DNA damage. Compounds that are known or suspected to form DNA-DNA cross-links or DNA-protein cross-links (chloral hydrate, hydroquinone, mitomycin C and thimerosal) were checked for their ability to reduce ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-induced DNA damage. This mode of action could be demonstrated for mitomycin C only.

PMID: 12787820 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Toxicol Sci. 2003 Aug;74(2):361-8. Epub 2003 May 28.

Thimerosal induces DNA breaks, caspase-3 activation, membrane damage, and cell death in cultured human neurons and fibroblasts.

Baskin DS, Ngo H, Didenko VV.

Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, 6560 Fannin Suite 944, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. dbaskin@tmh.tmc.edu

Abstract

Thimerosal is an organic mercurial compound used as a preservative in biomedical preparations. Little is known about the reactions of human neuronal and skin cells to its micro- and nanomolar concentrations, which can occur after using thimerosal-containing products. A useful combination of fluorescent techniques for the assessment of thimerosal toxicity is introduced. Short-term thimerosal toxicity was investigated in cultured human cerebral cortical neurons and in normal human fibroblasts. Cells were incubated with 125-nM to 250-microM concentrations of thimerosal for 45 min to 24 h. A 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) dye exclusion test was used to identify nonviable cells and terminal transferase-based nick-end labeling (TUNEL) to label DNA damage. Detection of active caspase-3 was performed in live cell cultures using a cell-permeable fluorescent caspase inhibitor. The morphology of fluorescently labeled nuclei was analyzed. After 6 h of incubation, the thimerosal toxicity was observed at 2 microM based on the manual detection of the fluorescent attached cells and at a 1-microM level with the more sensitive GENios Plus Multi-Detection Microplate Reader with Enhanced Fluorescence. The lower limit did not change after 24 h of incubation. Cortical neurons demonstrated higher sensitivity to thimerosal compared to fibroblasts. The first sign of toxicity was an increase in membrane permeability to DAPI after 2 h of incubation with 250 microM thimerosal. A 6-h incubation resulted in failure to exclude DAPI, generation of DNA breaks, caspase-3 activation, and development of morphological signs of apoptosis. We demonstrate that thimerosal in micromolar concentrations rapidly induce membrane and DNA damage and initiate caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in human neurons and fibroblasts. We conclude that a proposed combination of fluorescent techniques can be useful in analyzing the toxicity of thimerosal.

PMID: 12773768 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]PMCID: PMC1892749Free PMC Article

______________________________________________________________________________

Arch Toxicol. 2003 Jan;77(1):50-5. Epub 2002 Nov 6.

Thimerosal induces micronuclei in the cytochalasin B block micronucleus test with human lymphocytes.

Westphal GA, Asgari S, Schulz TG, Bünger J, Müller M, Hallier E.

Department of Occupational Health, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Waldweg 37, 37073 Göttingen, Germany. gwestph@gwdg.de

Abstract

Thimerosal is a widely used preservative in health care products, especially in vaccines. Due to possible adverse health effects, investigations on its metabolism and toxicity are urgently needed. An in vivo study on chronic toxicity of thimerosal in rats was inconclusive and reports on genotoxic effects in various in vitro systems were contradictory. Therefore, we reinvestigated thimerosal in the cytochalasin B block micronucleus test. Glutathione S-transferases were proposed to be involved in the detoxification of thimerosal or its decomposition products. Since the outcome of genotoxicity studies can be dependent on the metabolic competence of the cells used, we were additionally interested whether polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases (GSTM1, GSTT1, or GSTP1) may influence the results of the micronucleus test with primary human lymphocytes. Blood samples of six healthy donors of different glutathione S-transferase genotypes were included in the study. At least two independent experiments were performed for each blood donor. Significant induction of micronuclei was seen at concentrations between 0.05-0.5 micro g/ml in 14 out of 16 experiments. Thus, genotoxic effects were seen even at concentrations which can occur at the injection site. Toxicity and toxicity-related elevation of micronuclei was seen at and above 0.6 micro g/ml thimerosal. Marked individual and intraindividual variations in the in vitro response to thimerosal among the different blood donors occurred. However, there was no association observed with any of the glutathione S-transferase polymorphism investigated. In conclusion, thimerosal is genotoxic in the cytochalasin B block micronucleus test with human lymphocytes. These data raise some concern on the widespread use of thimerosal.

PMID: 12491041 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
______________________________________________________________________________

T h e U C I U n d e r g r a d u a t e R e s e a r c h J o u r n a l (2003)

Thimerosal Induces Programmed Cell Death of Neuronal Cells via

Changes in the Mitochondrial Environment

Brown L

Abstract

Thimerosal, a preservative and anti-microbial agent used in vaccines, ophthalmic solutions, and cosmetics, is a mercury-containing compound that has raised public concern due to its potentially harmful effects. While past studies have implicated mercurial compounds in apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in human T-cells and cells of the central nervous system, no studies have examined the specific effect of thimerosal on neuronal cells, despite evidence that mercurial compounds readily cross the bloodbrain barrier. This study examines whether thimerosal induces apoptosis in neuronal cells, and, if so, via which mechanism. To this end, neuronal cells were incubated in the absence and presence of thimerosal at various concentrations for various exposure times and then examined for cell viability, specific morphological changes associated with apoptosis, and changes in the mitochondrial environment. Thimerosal decreased neuronal cell viability in time- and dose-dependent trials, with 90% viability at 2 hr, decreasing to 60% viability at 24 hr (1 μM); at 5 μM thimerosal, viability decreased below 20% at 24 and 48 hr. Thimerosal caused depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane and enhanced superoxide generation. At 5 μM thimerosal, cytochrome c was released from mitochondria to the cytosol in 30% of cells at 1 hr and 85% of cells at 3

hr. Apoptosis-Inducing Factor was released in 40% and 90% of cells at 30 min and 1 hr, respectively. The results suggest that thimerosal causes apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway and warrant continued efforts to find a replacement compound.

______________________________________________________________________________

Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2003 Oct;228(9):991-2; discussion 993-4.

Questions about thimerosal remain.

Mann JR.

University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina 29203, USA.joshua.mann@palmettohealth.org

From the article: “All these issues aside, the authors’ findings are interesting and potentially very important, as they do give some support to what the authors note is generally a skeptically-viewed theory about the possible connection between thimerosal-containing vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders. Perhaps future research can build on their work. In the meantime, it seems prudent for clinicians to use thimerosal-free vaccines when possible.^”

Comment on:

• Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2003 Jun;228(6):660-4.

PMID: 14530505 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free Article http://ebm.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/full/228/9/991

______________________________________________________________________________

Genes Immun. 2002 Aug;3(5):270-8.

Biochemical and molecular basis of thimerosal-induced apoptosis in T cells: a major role of mitochondrial pathway.

Makani S, Gollapudi S, Yel L, Chiplunkar S, Gupta S.

Cellular and Molecular Immunology Laboratories, Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA.

Abstract

The major source of thimerosal (ethyl mercury thiosalicylate) exposure is childhood vaccines. It is believed that the children are exposed to significant accumulative dosage of thimerosal during the first 2 years of life via immunization. Because of health-related concerns for exposure to mercury, we examined the effects of thimerosal on the biochemical and molecular steps of mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis in Jurkat T cells. Thimerosal and not thiosalcylic acid (non-mercury component of thimerosal), in a concentration-dependent manner, induced apoptosis in T cells as determined by TUNEL and propidium iodide assays, suggesting a role of mercury in T cell apoptosis. Apoptosis was associated with depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, release of cytochrome c and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) from the mitochondria, and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, but not of caspase-8. In addition, thimerosal in a concentration-dependent manner inhibited the expression of XIAP, cIAP-1 but did not influence cIAP-2 expression. Furthermore, thimerosal enhanced intracellular reactive oxygen species and reduced intracellular glutathione (GSH). Finally, exogenous glutathione protected T cells from thimerosal-induced apoptosis by upregulation of XIAP and cIAP1 and by inhibiting activation of both caspase-9 and caspase-3. These data suggest that thimerosal induces apoptosis in T cells via mitochondrial pathway by inducing oxidative stress and depletion of GSH.

PMID: 12140745 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free Article

________________________________________________________________________________________

Altern Med Rev. 2002 Aug;7(4):292-316.

Autism, an extreme challenge to integrative medicine. Part: 1: The knowledge base.

Kidd PM.

Abstract

Autism, archetype of the autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by socially aloof behavior and impairment of language and social interaction. Its prevalence has surged in recent years. Advanced functional brain imaging has confirmed pervasive neurologic involvement. Parent involvement in autism management has accelerated understanding and treatment. Often accompanied by epilepsy, cognitive deficits, or other neurologic impairment, autism manifests in the first three years of life and persists into adulthood. Its etiopathology is poorly defined but likely multifactorial with heritability playing a major role. Prenatal toxic exposures (teratogens) are consistent with autism spectrum symptomatology. Frequent vaccinations with live virus and toxic mercurial content (thimerosal) are a plausible etiologic factor. Autistic children frequently have abnormalities of sulfoxidation and sulfation that compromise liver detoxification, which may contribute to the high body burden of xenobiotics frequently found. Frequent copper-zinc imbalance implies metallothionein impairment that could compound the negative impact of sulfur metabolism impairments on detoxification and on intestinal lining integrity. Intestinal hyperpermeability manifests in autistic children as dysbiosis, food intolerances, and exorphin (opioid) intoxication, most frequently from casein and gluten. Immune system abnormalities encompass derangement of antibody production, skewing of T cell subsets, aberrant cytokine profiles, and other impairments consistent with chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. Coagulation abnormalities have been reported. Part 2 of this review will attempt to consolidate progress in integrative management of autism, aimed at improving independence and lifespan for people with the disorder.

PMID: 12197782 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free Article

_______________________________________________________________________—

Med Hypotheses. 2001 Apr;56(4):462-71.

Autism: a novel form of mercury poisoning.

Bernard S, Enayati A, Redwood L, Roger H, Binstock T.

ARC Research, Cranford, New Jersey 07901, USA.

Abstract

Autism is a syndrome characterized by impairments in social relatedness and communication, repetitive behaviors, abnormal movements, and sensory dysfunction. Recent epidemiological studies suggest that autism may affect 1 in 150 US children. Exposure to mercury can cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions similar to traits defining or associated with autism, and the similarities extend to neuroanatomy, neurotransmitters, and biochemistry. Thimerosal, a preservative added to many vaccines, has become a major source of mercury in children who, within their first two years, may have received a quantity of mercury that exceeds safety guidelines. A review of medical literature and US government data suggests that: (i) many cases of idiopathic autism are induced by early mercury exposure from thimerosal; (ii) this type of autism represents an unrecognized mercurial syndrome; and (iii) genetic and non-genetic factors establish a predisposition whereby thimerosal's adverse effects occur only in some children.

Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

PMID: 11339848 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________

Drugs. 2001;61(5):565-72.

Vaccines without thiomersal: why so necessary, why so long coming?

van't Veen AJ.

Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Erasmus University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Abstract

The inorganic mercurial thiomersal (merthiolate) has been used as an effective preservative in numerous medical and non-medical products since the early 1930s. Both the potential toxicity of thiomersal and sensitisation to thiomersal in relation to the application of thiomersal-containing vaccines and immunoglobulins, especially in children, have been debated in the literature. The very low thiomersal concentrations in pharmacological and biological products are relatively non-toxic, but probably not in utero and during the first 6 months of life. The developing brain of the fetus is most susceptible to thiomersal and, therefore, women of childbearing age, in particular, should not receive thiomersal-containing products. Definitive data of doses at which developmental effects occur are not available. Moreover, revelation of subtle effects of toxicity needs long term observation of children. The ethylmercury radical of the thiomersal molecule appears to be the prominent sensitiser. The prevalence of thiomersal hypersensitivity in mostly selected populations varies up to 18%, but higher figures have been reported. The overall exposure to thiomersal differs considerably between countries. In many cases a positive routine patch test to thiomersal should be considered an accidental finding without or, probably more accurately, with low clinical relevance. In practice, some preventive measures can be taken with respect to thiomersal hypersensitivity. However, with regard to the debate on primary sensitisation during childhood and renewed attention for a reduction of children's exposure to mercury from all sources, the use of thiomersal should preferably be eliminated or at least be reduced. In 1999 the manufacturers of vaccines and immunoglobulins in the US and Europe were approached with this in mind. The potential toxicity in children seems to be of much more concern to them than the hidden sensitising properties of thiomersal. In The Netherlands, unlike many other countries, the exposure to thiomersal from pharmaceutical sources has already been reduced. Replacement of thiomersal in all products should have a high priority in all countries.

PMID: 11368282 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Neurotoxicology. 2001 Oct;22(5):691-7.

Predicted mercury concentrations in hair from infant immunizations: cause for concern.

Redwood L, Bernard S, Brown D.

Coalition for Safe Minds, Cranford, NJ 07016, USA. tlredwood@mindspring.com

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is considered one of the worlds most toxic metals. Current thinking suggests that exposure to mercury occurs primarily from seafood contamination and rare catastrophic events. Recently, another common source of exposure has been identified. Thimerosal (TMS), a preservative found in many infant vaccines, contains 49.6% ethyl mercury (EtHg) by weight and typically contributes 25 microg of EtHg per dose of infant vaccine. As part of an ongoing review, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in 1999 that infants who received multiple TMS-preserved vaccines may have been exposed to cumulative Hg in excess of Federal safety guidelines. According to the centers for disease control (CDC) recommended immunization schedule, infants may have been exposed to 12.5 microg Hg at birth, 62.5 microg EtHg at 2 months, 50 microg EtHg at 4 months, 62.5 microg EtHg at 6 months, and 50 microg EtHg at approximately 18 months, for a total of 237.5 microg EtHg during the first 18 months of life, if all TMS-containing vaccines were administered. Neurobehavioral alterations, especially to the more susceptible fetus and infant, are known to occur after relatively low dose exposures to organic mercury compounds. In effort, to further elucidate the levels of ethyl mercury resulting from exposure to vaccinal TMS, we estimated hair Hg concentrations expected to result from the recommended CDC schedule utilizing a one compartment pharmacokinetic model. This model was developed to predict hair concentrations from acute exposure to methymercury (MeHg) in fish. Modeled hair Hg concentrations in infants exposed to vaccinal TMS are in excess of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety guidelines of 1 ppm for up to 365 days, with several peak concentrations within this period. More sensitive individuals and those with additional sources of exposure would have higher Hg concentrations. Given that exposure to low levels of mercury during critical stages of development has been associated with neurological disorders in children, including ADD, learning difficulties, and speech delays, the predicted hair Hg concentration resulting from childhood immunizations is cause for concern. Based on these findings, the impact which vaccinal mercury has had on the health of American children warrants further investigation.

PMID: 11770890 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 1994 Jul;104(3):296-301.

Thimerosal induces toxic reaction in non-sensitized animals.

Uchida T, Naito S, Kato H, Hatano I, Harashima A, Terada Y, Ohkawa T, Chino F, Eto K.

Department of Safety Research on Biologics, National Institute of Health, Tokyo, Japan.

Comment in:

• Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 1994 Dec;105(4):408.

Abstract

The effects of injection of thimerosal solution on nonsensitized animals was investigated. Intrafootpad injection of thimerosal solution in nonsensitized mice resulted in a swelling response which peaked 1 h after injection and lasted for more than 24 h. Histopathological examination showed that there were severe edema and infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils at the site of injection. An increased vascular permeability was observed after cutaneous injection of thimerosal solution on the back of nonsensitized rats. Since mercuric chloride and methyl mercury induced severer reactions, and thiosalicylic acid had no effect, mercury contained in thimerosal would have caused the reactions observed in this study. These results suggest that part of these hypersensitivity reactions against thimerosal observed among patients were possibly induced by the toxic effect of thimerosal. Therefore, thimerosal contained as a preservative in vaccine may augment the side-effects of the vaccination.

PMID: 7518269 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Mutat Res. 1993 May;287(1):57-70.

C-mitosis and numerical chromosome aberration analyses in human lymphocytes: 10 known or suspected spindle poisons.

Sbrana I, Di Sibio A, Lomi A, Scarcelli V.

Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente e del Territorio, Università di Pisa, Italy.

Abstract

As a part of a coordinated EEC project to validate suitable assays for chemically induced genomic mutations, numerical chromosomal aberrations and spindle effects were studied in human lymphocyte cultures exposed to cadmium chloride, chloral hydrate, colchicine, diazepam, econazole, hydroquinone, pyrimethamine, thiabendazole, thimerosal and vinblastine. Chromosome number analysis was carried out after treatment for 48 and 72 h; spindle effects, i.e., increases in the mitotic indices and c-mitoses, were analyzed in cultures treated 5 h before fixation. Dose-related numerical chromosomal aberrations are induced by colchicine and vinblastine, the only chemicals that also induce c-mitotic effects in a wide range of doses. Hyperdiploidy is induced by chloral hydrate, cadmium chloride and thimerosal without dose-effect relationship; chloral hydrate and thimerosal affect spindle functions while only a weak spindle effect is produced by cadmium chloride. Tetraploid and/or endoreduplicated cells are induced without dose-effect relationship by hydroquinone, thiabendazole and thimerosal, all of them able to produce c-mitotic effects. Diazepam and econazole induce only hypodiploidy; pyrimethamine does not induce numerical chromosomal aberrations.

PMID: 7683385 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

C-mitosis is abnormal mitosis.

______________________________________________________________________________

Mutat Res. 1993 May;287(1):47-56.

Induction of mitotic aneuploidy using Chinese hamster primary embryonic cells. Test results of 10 chemicals.

Natarajan AT, Duivenvoorden WC, Meijers M, Zwanenburg TS.

MGC Department of Radiation Genetics and Chemical Mutagenesis, State University of Leiden, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Using primary Chinese hamster embryonic cells, 10 known or suspected aneugens supplied as a part of the EC 4th Environmental Research and Development Programme were evaluated by the technique described by Dulout and Natarajan (1987). The chemicals included cadmium chloride, chloral hydrate, colchicine, diazepam, econazole, hydroquinone, pyrimethamine, thiabendazole, thimerosal and vincristine. All chemicals except pyrimethamine gave clearly positive effect at most of the doses tested. The ease with which the assay is performed and reproducible results that are obtained with the suspected compounds indicate that this in vitro test using primary embryonic fibroblasts is a promising one for routine screening.

PMID: 7683384 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Dermatol Clin. 1990 Jan;8(1):161-4.

Reactions to thimerosal in hepatitis B vaccines.

Rietschel RL, Adams RM.

Department of Dermatology, Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Abstract

Hypersensitivity to thimerosal in vaccines has been reported to induce persistent local reactions, urticarial and generalized exanthematic eruptions, and, in the case of the hepatitis B vaccine, urticaria with asthma. The authors describe two cases of extensive reactions, one in a patient who did not form antibodies to the principal vaccine antigen. Although not all thimerosal-sensitive patients develop adverse reactions to vaccines containing this material, there is a potential risk, and the reactions can be very long lasting.

PMID: 2137393 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

________________________________________________________________________________________

Ann Dermatol Venereol. 1988;115(8):793-6.

[Multicenter survey related to the frequency of positive patch tests with mercury and thiomersal].

[Article in French]

Lachapelle JM, Chabeau G, Ducombs G, Lacroix M, Martin P, Reuter G, Marot L.

Unité de Dermatologie Professionnelle et de l'Environnement, Université Catholique de Louvain, Bruxelles, Belgium.

Abstract

A multicentric study concerning the frequency of positive allergic patch test reactions to mercury and to thiomersal has been conducted in France and in Belgium among 2,000 adult patients submitted to routine patch testing. 73 (3.6 p. 100) patients had a positive patch test to mercury and 47 (2.3 p. 100) to thiomersal, 22 (1.1 p. 100) reacted positively to both mercurials. These high figures are most probably in relation with a broad use of mercurials in both countries, as antiseptics as well as preservative agents in topical drugs. They lead to a careful use of mercurials, which have to be avoided when they can be advantageously replaced by other antiseptics or preservative agents. As far as cosmetics are concerned, the use of mercurials (chemical nature and concentration) is restricted by a Recommendation of the European Council.

PMID: 2974266 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________

Am J Optom Physiol Opt. 1988 Nov;65(11):867-73.

Toxic effects of ophthalmic preservatives on cultured rabbit corneal epithelium.

Simmons PA, Clough SR, Teagle RH, Jaanus SD.

Department of Basic and Visual Sciences, Southern California College of Optometry, Fullerton.

Abstract

We investigated the effects of the ophthalmic preservatives thimerosal and sorbic acid on the proliferation and survival of rabbit corneal epithelial cells in tissue culture. Normally, explants of corneal epithelium grow vigorously during the first 7 days in culture. With 0.004% thimerosal present in the culture medium, the normal proliferation of corneal cells is suppressed completely. When 0.1% sorbic acid is present, proliferation is delayed and the lifespan of the corneal cells is reduced. After a 1-h exposure to concentrations of thimerosal of 0.0005% or greater, virtually all corneal cells present in established cultures are killed. These results suggest that use of ophthalmic preparations containing these chemicals may affect the metabolic and proliferative capacity of the corneal epithelium adversely.

PMID: 3252733 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

But okay to inject?

___________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Dermatitis. 1988 Apr;18(4):229-33.

Thiomersal allergy and vaccination reactions.

Cox NH, Forsyth A.

Department of Dermatology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.

Abstract

Thiomersal is the preservative in all toxoid vaccines routinely administered to children in the UK, but exposure from other sources is uncommon. Delayed hypersensitivity to thiomersal was demonstrated in 1% of individuals attending the Contact Dermatitis Investigation Unit, and 50 of these patients with positive patch tests to thiomersal were studied. Cross-reaction with other mercurials occurred in 17 of 29 patients tested (59%). 31 of the patients replied to a questionnaire regarding vaccination reactions, and were compared with case-controls matched for age, sex, and site of dermatitis. 4 patients in each group reported reactions to vaccines which contained thiomersal, suggesting that thiomersal hypersensitivity was not associated with an increased risk of vaccination reactions. However, individual cases of severe reactions to thiomersal demonstrate a need for vaccines with an alternative preservative.

PMID: 3378430 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

________________________________________________________________________________________

Presse Med. 1988 Apr 30;17(16):795-6.

[Allergy to mercurothiolate in an infant during heparinization of an intracaval catheter].

[Article in French]

Chastagner P, Morali A, Trechot JP, May I, Vidailhet M.

Service de Médecine infantile 3, CHRU de Brabois, Vandoevre.

Abstract

A 4-month old infant developed an immediate and proven systemic allergic reaction to mercurothiolate. The acute accident occurred while an intracaval catheter was being treated with a dry-frozen heparin which excipient contains mercurothiolate. This conservative agent is present in numerous pharmaceutical preparations for topical and systemic use.

PMID: 2968567 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Dermatitis. 1988 May;18(5):268-73.

Thimerosal: a hidden allergen in ophthalmology.

Tosti A, Tosti G.

Department of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Italy.

Abstract

We report 36 patients with thimerosal-induced follicular allergic contact conjunctivitis. 18 patients had follicular conjunctivitis without eyelid involvement, while 5 patients had follicular conjunctivitis associated with an allergic contact dermatitis of the eyelids; all these patients had been using thimerosal-containing eye drops. A further 13 patients were soft contact lens wearers who became sensitized to their own thimerosal-containing lens solutions. All 36 patients showed a positive patch test reaction to thimerosal, while only 1 of them reacted to an ophthalmic solution. Thimerosal sensitization appears to be clinically relevant in ophthalmic patients.

PMID: 3416589 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Arch Toxicol. 1985 Sep;57(4):260-7.

The comparative toxicology of ethyl- and methylmercury.

Magos L, Brown AW, Sparrow S, Bailey E, Snowden RT, Skipp WR.

Abstract

Neurotoxicity and renotoxicity were compared in rats given by gastric gavage five daily doses of 8.0 mg Hg/kg methyl- or ethylmercuric chloride or 9.6 mg Hg/kg ethylmercuric chloride. Three or 10 days after the last treatment day rats treated with either 8.0 or 9.6 mg Hg/kg ethylmercury had higher total or organic mercury concentrations in blood and lower concentrations in kidneys and brain than methylmercury-treated rats. In each of these tissues the inorganic mercury concentration was higher after ethyl- than after methylmercury. Weight loss relative to the expected body weight and renal damage was higher in ethylmercury-treated rats than in rats given equimolar doses of methylmercury. These effects became more severe when the dose of ethylmercury was increased by 20%. Thus in renotoxicity the renal concentration of inorganic mercury seems to be more important than the concentration of organic or total mercury. In methylmercury-treated rats damage and inorganic mercury deposits were restricted to the P2 region of the proximal tubules, while in ethylmercury-treated rats the distribution of mercury and damage was more widespread. There was little difference in the neurotoxicities of methylmercury and ethylmercury when effects on the dorsal root ganglia or coordination disorders were compared. Based on both criteria, an equimolar dose of ethylmercury was less neurotoxic than methylmercury, but a 20% increase in the dose of ethylmercury was enough to raise the sum of coordination disorder scores slightly and ganglion damage significantly above those in methylmercury-treated rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID: 4091651 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

___________________________________________________________________________________

Hautarzt. 1984 Apr;35(4):192-6.

[Reactions to vaccinations against tetanus and tick-borne encephalitis caused by merthiolate (thiomersal)].

[Article in German]

Lindemayr H, Drobil M, Ebner H.

Abstract

Thirty patients with suspected adverse reactions to tetanus- or tick-borne encephalitis-vaccines were subjected to allergy tests. In 8 of 30 patients epicutaneous and/or intracutaneous tests with merthiolate were positive. Testing anorganic mercury, formaldehyde, aluminium hydroxide, gentamycin and egg white (i.c. and RAST), no positive reactions were found. After vaccination - prior to testing - merthiolate - positive patients had suffered from local inflammatory reactions at the injection site, fever and lymphadenopathy (four patients), urticarial (three patients) or lichenoid exanthemas (one patient). Reviewing the literature it is suggested that alternatively merthiolate-free vaccines be provided for sensitized individuals.

PMID: 6724907 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

________________________________________________________________________________________

Am J Optom Physiol Opt. 1983 Sep;60(9):759-61.

Reactions induced by the concurrent use of thimerosal and tetracycline.

Crook TG, Freeman JJ.

Abstract

We examined the reaction to thimerosal which occurred when patients were prescribed tetracyclines simultaneously. Nine patients were identified who had been using a 0.004% thimerosal-containing contact lens solution for over 6 months. All had developed varying degrees of ocular reaction (red eye, irritation, blepharitis) apparently as a result of taking tetracyclines concurrently. The reaction disappeared upon discontinuance of either the thimerosal or the tetracyclines. The hypothesis that the reaction was due to an interaction between thimerosal and tetracyclines was confirmed in rabbits.

PMID: 6681469 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________________

Transfusion. 1982 May-Jun;22(3):241-3.

Thimerosal dependent agglutination, a newly described blood bank problem.

Shulman IA, Hasz LA, Simpson RB.

Abstract

A number of ABO grouping, Rh typing, antibody screening, and antibody identification problems are associated with chemicals in blood bank reagents. We describe a newly discovered agglutination phenomenon due to a thimerosal (Merthiolate)-dependent agglutinin found in the serum of a normal blood donor. Thimerosal is used as a preservative in several low-ionic strength reagents. This agglutination phenomenon is detected only in test systems (low-ionic-strength, albumin, saline, ficin treated test cells) in which test cells are incubated in the presence of thimerosal. Agglutination does not occur in the absence of thimerosal. The thimerosal-dependent agglutinin behaves like an IgG IgG autoantibody. There is no evidence that the thimerosal-dependent agglutinin is responsible for increased red cell destruction.

PMID: 7090037 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Dermatitis. 1980 Jun;6(4):241-5.

Merthiolate hypersensitivity and vaccination.

Förström L, Hannuksela M, Kousa M, Lehmuskallio E.

Abstract

Epicutaneous tests with 0.1% merthiolate in petrolatum showed hypersensitivity in 96 of 4647 eczema patients (2.0%) and in seven of 105 healthy recruits (7%). There was a marked preponderance of young age classes in the eczema group. Twelve of 41 merthiolate-positive patients tested reacted to mercury alone, three to thiosalicylic acid alone and one to both. The remaining 25 patients reacted to neither of the individual components although the merthiolate complex as a whole gave a positive test result. Forty-five of the merthiolate-positive patients were tested subcutaneously with 0.5 ml of a 0.01% merthiolate solution, i.e. a dose equal to that contained in one shot of tetanus toxoid, for example. Nine patients developed a local reaction at the site of the injection, and the area became eczematous in four cases. In one of the patients the eczema spread over the body, causing fever. Since merthiolate-sensitive patients also react to merthiolate administered intracutaneously, the vaccinator should avoid the use of a needle whose outer surface has been contaminated when the vaccine was aspirated from the bottle. However, even when this precautionary measure is taken, local reactions can be expected in such a high percentage of merthiolate-sensitive persons that merthiolate in vaccines should be replaced by another antibacterial agent.

PMID: 6447032 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

______________________________________________________________________________________

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1980 Feb;43(2):143-9.

Accidental ethyl mercury poisoning with nervous system, skeletal muscle, and myocardium injury.

Cinca I, Dumitrescu I, Onaca P, Serbänescu A, Nestorescu B.

Abstract

Four case reports are presented of patients who ate the meat of a hog inadvertently fed seed treated with fungicides containing ethyl mercury chloride. The clinical, electrophysiological, and toxicological, and in two of the patients the pathological data, showed that this organic mercury compound has a very high toxicity not only for the brain, but also for the spinal motoneurones, peripheral nerves, skeletal muscles, and myocardium.

PMID: 7359151 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]PMCID: PMC490489Free PMC Article

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Toxicology. 1979 Mar-Apr;12(3):325-33.

Problems associated with the use of merthiolate as a preservative in anti-lymphocytic globulin.

Heyworth MF, Truelove SC.

Abstract

The cytotoxic properties of 2 anti-lymphocytic globulin (ALG) preparations were investigated in vitro by measuring the release of 51Cr from labelled human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, tonsil lymphocytes and Chang cells, incubated with different concentrations of ALG. One of the ALG preparations showed non-selective cytotoxicity in the absence of complement. Evidence was obtained to suggest that this effect was due to merthiolate (sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate) which had been added to the ALG as a preservative during manufacture. The mercury concentration in the ALG was found to be greater than that stated by the manufacturers. It is conceivable that the clinical use of such as ALG preparation might lead to mercury accumulation in the tissues, with resulting toxic effects. The whole question of the use of merthiolate in the preparation of sera for administration to human subjects needs to be reconsidered.

PMID: 494313 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

But okay to inject?

________________________________________________________________________________________

Arch Dis Child. 1977 Dec;52(12):962-4.

Organ mercury levels in infants with omphaloceles treated with organic mercurial antiseptic.

Fagan DG, Pritchard JS, Clarkson TW, Greenwood MR.

Abstract

Samples of fresh and fixed tissues from infants with exomphalos treated by thiomersal application were analysed for mercury content. The results showed that thiomersal can induce blood and organ levels of organic mercury which are well in excess of the minimum toxic level in adults and fetuses. The analysis of fresh and fixed tissues must be carefully controlled against normal tissues in order to interpret mercury levels accurately.

PMID: 606172 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]PMCID: PMC1545035Free PMC Article

This appears to mean that even topical application can result in toxic internal levels.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1977 Apr;16(4):273-80.

Effect of the ophthalmic preservative thimerosal on rabbit and human corneal endothelium.

Van Horn DL, Edelhauser HF, Prodanovich G, Eiferman R, Pederson HF.

Abstract

Widespread use of the mercurial-containing preservative thimerosal as an antibacterial agent in ophthalmic drugs and solutions warranted an investigation into its possible cytotoxic effects on the functional and ultrastructural integrity of the corneal endothelium. No changes in corneal thickness were observed during 5 hours' perfusion of the endothelium of rabbit and human corneas with 0.0001 and 0.0005 percent thimerosal in glutathione bicarbonate Ringer's solution (GBR). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the endothelium of the 0.0001 percent group revealed normal ultrastructure. SEM and TEM of the endothelium of corneas perfused with 0.0005 percent thimerosal for 5 hours revealed condensed mitochondria, cytoplasmic vacuoles, and cytoplasmic flaps at the apical end of the cellular junctions. Perfusion of higher concentrations (0.001 and 0.005 perecnt) of thimerosal in GBR resulted in increases in corneal thickness after 2 hours and irreversible ultrastructural damage to the endothelial cells by 5 hours. Corneas perfused with 0.01 and 0.1 percent thimerosal in GBR showed a rapid and immediate increase in corneal thickness and endothelial cell death and necrosis within 1 hour. It is postulated that the mercury in thimerosal becomes bound to the cell membrane protein sulfhydryl groups, causing an increase in cellular permeability; These results suggest that the prolonged exposure of the corneal endothelium to thimerosal in the accepted antimicrobial dosage of 0.005 to 0.001 percent may result in functional and structural damage to the endothelium.

PMID: 844986 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]Free Article

________________________________________________________________________________________

Poult Sci. 1976 Sep;55(5):1913-7.

Preliminary study of the effects of feeding ethyl mercury chloride on four breeds of chickens.

Al-Soudi KA, Al Fayadh HA, Al-Khazrje AK, Mehdi AW, Al-Jiboori A, Al Muraib S.

Abstract

Different breeds of chickens namely Single Comb White Leghorn (S.C.W.L.), New Hamsphire (N.H.), Iraqi (IRQ) and a cross (CRS.) S.C.W.L. X N.H. X IRQ. were housed in small pens (20 females and 2 males each) and given, in the diet, 40% wheat treatmed with ethyl mercury chloride, for 88 days. Throughout the whole experiment all birds remained active and showed no symptoms of toxicity. The Iraqi breed was significantly higher than the other breeds with respect to egg production. The results also indicated that mercury in egg white is almost three times as much as that in the yolk, although there was no significant difference between the breeds. The liver and kidney of the four breeds tended to accumulate the highest amount of mercury. Significant differences appeared between sexes according to liver and kidney. White Leghorn and local breeds behaved the same, but N.H. had the highest concentration of mercury in most tissues.

PMID: 792857 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

________________________________________________________________________________________

Poult Sci. 1976 Mar;55(2):772-9.

Effects of feeding ethyl mercury chloride to chickens.

Al-Fayadh H, Mehdi AW, Al-Soudi K, Al-Khazraji AK, Al-Jiboori NA, Al-Muraib S.

Abstract

Four groups, 0, 5, 10 and 20%, of Single Comb White Leghorn chickens (30 males plus 30 females each) were fed a diet which contained either 0, 5, 10 or 20% ethyl mercury chloride dressed wheat for a period of 88 days. The wheat was dressed with the organic mercury compound at the rate of 500 gm. ethyl mercury chloride per metric ton of wheat. Therfore, the diets contained respectively 0, 25, 50 and 100 mg. organic mercury compound/kg. With average daily feed consumption of 101, 102, 101 and 98 gm. by the individual birds of the respective groups, the birds did not show any symptoms of disease during the course of the study. Egg production, egg quality and mortality of the treatment groups were comparable with those of the control group. The amount of residual mercury in egg white and yolk was determined at intervals. The residual mercury of egg white of the treatment groups was about three times as much as that of egg yolk, and made its significant appearance in the 20% group on the third day of the trial. The concentration was increasing with time in both white and yolk and was parallel to the concentration of the organic mercury in the diet. The liver followed by the kidney of both sexes accumulated the highest amounts of mercury. Tissues of female birds accumulated less mercury than tissues of male birds did probably due to the passage of some of the ingested mercury with the egg white and yolk. The results were discussed on the basis that the kind of mercury compound, daily intake and duration of treatment play major roles in the determination of induced effects.

PMID: 778821 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Toxicology. 1975;3(2):171-6.

Tissue concentrations of mercury after chronic dosing of squirrel monkeys with thiomersal.

Blair AMJN, Clark B, Clarke AJ, Wood P.

Abstract

Squirrel monkeys were dosed intranasally with saline or thiomersal (sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate, 0.002 percent w/v) daily for six months. The total amounts of thiomersal given during the six months period were 418 mug (low dose group) and 2280 mug (high dose group). This was equivalent to 207 and 1125 mug mercury. The dose differential was achieved by more frequent administration to the high dose group. Mercury concentrations were significantly raised over control values in brain (high dose group only), liver, muscle and kidney, but not in blood.Concentrations were highest in the kidney, moderate in liver and lowest in brain and muscle. Much of the mercury was present in the inorganic form (37-91 percent). No evidence of toxicity due to thiomersal was seen in any animal. Nevertheless accumulation of mercury from chronic use of thiomersal-preserved medicines is viewed as a potential health hazard for man.

PMID: 804725 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Arch Ophthalmol. 1975 Jan;93(1):52-55.

Teratogenicities of ophthalmic drugs. II. Teratogenicities and tissue accumulation of thimerosal.

Gasset AR, Itoi M, Ishii Y, Ramer RM.

Abstract

Under the conditions of this study, systemically or topically applied thimerosal was found to have no teratogenic effect even when given in concentrations approaching the 50% lethal dose of these compounds. A comparison of topical and subcutaneous administration of thimerosal to rabbits shows that a substantial concentration of mercury was present in blood and tissues of the treated animals and their offspring. Thimerosal was found to cross the blood-brain and placenta barriers.

PMID: 1111489 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Topical as well as subcutaneous…

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Dermatitis. 1975 Aug;1(4):221-2.

Acute laryngeal obstruction presumed secondary to thiomersal (merthiolate) delayed hypersensitivity.

Maibach H.

Abstract

A patient treated his slight score-throat with a thiomersal first aid spray. The next day, because of continued discomfort, he repeated its use. Laryngeal obstruction followed within hours. Emergency tracheostomy produced prompt improvement. Patch testing revealed an extreme spreading reaction to thiomersal. It is our interpretation that the acute laryngeal obstruction was delayed hypersensitivity to this first aid spray.

PMID: 1235252 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

___________________________________________________________________________________—

Science. 1972 Jan 21;175(19):328-31.

Ethyl mercury p-toluene sulfonanilide: lethal and reproductive effects on pheasants.

Spann JW, Heath RG, Kreitzer JF, Locke LN.

Abstract

Ethyl mercury p-toluene sulfonanilide (active ingredient of Ceresan M) at a dietary concentration of 30 parts per million (12.5 parts of mercury per million) was lethal to adult ring-necked pheasants. Egg production and survival of third-week embryos were sharply reduced when breeders were maintained on feed containing 10 parts of this compound per million (4.2 parts of mercury per million).

PMID: 5008162 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

__________________________________________________________

Aneugen

Genetics. Any agent that affects cell division and the mitotic spindle apparatus resulting in the loss or gain of whole chromosomes, thereby inducing an aneuploidy.

Aneuploidie

Genetics. A genetically unbalanced condition in which a cell or an organism has a number of chromosomes that is not an exact multiple of the haploid number for that species. E.g., trisomy 21 is a form of aneuploidy.

About 4 million children are born in the US every year. For over a decade (~1990 to 2000), US regulatory health agencies (e.g., FDA) allowed approximately 40+ million newborns to be injected with 12.5 mcg of ethylmercury on their date of birth from administration of the thimerosal ­containing HepB vaccine (regardless of their birth weight). These same infants were then injected with between 50 to 62.5 mcg of ethylmercury on a single day at their 2, 4, and 6 month "well visits" from thimerosal­ containing pediatric vaccines (TCVs). Then, these infants were -again- injected with 50 mcg of ethylmercury at 15 to 18 months from administration of pediatric TCVs. This is a total exposure of 237.5 mcg of ethylmercury via IM or SQ injection for a child who at best weighs 10 kg.

While vaccination is generally well tolerated by the vast majority of children, these may have been relevant bolus doses of ethyl mercury for tens or hundreds of thousands of those infants (due to a decreased ability to detoxify heavy metals for genetic or other reasons). Hence the concern of the medical scientists and autism experts at the University of California MIND Institute. Hence, their clear and unequivocal consensus statement:

"The University of California MIND Institute supports the removal of thimerosal from all vaccines, and encourages parents to specifically request that the vaccines given to their children be thimerosal free."

Yet, today, thimerosal is STILL being added as a preservative in the majority of the flu vaccine supply. Since 1996, the flu shot has been officially recommended by the CDC for administration into pregnant women and 6+ month old infants. Since the vast majority of the flu vaccine supply in those years contained thimerosal, one has to ask how many infants and how many fetuses (via maternal influenza vaccines) have been exposed to ethylmercury -a known neurodevelopmental toxicant- over the last 5 years? 2 million? 4 million? More?

the above post contains no facts, and is therefore, worthless

It contains amounts of mercury that would be considered toxic if the mercury was in it's elemental form, which it is not. Elemental mercury (mercury that is not part of a larger compound) stays in the body for an extremely long time, which is both why it causes damage and why even small amounts can add up to harm. The mercury in thimerosal however, is part of a larger compound that the body can't break down and it is passed almost immediately out of the body.

This is such a basic failure of chemistry knowledge. Would you refuse to eat salt because it's made of a poisonous gas and a highly reactive metal? Do you understand how CO2 is something your body produces and expels with every breath but CO can kill you in minutes?

How do you measure mercury in the brain? How much is being stored in the brain? The answer is you don't know. It would take an autopsy. Blood levels do not reflect how much mercury is in the nervous tissue.

"trying to sort out whether thimerosal causes any harm to kids, and the bottom line is basically, it doesn't look as if it does"

Hardly a definitive statement.

They simply have not proven it's unsafe, doesn't mean it's safe.

"It doesn't look like" doesn't hold must weight in scientific literature.

How do you measure mercury in the brain?

brain biopsy for sure. LP probably would work too...

? How much is being stored in the brain?

see above. But I have a better question for you--how do you measure the clinical effect? thats much, much easier

Even if you showed mercury accumulated in the CNS, if it doesn't have a clinical effect, your argument is moot

“All forms of mercury are quite toxic, and each form exhibits different health effects.”

-US EPA

“The nervous system is very sensitive to all forms of mercury.”

-US CDC ATSDR

“Mercury in all of its forms is toxic to the fetus and children, and efforts should be made to reduce exposure to the extent possible to pregnant women and children as well as the general population.”

-American Academy of Pediatrics

The ethyl mercury releasing compound Thimerosal (sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate or C₉H₉HgNaO₂S), developed by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly in 1927, is 49.6% ethylmercury by weight. Ethyl mercury is a mercury-containing organic compound (organomercurial). Like all organomercurials, ethylmercury is a potent and dangerous neurodevelopmental toxicant; and one where the “safe” exposure to the developing CNS of the fetus and infant is unknown.

Methylmercury and ethylmercury are both mercury-containing organic compounds (organomercurials). Like all organomercurials, both methylmercury and ethylmercury are extremely hazardous neurodevelopmental toxicants.

Parents should be concerned about prenatal and postnatal exposure to both methylmercury (tuna, swordfish) and ethylmercury (much of the flu vaccine supply TODAY), and to -all- neurodevelopmental toxicants (mercury, lead, cadmium, PBDEs, etc).

“Lead and mercury are both highly toxic to the developing brain and nervous system. Excessive exposure can begin in the intrauterine period, leading to adverse effects at birth. Prenatal exposure is more common with mercury.”

“Mercury is a neurotoxic agent that is particularly harmful to the developing nervous system.”

“Mercury exists in several forms. First is the volatile elemental form, which is liquid at room temperature [thermometers]. A second form is inorganic compounds, such as mercury salts. Third is organic compounds, such as methyl mercury, ethyl mercury, and phenyl mercuric acetate. The organic forms of mercury are the most hazardous to humans because they are the most readily absorbed by the body and have the greatest uptake into the central nervous system.”

-James Roberts, MD, MPH

"The University of California at Davis MIND Institute (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) is a collaborative international research center, committed to the awareness, understanding, prevention, care and cure of neurodevelopmental disorders. With a staff of over 250, multiple interdisciplinary teams are discovering new ways to prevent, diagnose, treat and eventually cure neurodevelopmental disorders. …. The Institute is a partnership of acknowledged experts in neuroscience, education, immunology, genetics, molecular biology, psychology and developmental pediatrics. … The Institute is staffed by a world-class team of both clinical providers and medical research scientists.”

Google: UC Davis MIND Institute "about us" and "vaccine position."

University of California MIND Institute consensus statement:

1) “There is no doubt that mercury, in a variety of forms, is neurotoxic.”

2) “The level of mercury that is “safe” to the developing nervous system has not been determined.”

3) Indeed, that it is undetermined “what -if any- level of mercury exposure is safe to the developing infant.”

4) “The MIND Institute supports the removal of thimerosal from all vaccines, and encourages parents to specifically request that the vaccines given to their children be thimerosal free.”

What the medical scientists at the University of California MIND Institute are alluding to is the fact that the developing brain and central nervous system (CNS) of the fetus and of infants and of young children is “exquisitely” susceptible to injury from heavy metal (mercury, lead, cadmium) and other neurotoxicant exposure. The neurological and immunological system undergoes profound development not only in utero but also during the early years of postnatal life. Mercury exposures at this time are --extremely-- risky. Mercury (especially organic mercury compounds) profoundly interfere with the critically important and complex process of neurodevelopment. “The level of mercury that is “safe” to the developing nervous system has not been determined.”

Food for thought, indeed.

Lets summarize what you have said in the above posts

1) mercury is dangerous in high doses

2) the safety limit of mercury exposure is unknown

3) all forms of mercury have toxicity

Now lets summarize what you did NOT say

1) thimersol is dangerous

Which is more important and germane to this discussion?

“Mercury in all of its forms is toxic to the fetus and children, and efforts should be made to reduce exposure to the extent possible to pregnant women and children as well as the general population. … The developing fetus and young children are thought to be disproportionately affected by mercury exposure because many aspects of development, particularly brain maturation, can be disturbed by the presence of mercury. Minimizing mercury exposure is, therefore, essential to optimal child health.”

-Lynn R. Goldman, MD, MPH. (Pediatrics. July 2001)

Eric,

1. Please see my post below "What is Thimerosal exactly?"

2. You state above that "mercury is dangerous in high doses." What is a "high dose" of mercury? Science requires the use of units of measure. And so, in this case, what is a "high dose" of ethyl mercury (a known and potent neurotoxicant) to the developing CNS of infants (and the fetus) via IM/SQ injection via flu vaccines (and maternal flu vaccines)?

" What is a "high dose" of mercury? Science requires the use of units of measure. And so, in this case, what is a "high dose" of ethyl mercury (a known and potent neurotoxicant) to the developing CNS of infants (and the fetus) via IM/SQ injection via flu vaccines (and maternal flu vaccines)?

Dr. Eric doesn't doesn't know. And he doesn't want to admit he doesn't know. Science has not conducted or settled the safety issue. Any statement he makes about mercury safety in humans is purely conjecture.

The precautionary principle applies here. But this is an economic and profitability issue for the government and industries involved. They are willing to take the risks without the scientific data.

Mercury is a neurotoxin. Period. No known safety limits. Period.

Safety limit for (Methyl) Mercury is 1.6 micrograms/Kg/week.

Source: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2003/np20/en/

P.S. Typing "Period." at the end of all your rants doesn't make you correct.

I'd say it's better to err on the side of caution and just not put it in. The scientists that produce the vaccines can surely come up with an alternative. Any info to dispute that I would call an excuse. Get creative instead of just pumping any old sludge that will work into kids.

Safety limit for (Methyl) Mercury is 1.6 micrograms/Kg/week.

Mercury is neurotoxic even at 1.6 micrograms. Period.

So the previous limit was 3.3 micrograms per kg. But then it arbitraily changed to 1.6. Cut in half. Why is it no longer safe at 3.3? Because a panel says so. does neurophysiology know this. Does it understand what government panels recommend?

Robert,

Arguing is pretty easy when you don't post any facts and ignore any facts that were posted at you. Let me give it a whirl.

Mercury in vaccines is safe. Period.

john,

You state above that "mercury is dangerous in high doses." What is a "high dose" of mercury? Science requires the use of units of measure

I suggest you take your own advice as you have not included any doses in any of your numerous posts. For the purposes of this discussion, however, consider "high" to be a dose many multiples of the quantity in thimersol

robert,

I think scubasteve put you in your place. I have nothing to add to his fairly conclusive posts.

Any statement he makes about mercury safety in humans is purely conjecture.

Any statement you make about thimersol danger in vaccines is purely conjecture.

Eric,

You state above that "mercury is dangerous in high doses." Well we all certainly agree about that.

Please see my posts above directly quoting the US EPA; the US CDC ATSDR; James Roberts MD, MPH; and Lynn R. Goldman MD, MPH (Pediatrics. July 2001).

But (let me put it another way)… what is a "small (safe) dose" of mercury? Science requires the use of units of measure. And so, in this case, what is a "small (safe) dose" of ethyl mercury (a known neurotoxicant) to the developing CNS of infants (and the fetus) via IM/SQ injection via flu vaccines (and maternal flu vaccines)?

I’m waiting.

Scubasteve,

You are wrong.

The current safety limit (RfD) for the oral ingestion of methymercury (not ethylmercury) is 0.1 mcg/kg/day --not "1.6 micrograms/Kg/week."

This safety limit was set by the US EPA. It is easily verifyable by simply viewing the EPA website (epa.gov/hg/exposure.htm). This EPA safety guideline is based on studies (google: mercury, Minimata) conducted on the (accidental) oral ingestion of methyl mercury by adults.

The form of mercury used purposely in vaccines (from the preservative thimerosol) is ethyl mercury. And the route of exposure is via IM/SQ injection directly into the body. And the concern is about the effect of perinatal exposures to ethyl mercury via injection.

Thus, your post is not only inaccurate, it is utterly irrelevent.

Eric... if you really were an internal medicine physician, you would have caught this mistake.

Eric,

1. You said, “I think I got you beat.” A childish response. This is not a competition of CVs. This is about the wisdom of -purposely- exposing the developing CNS of an infant (or fetus) to a known neurodevelopmental toxicant.

2. Reviewing all your posts on this thread, especially the terminology you use (and do not use), you in no way speak like a physician. In addition, most board certified physicians do not post on popular media message boards.

3. Please do not presume. I am not “anti-vaccine.” I have two school aged children. Both are fully vaccinated (no thimerosal-containing vaccines, HepB at birth, or rotavirus vaccine though). I do not believe that ‘vaccines cause autism.’ The etiology/pathogenesis of autism is undoubtedly complex and multi-factorial (I’ll post an article by a Columbia researcher, W. Ian Lipkin MD, on this topic later). Autism and autism etiology is not the subject of this MSNBC article. The subject of this article is whether it is wise for vaccine manufacturers to continue using the organomercurial compound thimerosal as a preservative in vaccines (flu vaccines domestically) that are injected into pregnant women and 6 month+ old infants.

4. Even if you are an internal medicine physician (which is a wonderful specialty), you would be a clinician. You are not a research physician who studies environmental exposures in relation to perinatal and neurodevelopmental outcomes. You are not a toxicologist nor a medical scientist who studies whether purposely injecting 25 mcg/dose of ethyl mercury into pregnant women (thus exposing the developing CNS of a fetus) and 6 month+ old infants is hazardous or not. You would have no idea.

5. Those who study the effects of subacute doses of heavy metals and organomercurials (e.g., thimerosal) upon perinatal neurological development and neurological health are listed below. In no way do you work in their field.

Those who actually study the effects of infants and children being exposed to subacute doses of mercury, other heavy metals (lead, cadmium), and other neurodevelopmental toxicants work in the critically important emerging field in medicine known as Children's Environmental Health.

I have a strong special interest in this topic. Some of the most nationally recognized experts in this field include:

*Philip J. Landrigan MD, MSc.

Professor of Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine; Director, Children’s Environmental Health Center; Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NY.

*Philippe Grandjean MD, PhD.

Adjunct Professor of Environmental Health, Harvard University School of Public Health. Professor and Chair of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.

*Irva Hertz-Picciotto, PhD, MPH.

Professor and Chief, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California at Davis. Director, Northern California Collaborative Center for National Children's Study, University of California MIND Institute.

*Bruce P. Lanphear, MD, MPH.

Professor of Pediatrics, Sloan Professor of Children's Environmental Health, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Steering Committee Member, National Children's Study (NCS).

*Paul Anastas, PhD.

Science Advisor to the US-EPA. Assistant Administrator for the US-EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD).

*Linda Birnbaum, PhD.

Director, National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences (NIEHS) and National Toxicology Program, National Institutes of Health (NIH), United States Department of Health and Human Services.

*Isaac N. Pessah, PhD.

Professor of Toxicology, Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California at Davis. Director, Children’s Center for Environmental Health and Disease Prevention, University of California MIND Institute.

*Frederica Perera, DrPH

Professor of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. Director, Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health. Co-investigator, National Children's Study (NCS).

*Craig J. Newschaffer, PhD.

Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Drexel University School of Public Health in Philadelphia. Former founder and director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Epidemiology. Newschaffer earned his master’s degree in health policy from Harvard University and his PhD in epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University.

-------------------

Eric,

You should google some of these names and start reading. This will keep you very busy for several months. Start by reading this document:

“Scientific Consensus Statement on Environmental Agents Associated with Neurodevelopmental Disorders.”

February 20, 2008

healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/resources/scientific-consensus-statement-environmental-agents-associated-neurodevelopmental-disorder

“Children are not little adults. Their organ systems, particularly the nervous system, are forming and are thus more susceptible to the effects of chemicals.”

“The development of the human brain and the CNS begins in utero and continues through adolescence, following a precise and delicate step-by-step sequence involving complex neurobiological processes including the formation of the neural tube, cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and selection, synapse formation, development of neurochemical systems, cell pruning; and myelination. The long and complex development of the brain and nervous system leaves it susceptible to the adverse effects of chemical exposures. Even minor changes in the structure or function of the nervous system can have profound consequences for neurological, behavioral and related body functions.”

The preceding paper was authored by some of the most well-known medical scientists in the United States who are investigating Children's Environmental Health including Philippe Grandjean MD at Harvard and the renowned Philip Landrigan MD at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NYC.

john,

hat is a "small (safe) dose" of mercury? Science requires the use of units of measure. And so, in this case, what is a "small (safe) dose" of ethyl mercury (a known neurotoxicant) to the developing CNS of infants (and the fetus) via IM/SQ injection via flu vaccines (and maternal flu vaccines)?

I’m waiting.

I already answered your question. Here it is, reposted.

I suggest you take your own advice as you have not included any doses in any of your numerous posts. For the purposes of this discussion, however, consider "high" to be a dose many multiples of the quantity in thimersol

Eric... if you really were an internal medicine physician, you would have caught this mistake.

The safety limit of mercury is not on the medicine boards. But if you were really a biochemist, you wouldn't have to copy and paste

1. You said, “I think I got you beat.” A childish response. This is not a competition of CVs

Then why start one by posting your own? The only possible reason you could do that is to try and show you know more, in effect,"beating" the CVs of non scientists. Again, you should take your own advice

especially the terminology you use (and do not use),, you in no way speak like a physician. In addition, most board certified physicians do not post on popular media message boards.

Don't just lash back because I doubted your credentials. Again, most people with your alleged degrees can do better than just copying and pasting. But please list any terminology I used that you feel is in error...if you can

I doubt it

You are not a research physician who studies environmental exposures

Either are you. And Im not an internist primarily, im a subspecialist. But I hold that certification as well

And I can guarantee Ive published more than you.

. In no way do you work in their field.

Again, if you were truly a scientist, you would much less impressed with pedigree and more interested in fact. I couldn't care less who performed the trial; if the data is conclusive, and the methods sound, thats all it takes. and you have provided nothing even close for thimersol. High dose mercury yes; thimersol, no

You should google some of these names and start reading

see above. Again, the excerpt you posted contains some wonderful embryology and then opinion, but no facts regarding thimersol.

YOU should probably start reading some papers regarding thimersol specifically. all of them continue to support its safety.

Kind of funny considering the guy who started the whole anti-thimerosal vaccine scare nonsense was on payroll of anti-vaccine groups and had invented a vaccine that he wanted to push as a replacement for the standard. You know... the doctor who had his medical license stripped? Who's research was withdrawn by the publishing journal? The guy who has caused the deaths of thousands of children in his quest to make a buck?

But no, lets ignore basic chemistry (that an element in one compound doesn't behave the same way in other compounds) and basic biology (thimerosal doesn't accumulate in the body and doesn't pass the blood brain barrier in any significant amounts) and make the cost of vaccines 10x higher for kids in the developing world.

f'in moron...

read this:

russellblaylockmd.com

click on the articles..and read.....

educate yourself..

vaccines: KILL, INJURE and MAIL...PERIOD..

go inject yourself with the crap if YOU want...but not in my kids...

and oh yea...my kids have no autism, allergies or asthma..

and I am a doctor

You are certainly not a physician.

Kind of funny considering the guy who started the whole anti-thimerosal vaccine scare nonsense was on payroll of anti-vaccine groups and had invented a vaccine that he wanted to push as a replacement for the standard.

Please name this man. I hope you aren't ignorantly thinking its Wakefield or John Walker Smith. Their study was on the MMR damage. There has never been thimerasol in the MMR vaccine. So that's a non issue.

It shows that you are propagating ignorance on this issue. Do you think that people only begun to question vaccines in 1998? People have been injured since the beginning of vaccines.

Exactly Robert. There have been newspaper articles written since the time vaccines were introduced on how bad they are. People have been against vaccines since long before anyone like Wakefield came along. If you do your research you will find lots of articles and books written. Mercury in ANY form should be banned from vaccines. There are generations of unvaccinated people. This is not a new thing.

Newspaper articles are now considered scientific study. Awesome. By the way name one article that is coming from a group that is indenpendent of the anti-vaccine crowd.

Name one study that shows the safety of vaccines that isn't funded by a pharmaceutical company or done by someone who is paid by such company. there isn't any. awesome.

gotta love newsvine. duplicate.

duplicate. sorry

Biscuits-

Name one study that proves otherwise that isn't funded by anti-vaccine research. The funding doesn't matter, the methodology does.

yes the funding does matter. Becuase there have been studies done that show that mercury is toxic to the brain. no matter how many studies i post for you, you are going to ignore them or have some comment. when you want to open your eyes, they are there. until then just keep believing that injecting mercury into an infan't body is acceptable. we can also take aluminum. 25 mcg is considered "safe" yet one vaccine (hep b) contains 250 mcg. here is a list of alumimum just for example of what is in the shots.

• Hib (PedVaxHib brand only) - 225 micrograms per shot.
• Hepatitis B - 250 micrograms.
• DTaP - depending on the manufacturer, ranges from 170 to 625 micrograms.
• Pneumococcus - 125 micrograms.
• Hepatitis A - 250 micrograms.
• HPV - 225 micrograms.
• Pentacel (DTaP, HIB and Polio combo vaccine) - 330 micrograms.
• Pediarix (DTaP, Hep B and Polio combo vaccine) - 850 micrograms

you can look up the inserts to verify. so your infant is getting toxic amounts of aluminum. I would say that the same would be true for mercury as well. so you have mercury AND aluminum, both neurotoxins infjected into an infant. that's okay, keep on saying vaccines are safe when they have never been tested for their safety when given together.

A miracle that kills over 100,000 consumers every year. They are hardly a miracle.

Bill- only if they stay clear of people that can't be vaccinated, or kids that have not been vaccinated yet. They can be sick all they want if the don't spread it.

Bill- only if they stay clear of people that can't be vaccinated, or kids that have not been vaccinated yet. They can be sick all they want if the don't spread it.

More perpetuation of ignorance.

Bill, that's not the topic of this article.

Starnmark - Alot more people would be dead every year if smallpox weren't eradicated by a mass vaccination effort. Alot more people would be dead every year from the flu. From polio. From tentanus. All these things kill indiscriminately.

Alot more people would be dead every year from the flu.

That's not scientifically provable. Increases in flu vaccine do not correlate consistently with decrease in influenza death. Years when the vaccine didn't match there were no increases in flu death. Our current system of tracking flu deaths is flawed and downright impossible to count the number of deaths and therefore impossible to accurately tell how many lives are affected. So your statement above is a statement of faith not science.

From polio. From tentanus. All these things kill indiscriminately.

This is not true. There are risk factors for these. Risk is not homogenous. In fact during the cutter incident http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutter_Laboratories

The mistake resulted in the production of 120,000 doses of polio vaccine that contained live polio virus. Of the children who received the vaccine, 40,000 developed abortive poliomyelitis (a form of the disease that does not involve the central nervous system), 56 developed paralytic poliomyelitis and of these 5 children died as a result of polio infection.^[6] The exposures led to an epidemic of polio in the families and communities of the affected children, resulting in a further 113 people paralyzed and 5 deaths.^[7]

That means 120,000 were directly given the polio virus and 56 developed paralysis and only .004% died. ?That's not indiscriminately.

Well over 90% of polio infections are subclinical. Meaning most people had the virus but either experience no symptoms or cold like symptoms.

But i digress. Oral polio vaccine does not contain mercury. But it can cause polio infection.

inmissouri

Bill- only if they stay clear of people that can't be vaccinated, or kids that have not been vaccinated yet. They can be sick all they want if the don't spread it.

HAHA! Now THAT comment is funny. Outbreaks of things like Whooping Cough are happening in populations where the vax rates for WC are over 90%! So there are plenty of vaccinated children spreading these illnesses as we speak.

jessica,

Unvaccinated kids are 8 times as likely to contract whooping cough. All your post does is show that vaccines aren't perfect, but boosters and making sure your kids are vaccinated is the best defense.

What side are you arguing on again?

do you have a study to back up the claim of unvaccinated kids are 8 times more likely to contract whooping cough? seems to me that when 90% of the vaccinated are contracting whooping cough, that statement is very incorrect.

do you have a study to back up the claim of unvaccinated kids are 8 times more likely to contract whooping cough?

yes.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Lara%20Misegades%20whooping%20cough

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/27/whooping-cough-immunity-vaccine-vaccination_n_2200172.html

eems to me that when 90% of the vaccinated are contracting whooping cough, that statement is very incorrect.

Now do you have a study to back up YOUR claim?

@ Biscuit: With the shear number of vaccinate vs unvaccinated you would expect that solely from an absolute numbers point of view that more vaccinated contract it than unvaccinated.

But that's not how it works when you say X is Y times as likely as Z. You need to take it on a per capita basis. So you divide the number of contracted by the number of the whole group and compare those percentages.

Once you do that, the numbers are very clear.

Mitchell

It's a relative statistic. Relative statistics should be taken in context. Even if the unvaccinated were 8x more likely to get pertussis the reality is the vaccinated get pertussis 8-9 times more than the unvaccinated.

Relatively to other vaccines the pertussis vaccine is a poor vaccine. Only surpassed by the influenza vaccine.

"Of all our routine vaccines (except influenza) pertussis vaccines are the least effective"

James Cherry MD

Division of Infectious Diseases Mattel Childrens Hospital UCLA

It's a relative statistic. Relative statistics should be taken in context. Even if the unvaccinated were 8x more likely to get pertussis the reality is the vaccinated get pertussis 8-9 times more than the unvaccinated.

That's absolute BS and you know it. We're talking about an individual's chance of contracting it with and without the vaccine and the only way is to compare percentages of their respective group.

Don't play dumb.

Mitchell

That's absolute BS and you know it.

It's the facts.

Relative statistics without context mislead. Someone can increase their chances of winning the lottery by 100% if they buy two tickets instead of two. But unless one knows the real chance then this number is meaningless.

The lottery chances of winning are homogenous. A number is a number. But with biology and infectious disease the real risk is heterogenous. Multiple factors come into play to determine if a disease will be fatal or permanent for an individual. If a person is malnourished, diabetic, congenital disorders, immune compromised, on certain medications, partake in drug use, etc.,

These confounders make number such as "1 in 1000 will die" a moot point. (ie if sick people make upt 90% of deaths from a certain disease, then using those number homogenously to scare the healthy population is dishonest and propaganda.) They are commonly used by public health officials to scare individual into complying. It makes it seem that these numbers apply to every single individual. They absolutely do not. And they don't apply to MOST individual. These are purely scare tactics and dishonest techniques by the government agencies and their corporate partners.

thats the dumbest thing ive ever read

Your example doesn't apply because your sample size is tiny. This is the reason studies include hundreds of patients, not just one

Not to mention that your statement is true. Your chance of winning the lottery doubles. I don't understand your confusion

Let's see, an example: You have group A with 10000 people where 100 contract it. Group B with 50 people but 25 people contract it.

Twice as many people in group A become infected vs B. But that's meaningless for comparison as the initial starting populations are different (10000 vs 50).

Instead, group A has an infection rate of 1%. Group B has an infection rate of 50%. So any given person in group B is 50 times more likely to be infected vs any given person in group A. This is absolute, there is no other interpretation.

This isn't even college math, this is stuff you should be learning in middle or high school.

Mitchell

Hmm...I see my edit isn't actually editing.

Should have read "Four times as many people in group A become infected vs B"

Darn Newsvine.

its funny...i gave robert almost the same exact example. He just ignored it.

So any given person in group B is 50 times more likely to be infected vs any given person in group A. This is absolute, there is no other interpretation.

You have multiple errors in thinking and assumptions in your hypothetical non real scenario. Oh, I understand what your trying to say and how you're trying to persuade. But the facts remains, regardless of your potential scenarios, that the vaccinated make up significantly more cases in diseases such as whooping cough. (and with whooping cough we know that vaccine failure is an issue which means your brainstorming example wouldn't apply)

When you compare one group to another and come up with percentages that is called relative comparison. Not an absolute.

Like eric you confused yourself with your logic. You made up the incidence rates for both groups. Oh I guess both groups are IV drug users and prostitutes or from SE Asia.

Anyone not in those groups wouldn't have those same odds as you state. I have almost near zero risk of contracting Hep B regardless if I were vaccinated or not, regardless of what your fictitious study states. Most others are in the same category of risk. Risk is not homogenous to the population. People simple aren't numbers.

yet you cannot refute either my or mitchell's argument mathmatically, only with stock phrases and generic comments

Try to do it with numbers if you are capable

its really not that hard of a concept....a large group of people with a smaller failure rate will still have more failures than a smaller group with a higher rate. End of story

vaccine failure has already been established in the peer reviewed literature.

Hep B attack rate is no where near 50% in the general unvaccinated population. He fabricated the Hep B vaccines effectiveness. He built his conclusion into his analogy.

But again back to the main point, current pertussis vaccine failure has been established. This also explains large outbreaks in the highly vaccinated.

Hep B attack rate

attack rate? Do you mean infection rate?

whether he invented the numbers here or not is irrelevant. The principle is sound.

But in real numbers, the infection rate for pertussis prior to vaccination was about 150/100K. After vaccination, it is about 1/100K

What is your explanation if its not related to vaccines?

After all, all you wanted to prove flu vaccine efficacy was numbers showing a decrease after introduction of the vaccine...i have now shown you this for whooping cough yet you continue to deny, deny, deny

How you can do this is beyond me...

But again back to the main point, current pertussis vaccine failure has been established. This also explains large outbreaks in the highly vaccinated.

No. the above drop in infection after the vaccine was introduced proves its effectiveness. the reason for the larger number of people infected among the vaccinated has been detailed above for you multiple times. It just cannot be made simpler. You need remedial math

for example, a percent is a "relative statistic". It compares a number per 100. If I told you 3 apples were bad out of the last shipment, that is useful information. Additionally, knowing that it is 3 out of 100, or 3%, is also useful information, and a "relative statistic"

Thus, knowing what the absolute number of kids infected AND what that number is out of the population is useful

anyway, you are arguing in circles. We started off by giving you the real numbers--8x as many unvaccinated kids are infected compared to vaccinated ones as a percent. You then claimed this is invalid because it is "relative". We then gave you an example showing how this is mathmatically valid. You then claim this is invalid because it is not "real numbers"

Again, you were already given real numbers. You are hopeless. You only believe what you want to believe. You change your story depending on what conclusion you want to draw, not based on data (as I have clearly pointed out with comparing this discussion to the flu vaccine one)

Youll never wake up

But in real numbers, the infection rate for pertussis prior to vaccination was about 150/100K. After vaccination, it is about 1/100K

First those aren't the real numbers since pertussis dx is often missed. The CDC estimates that 600,000 cases occur in the U.S. per year. That's more cases that are missed than are diagnosed by a lot.

But the CDC also says

In the U.S., prior to pertussis immunization, between 150,000 and 260,000 cases of pertussis were reported each year, with up to 9,000 pertussis-related deaths.

I guess the CDC is confused and no one knows what the "real" numbers are.

2nd, the acellular vaccine is now used not the whole cell vaccine. This reduction in diagnosed cases was not caused by current vaccine. The whole vaccine was stopped because it was reactogenic but more effective. Meaning more side effects. The acellular vaccine is less effective but also less reactogenic.

whether he invented the numbers here or not is irrelevant. The principle is sound.

It's not a principle its an explanation. An explanation of why there are more cases of disease in the highly vaccinated vs. the unvaccinated. It doesn't exclude the more simple explanation. Vaccine failure and/or waning efficacy.

After all, all you wanted to prove flu vaccine efficacy was numbers showing a decrease after introduction of the vaccine.

Which you failed to do.

Additionally, knowing that it is 3 out of 100, or 3%, is also useful information, and a "relative statistic"

That's not a relative statistic. Just because something is a percent does not mean it is a relative statistic. But it is a good indicator it could be. Comparing the 3% to another group and then coming up with a new number or percent is a relative statistic. This is often done to manipulate data or persuade. If you told someone that you could decrease their bad apple shipment by 33% by spraying chemicals on it that sounds impressive. But it means that you were only able to decrease a shipment by 1 bad apple. Maybe, possibly.

First those aren't the real numbers since pertussis dx is often missed.

I see. So the diagnosis was made all the time before the vaccine and now is missed often enough to cause the decrease in incidence. Why did that suddenly happen? Wheres your peer reviewed proof of this theory?

Oh, thats right. You have none

nd, the acellular vaccine is now used not the whole cell vaccine. This reduction in diagnosed cases was not caused by current vaccine

then why haven't we seen numbers rebound to pre vaccine use? We haven't.

Again, wheres your proof? Thats right, you have none

t's not a principle its an explanation.

semantics. I think its a sound principle. Really irrelevant anyway

An explanation of why there are more cases of disease in the highly vaccinated vs. the unvaccinated. It doesn't exclude the more simple explanation. Vaccine failure and/or waning efficacy.

It does. IF the vaccine failed, you would expect to see the same number of infected no matter if they recieved the vaccine or not. Yet you do not. Boom, your theory is now in the toilet

Which you failed to do.

are you illiterate? I just posted the numbers for you!!!!!

If you told someone that you could decrease their bad apple shipment by 33% by spraying chemicals on it that sounds impressive. But it means that you were only able to decrease a shipment by 1 bad apple. Maybe, possibly.

so high relative reduction does not always mean high absolute reduction. Yes, yes, you and every intro to stats class teacher has said this on the first day. But thats not what we are discussing here. We are talking about comparing the relative reduction of one group to the relative reduction of another.

If that same chemical reduced the number of bad apples by 33%, and another reduced it by 98%, isn't the 98% one better REGARDLESS of the absolute reduction?

Similiarly, if we reduce infection rates in vaccinated kids to x, and the number of infected in unvaccinated kids is 8x, then it is mathmatically proven that the vaccine has a strong effect

You have now been defeated by your own argument. Thanks for that example

Apparently the wahoo mercury brigade is out in force too. so much mercury they don't even know how to think straight. Pregnant women or women who may become pregnant are told to stay away from mercury. Watch it in fish and dental fillings. But without a shred of safety studies they are increasingly told to inject mercury into their bodies. It's senseless and scienceless.

Robert-

No one is ever told to inject mercury into their bodies. They are told to get a vaccine which contains a preservative that is made from mercury. This is no longer mercury and is not harmful.

This is no longer mercury and is not harmful.

Mercury is no longer mercury because a product is 50% mercury? You mean it magically becomes zero percent mercury?

Could you please attach scientific citations that prove that mercury is not harmful to small children and that thimerasol does not contain mercury? I think I'm hearing crickets.

Mechanisms of methylmercury-induced neurotoxicity.

This article is on methyl mercury but it specifically states:

"Mercury in both organic and inorganic forms is neurotoxic. "

Mercury is no longer mercury because a product is 50% mercury? You mean it magically becomes zero percent mercury?

Well, it might seem like magic to you, but its chemistry to any college graduate. Sodium is an explosive metal; when combined with a toxic gas it makes food tastier...

Magic!!

Could you please attach scientific citations that prove that mercury is not harmful to small children and that thimerasol does not contain mercury? I think I'm hearing crickets.

How would you propose we show safe mercury levels in babies? Subject them all to gradually increasing doses until we reach toxicity? You are supposedly, in your mind, trying to protect children yet here you are advocating poisoning them...interesting.

But seriously, how? Important question robert, dont ignore it.

epidemiology can only quantify a risk, not prove its absence.

http://actu.epfl.ch/news/mercury-neurotoxicity-2/

Prenatal exposure to mercury leads to serious neurological pathologies in infants, such as cerebral palsy, seizures, microcephaly and mental retardation. The molecular interactions leading to mercury toxicity remain largely unknown.

"Mercury in both organic and inorganic forms is neurotoxic. "

All toxicity is dose related (famous quote already stated on here)

Proving that large quantities of a substance cause problems is not nearly the same as proving smaller quantities do.

If you don't believe that, you should probably never use a cell phone or laptop (radiation) fly on a plane (radiation), brush your teeth (fluouride) or eat (preservatives)

Well, it might seem like magic to you, but its chemistry to any college graduate. Sodium is an explosive metal; when combined with a toxic gas it makes food tastier...

You didn't answer the question. Mercury is still mercury and it is still neurotoxic. You have no evidence to prove otherwise. Stop the rhetoric.

But seriously, how? Important question robert, dont ignore it.

If it's as safe as you say then there are no ethical or dangerous implications of mercury toxicity. If you already have the knowledge please share with the scientists of the world at which minimum dose that mercury is deemed safe.

All toxicity is dose related (famous quote already stated on here)

Exactly, some babies will be harmed by the mercury and vaccines while others will escape it's detrimental effects. Please provide the scientific citations the show what minimal level of mercury is safe for all infants to be injected.

Robert-

Thimerasol is not methyl mercury. Thimerasol is broken down into metabolites, which are cleared by the body.

You didn't answer the question. Mercury is still mercury and it is still neurotoxic. You have no evidence to prove otherwise. Stop the rhetoric.

I certainly did, you just didn't understand it. I'll go more slowly for you...

elements change their properties drastically when combined with other substances. For example, sodium is a highly combustive product, yet becomes table salt when combined with chloride gas

Similiarly, elemental mercury is far more toxic than methyl mercury

If it's as safe as you say then there are no ethical or dangerous implications of mercury toxicity.

The above makes no sense. Safe, even essential materials can become toxic at high levels--does not mean one is not concerned about toxicity.

please share with the scientists of the world at which minimum dose that mercury is deemed safe.

How would you propose we show safe mercury levels in babies? Subject them all to gradually increasing doses until we reach toxicity? You are supposedly, in your mind, trying to protect children yet here you are advocating poisoning them...interesting.

But seriously, how? Important question robert, dont ignore it.

epidemiology can only quantify a risk, not prove its absence.

please share with the scientists of the world at which minimum dose that mercury is deemed safe.

http://www.epa.gov/hg/

Hg means mercury buddy...just trying to help you out

Eric and Zeiglo87,

I earned my BS in biochem at UC Davis and work in the biomedical field (and my father is a MD, University of Illinois).

All forms of mercury are highly neurotoxic. Environmental toxicologists who specialize in heavy metals (such as professor of toxicology Isaac Pessah or professor of epidemiology Irva Hertz-Picciotto at the University of California MIND Institute, or Thomas W. Clarkson professor emeritus of environmental medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, New York) call the different forms of mercury “species." For example: methyl mercury, and phenyl mercuric acetate.

The kind of mercury found in thermometers is “elemental” mercury. The vapor is highly toxic. Do NOT breath in mercury vapor.

Methylmercury vs. Ethylmercury

Both are organic mercury compounds. Methylmercury (MeHg) is the kind of mercury found in some species of fish (tuna, swordfish). Ethylmercury (EtHg) is the kind of mercury released into the body when thimerosal is injected IM or SubQ with vaccines into the body. Methylmercury and ethylmercury are different compounds and the toxicokinetics of methylmercury and ethylmercury are different. However, this does NOT mean that ethylmercury is a benign substance. It is not! ALL mercury-containing organic compounds (organomercurials) are EXTREMELY hazardous substances to human health. These are highly neurotoxic substances and they are ESPECIALLY hazardous to the developing brain and CNS of infants and children.

What is Thimerosal exactly?

Thimerosal is a water-soluble, cream-colored, crystalline powder that is 49.6% mercury by weight. It was introduced by Eli Lilly in the 1930s primarily as a preservative/bacteriostatic in pharmaceuticals.

The history of the invention and safety and efficacy testing of thimerosal is fascinating. Safety studies for the human use (especially for use in infant humans or pregnant humans) were grossly inadequate. Actually, they were non-existent.

Thimerosal (sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate or C₉H₉HgNaO₂₎ was first synthesized by pioneer organic chemist Morris Kharasch at the University of Maryland in 1927. In the early 1930s, Eli Lilly marketed the compound as a pharmaceutical preservative/antiseptic/antifungal and gave it the trade name Merthiolate. Eli Lilly sponsored exactly --one-- safety trial on humans. With n=22! (Powell and Jamieson 1931).

In their clinical trial, Powel and Jameson concluded that thimerosal was safe for use in humans. However, critical data regarding the safety trial was not disclosed. First, in their article Powell and Jamieson (1931) failed to reveal that all of the subjects evaluated were, in fact, infected with and dying from meningococcal meningitis! Next, Powell and Jamieson provided a table in which the 22 subjects injected with Thimerosal were identified. The table notes that approximately one-third of the patients were followed for only one day after injection (obviously insufficient). Powell and Jamieson failed to disclose why! This is because the subjects all died. In fact, all of the 22 subjects expired, mostly within days (from meningococcal meningitis).

Second, Powell and Jamieson failed to emphasize their disturbing animal toxicity data. In fact, Powell and Jamieson had already determined that administration of low milligram doses of thimerosal per kilogram body weight in several different animals was acutely toxic and resulted in significant numbers of animals dying within days of exposure.

Incredibly, the 1931 Powell and Jamieson study of 22 dying patients was the only data on the safety of thimerosal --ever-- submitted to the FDA by Eli Lilly.

After the FDA strengthened pharmaceutical safety testing requirements in 1938, the pharmaceutical use of thimerosal was grandfathered in, and no further safety studies on thimerosal were ever submitted by Eli Lilly. Thimerosal never would have passed FDA safety standards had it been invented today. As even (the very pro-immunization) Leslie Ball MD of the FDA blithely put it in a paper published in Pediatrics in May 2001, “A prelicensure study of intentionally administered high-dose thimerosal, cited as demonstrating its safety, may not be directly relevant to the issue of thimerosal in childhood vaccines. This study was performed over 60 years ago when different safety standards existed; the study was not designed to look for chronic toxicity, did not include pharmacokinetics, and did not enroll infants.”

By the way... H.M. Powell and W.A. Jamieson were both Eli Lily & Co employees. Jamieson was Director of Biological Research Laboratories at Eli Lilly.

“Methylmercury and ethylmercury distributes to all body tissues, crossing the blood-brain barrier and the placental barrier, and ethylmercury also moves freely throughout the body.”

Venerable mercury/heavy metal toxicologist and researcher. Professor emeritus of environmental medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY.

Clarkson TW, et al. “The Three Modern Faces of Mercury.” Environmental Health Perspectives. 2002 Feb;110 Suppl 1:11-23.

Clarkson TW, Magos, L. “The toxicology of mercury and its chemical compounds”. Critical Reviews in Toxicology. 2006 Sep;36(8):609-62.

Thimerosal (sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate) injected into the body is metabolized or degraded into ethyl mercury (and thiosalicylate). Some of the ethyl mercury is then partially excreted from the body and some of the ethyl mercury is degraded into inorganic mercury where it is deposited in several organs including the brain (ethyl mercury, like other organic mercury compounds, has an especial affinity for brain tissue). Moreover, in his landmark research, Burbacher (2005) found that ethyl mercury is distributed to the brain much more readily than methyl mercury. And Burbacher found that a larger fraction of the ethyl mercury remains in the brain compared to methyl mercury, where it was converted to more harmful inorganic mercury.

The accumulation of inorganic mercury in the brain is associated with increased numbers of microglia, cellular disruption and death of astrocytes (brain/neuroglial cells), and higher risk of autoimmune reactions. Inorganic mercury is highly toxic to the brain. Inorganic mercury kills brain cells.

Thomas Burbacher PhD (professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the University of Washington).

Burbacher TM, Shen DD, Liberato N, Clarkson T. (2005) “Comparison of Blood and Brain Mercury Levels in Infant Monkeys Exposed to Methylmercury or Vaccines Containing Thimerosal.” Environ Health Perspect. 113 (8):1015 –1021

-Thomas W. Clarkson, PhD

Furthermore, thimerosal is more accurately described as a bacteriostatic (a compound that “inhibits” the growth of bacteria) than a preservative. The medical literature contains several reports of bacterial contamination of vaccines despite the use of a thimerosal as a preservative (Bernier et al. 1981; Simon et al. 1993).

In addition, vaccines don’t need to be made with thimerosal at all! As a live virus vaccine, the MMR was -never- made with thimerosal. All vaccine manufacturers have to do is bottle vaccines in single-dose vials (which do not need a preservative) as opposed to multi-dose vials (which do). And it is very easy and very inexpensive to bottle vaccines in single-dose vials instead of multi-dose vials. It costs vaccine manufacturers ~ 15cents to $1 more per dose to bottle vaccines in single dose vials as opposed to multi-dose vials.

Indeed, this is exactly what the vaccine manufacturers started doing in early 2000 after the famous FDA/AAP “joint statement” on July 7, 1999 calling for drug companies to stop adding thimerosal to pediatric vaccines "as soon as possible.” It took the vaccine manufacturers only two years to accomplish this. It was that easy.

@John - YOURE WRONG!!!! Just kidding. Massively interesting stuff.

john,

I received my bachelors in microbiology and MD degrees, as well as board certification in internal medicine. I think i got you beat

Not to mention that someone with your alleged pedigree should be able to do better than blindly copy and paste from wildly biased websites. Just an observation

All forms of mercury are highly neurotoxic

The same could be said of vitamin B6. Yet banning vit b6 is stupid. All toxicity is dose dependent. Claiming a toxic effect from a certain dose of a compound and arbitrarily attributing the same effect to a different dose of the same compound belies an ignorance of the most elementary understanding of toxicology

Also, capitalizing all the letters of words in your post does nothing to bolster the validity of your claims. In fact, if anything, it detracts from your credibility.

I'd like to add to eric's comment that that paper from 1994 has no follow on papers showing/replicating the results. I'd also like to point out that the methodology is flawed (though not deliberatly) there method of measuring Ca+ flux ignores the chemistry of mercury as it relates to the quantifying dye.

Eric,

1. "Wildly biased websites?"

Quoting statements from the US EPA, US CDC ATSDR, Pediatrics, and the University of California are "wildly biased websites"? And quotes from highly experienced experts in mercury and heavy metal research from the University of Washington, and the University of Rochester School of Medicine in NY, are "wildly biased websites"?

2. Please point out one thing I have stated on this comment board that is not accurate.

3. "All forms of mercury are quite toxic, and each form exhibits different health effects.” -That is a direct quote from the US EPA. I guess they, too, are a wildly biased website. You're stating to sound a little PPD Eric.

4. "Claiming a toxic effect from a certain dose of a compound and arbitrarily attributing the same effect to a different dose of the same compound belies an ignorance of the most elementary understanding of toxicology." -Where did I state this? I did no such thing.

5. "All toxicity is dose dependent." -That is a grossly simplistic statement (even a cliche). Ask an experienced environmental toxicoligist (such as Isaac N. Pessah PhD at the University of California at Davis, or Steven G. Gilbert PhD, DABT, or any of the researchers on my list above).

The toxicity of a substance depends on a number of factors; not just dose!

What is the toxicity of a compound; or in our case, any specific mercury compound? The answer is that it depends on: species of mercury, route of exposure (oral ingestion, vapor inhalation, injection, etc.), dose (acute dose, subacute dose), dose frequency; age (this is critical); health; and every person or child's individual ability to excrete heavy metals.

An individual's ability to excrete heavy metals can be profoundly effected by stress, illness, concurrent exposure to other toxins, total body exposure (the excretion capacity is not infinite), and genetic factors. With regard to the latter, for example, it is thought that a small subset of the population (including the pediatric population) has significantly reduced ability to excrete heavy metals due to less efficient methylation cycle and glutathione production due to genetic (or other) factors.

Lastly, a note about age as a factor. Age is key! “Children are not little adults. Their organ systems, particularly the nervous system, are forming and are thus more susceptible to the effects [of exposures to neurodevelopmental toxicants such as heavy metals].”

-Philip J. Landrigan MD, MSc.

Dr. Landrigan is an epidemiologist, scientist, and professor of pediatrics and preventive medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NYC. Dr. Landrigan is --world famous-- for his work in the critically important field of Children’s Environmental Health.

Dr. Landrigan’s landmark studies in the early 1970s investigating children exposed to lead were among the first to show that lead can cause brain damage to children at levels too low to cause clinically evident signs and symptoms – a phenomenon now termed “subclinical toxicity.” This work was critical in persuading the EPA to remove lead from gasoline and house paint.

Wildly biased websites?"

The MIND institute seems to be one

Please point out one thing I have stated on this comment board that is not accurat

You have led people to believe there is evidence that thimersol is toxic to humans in the doses seen in vaccines. This is untrue

Where did I state this? I did no such thing.

You implied it by posting studies that use doses of mercury many times over what is found in vaccines as circumstantial evidence of thimersol toxicity.

"All toxicity is dose dependent." -That is a grossly simplistic statement (even a cliche)

Which curiously remains unrefuted...

he toxicity of a substance depends on a number of factors; not just dose!

No one said "just" dose. But dose is a hugely important factor. In fact, many of the factors you list in your next paragraph affect the effective dose seen by the tissue. For example, oral vs IV--of course IV is usually more toxic as you avoid first pass metabolism by the liver--increasing the effective dose.

And now youre a little off topic.

Eric you still haven't given John the lowest safe dose of mercury reference yet. You said "I'll repost it" but you didn't give the reference or range. Facts would be helpful to determine your cliche of "the dose makes the poison".

robert,

are you illiterate?

john already posted it---here it is again for you slowpokes out there:

The current safety limit (RfD) for the oral ingestion of methymercury (not ethylmercury) is 0.1 mcg/kg/day --not "1.6 micrograms/Kg/week."

That is not the original peer reviewed source. Sorry but how was this "safety limit" of injecting ethylmercury established? You have no scientific source.

You have already stated that it is unethical to scientifically test the safety of mercury injections in infants. You also talk out of both sides of your mouth. Are you saying the scientific testing has established minimal safety limits for injecting mercury in babies?

That is not the original peer reviewed source

How do you know?

Sorry but how was this "safety limit" of injecting ethylmercury established? You have no scientific source.

Um,, either do you. Again, I have explained the impossibility of poisoning babies to find the threshold for safety. How do you not understand this????

You have already stated that it is unethical to scientifically test the safety of mercury injections in infants. You also talk out of both sides of your mouth.

No, thats pretty clear. I don't see where I've wavered

Are you saying the scientific testing has established minimal safety limits for injecting mercury in babies?

yes

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/TP.asp?id=115&tid=24#bookmark10

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/TP.asp?id=115&tid=24#bookmark10

Until the 1970s, methylmercury and ethylmercury compounds were used to protect seed grains from fungal infections. Once the adverse health effects of methylmercury were known, the use of methymercury and ethylmercury as fungicides was banned. Up until 1991, phenylmercuric compounds were used as antifungal agents in both interior and exterior paints, but this use was also banned because mercury vapors were released from these paints.

...Once inorganic mercury enters the body and gets into the bloodstream, it moves to many different tissues. Inorganic mercury leaves your body in the urine or feces over a period of several weeks or months. A small amount of the inorganic mercury can be changed in your body to metallic mercury and leave in the breath as a mercury vapor. Inorganic mercury accumulates mostly in the kidneys and does not enter the brain as easily as metallic mercury. Inorganic mercury compounds also do not move as easily from the blood of a pregnant woman to her developing child. In a nursing woman, some of the inorganic mercury in her body will pass into her breast milk.In a nursing woman, some of the inorganic mercury in her body will pass into her breast milk.

There is little information on the effects in humans from long-term, low-level exposure to inorganic mercury.

Hmm. What happened to all of the cocksure scientific data you thought you possessed?

One way to see if a chemical will hurt people is to learn how the chemical is absorbed, used, and released by the body; for some chemicals, animal testing may be necessary.

Which some studies have showed concern.

Mothers who are exposed to methylmercury and breast-feed their infant may also expose the child through the milk. The effects on the infant may be subtle or more pronounced, depending on the amount to which the fetus or young child was exposed. In cases in which the exposure was relatively small, some effects might not be apparent, such as small decreases in IQ or effects on the brain that may only be determined by the use of very sensitive neuropsychological testing.

I guess data for ethylmercury doesn't exist. Too bad we can't get data. Only opinions of mass vaccine ideologists that just assume it must be side effect free. Don't ask don't tell. Ignorance is bliss in vaccine production world.

Your link is informative but states absolutely nothing nor provides scientific studies on the safety of injecting mercury into little babies.

and a pdf within your link:

The literature on the health effects of mercury is extensive. However, the human and animal data are generally limited to inhalation exposure to metallic mercury vapors and oral exposure to inorganic and organic mercury compounds.

Nope. nothing on injecting babies with mercury. Where's all the data that you're so cocksure of? Minimal safety amounts etc.?

Hmm. What happened to all of the cocksure scientific data you thought you possessed?

Its there. Keep reading hotshot

Which some studies have showed concern.

Not at the dose of thimersol. Thats key

I guess data for ethylmercury doesn't exist.

It does. Theres a whole table you missed, table 2-3. Youre not very good at this

Your link is informative but states absolutely nothing nor provides scientific studies on the safety of injecting mercury into little babies.

It does. Theres a whole table you missed, table 2-3. Youre not very good at this

Nope. nothing on injecting babies with mercury. Where's all the data that you're so cocksure of? Minimal safety amounts etc.?

It does. Theres a whole table you missed, table 2-3. Youre not very good at this

either way, I have shown much more evidence showing the safety of thimersol than you have showing its ill effects.

If thiimersol is dangerous, where are the peer reviewed studies showing an epidemiologic effect? Shouldn't vaccinated kids have higher rates of complications compared to unvaccinated kids?

Wheres your data? Huh?

It's a good thing you're not a surgeon. You don't pay attention to detail.

It oral, it's for rats, and shows it's TOXIC.

This overview paper mainly looks at and oral and vapor inhalation. It does not look at injection of inorganic mercury into babies. Presuming makes a sloppy scientist.

You're not very good.

Again, since you missed it.

The literature on the health effects of mercury is extensive. However, the human and animal data are generally limited to inhalation exposure to metallic mercury vapors and oral exposure to inorganic and organic mercury compounds.

It does. page 192. Youre not very good at this

It does not look at injection of inorganic mercury into babies

Never said it did, nimrod.

by the way, noticed you ignored this post. Im not going to let you escape so easily...

so high relative reduction does not always mean high absolute reduction. Yes, yes, you and every intro to stats class teacher has said this on the first day. But thats not what we are discussing here. We are talking about comparing the relative reduction of one group to the relative reduction of another.

If that same chemical reduced the number of bad apples by 33%, and another reduced it by 98%, isn't the 98% one better REGARDLESS of the absolute reduction?

Similiarly, if we reduce infection rates in vaccinated kids to x, and the number of infected in unvaccinated kids is 8x, then it is mathmatically proven that the vaccine has a strong effect

You have now been defeated by your own argument. Thanks for that example

If that same chemical reduced the number of bad apples by 33%, and another reduced it by 98%, isn't the 98% one better REGARDLESS of the absolute reduction?

It can only go down by no more than 3 apples no matter how much the percent. Better? not necessarily. Who cares? It' three apples. But don't tell me round up ready apples are safe to eat when you don't have any data except by conflicted parties.

You have now been defeated by your own argument. Thanks for that example

Uh, no. Good try. Go pat yourself on your own back.

Never said it did, nimrod.

That means it didn't. Injectable inorganic mercury is of unknown safety to babies.

By the way Doctor Eric if all you can do is call names then you've lost the argument. You lost the argument a long time ago.

couple problems with your argument:

1) 98% reduction is always better than a 33% reduction in infection rates. Only marginally when the number of subjects/patients is small, but significant when the number of patients is larger

But the bottom line is its better. Always

2) There are more than 3 patients with whooping cough. I know decreasing the number helps you out (see #1) but its simply not the facts. If you want to make up the facts to suit you, then we're done here.

That means it didn't.

Fine. But you made a statement insinuating I claimed it did. Wrong.

if all you can do is call names then you've lost the argument. You lost the argument a long time ago.

1) You called me sloppy just one post above this. Nice try, hippocrit.

2) Actually, considering the number of people who believe in vaccination, who get their shots, and think people like you are wackos, Ive won

Clearly.

But the bottom line is its better. Always

Hyperbole isn't how you win arguments. It's rhetoric.

More thimerasol is always better. There. You win.

typical robert. When clearly outmatched and without any possible rebuttal, you just ramble. Haha. I accept your tacit agreement with my points

You win.

That was obvious the moment you had no answer for my arguments.

You simply have no data or literature on safety limits of injecting mercury into developing babies. But you did supply ample evidence that mercury is toxic to various organs and that no long term chronic exposure studies have been done. Therefore we just don't know what is happening in terms of mercury exposure with the vaccine program. Mercury is simply not a necessary component in vaccines. It's put in to make vaccines less expensive and therefore more profitable.

Hence it was removed from the U.S. program. But mercury laden vaccines are still being shipped to developing third world countries where side effect follow up is even less likely than it is here. It's a double standard for third world countries and poor people. It's unethical. So in order to get around this ethical issue the AAP has simply stonewalled and said that the mercury is necessary because of financial reasons. Their stonewalling includes denying the toxicity of mercury injections by not looking at specific studies or not performing them. (the reason you have not been able to show the required scientific studies and measurements is because they simply don't exist. And yes your oral and inhalation studies do show toxicity. Injecting may be worse.)

In the U.S it was easier to just remove the mercury from the program than to jeopardize the trust/adherence of the entire population. Third world citizens just won't put up as much of a fight. And their governments don't necessarily look out for what's best for it's citizens. Who buys vaccines? Governments.

Just a little on the business promotion of pandemics and disease prophecy: How doctors are made tools and cheerleaders of pharmaceutical companies without them ever knowing it.

Flu Warning: Beware the Drug Companies!

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/may/12/flu-warning-beware-drug-companies/?pagination=false

According to J.P. Morgan, up to $10 billion was spent globally on “influenza preparedness” in 2009, including over $4 billion by the US alone.

In March 2010, a Council of Europe report⁸ concluded that the H1N1 virus was known to be mild well before the WHO issued the pandemic “declaration” and expressed concern about the influence of powerful pharmaceutical companies over decision-making at the agency. A draft of the WHO’s response was released in March 2011.⁹

Although influenza deaths are relatively rare among those who aren’t otherwise ill..

In 2005–2006, the US and European governments stockpiled nearly $3 billion worth of the most popular neuraminidase inhibitor, known as Tamiflu.¹² At $10–$15 a dose, few developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America would be able to afford Tamiflu, but Margaret Chan, then assistant director-general of the WHO in charge of influenza pandemic coordination, joined by representatives from Hoffman–La Roche, Tamiflu’s Swiss manufacturer, urged Western governments to contribute to a Tamiflu stockpile fund for the developing world.¹³

The many contradictions in the evidence concerning Tamiflu and Relenza raise questions about the WHO’s decision to declare an influenza “pandemic emergency” in 2009 and promote these drugs to fight it. In May 2009, a month before the pandemic declaration was issued, Roy Anderson, a prominent British epidemiologist and adviser to both the WHO and the UK government, gravely warned a BBC radio audience that only Relenza and Tamiflu would prevent a catastrophe on the scale of the 1918 influenza pandemic.⁴⁶ At the time, Anderson was receiving £116,000 per year from GlaxoSmithKline, manufacturer of Relenza. Calls for Anderson to resign from the UK government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies soon followed.⁴⁷ A few months later, Anderson, citing a desire to concentrate on research, stepped down from his post as rector of Imperial College London, but he remains an adviser to both the UK government and the WHO.⁴⁸

ou simply have no data or literature on safety limits of injecting mercury into developing babies.

Sure I do. theres epidemiological data showing no harmful effects. But YOU have no data on its dangers.

But you did supply ample evidence that mercury is toxic to various organs

So is vitamin A. Its all about dose, sweetheart

no long term chronic exposure studies have been done

You are clearly mentally ill...chronic exposure studies were included in the guidelines I posted

. Therefore we just don't know what is happening in terms of mercury exposure with the vaccine program.

Actually, we know. YOU don't, but thats your own fault.

nd yes your oral and inhalation studies do show toxicity. Injecting may be worse

page 192 nimrod. I can't treat your literacy problem

Nothing of your second post contradicts my earlier posts or the safety of vaccines. And its opinion, so who cares

Very poor effort mrs robby....

You don't INJECT tuna. If the amount of mercury in a vaccine were to be spilled on the ground a Hazmat team would be called in.

You don't INJECT tuna

So your argument is that mercury is completely nonabsorbed by the GI tract...wrong again

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16381485

If the amount of mercury in a vaccine were to be spilled on the ground a Hazmat team would be called in.

nonsense. Proof?

So your argument is that mercury is completely nonabsorbed by the GI tract...wrong again

No

yes

You're not speaking for me.

"At concentrations found in vaccines, thimerosal meets the requirements for a preservative as set forth by theUnited States Pharmacopeia; that is, it kills the specified challenge organisms and is able to prevent the growth of the challenge fungi (U.S. Pharmacopeia 2004). Thimerosal in concentrations of 0.001% (1 part in 100,000) to 0.01% (1 part in 10,000) has been shown to be effective in clearing a broad spectrum of pathogens. A vaccine containing 0.01% thimerosal as a preservative contains 50 micrograms of thimerosal per 0.5 mL dose or approximately 25 micrograms of mercury per 0.5 mL dose." ( http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/VaccineSafety/UCM096228 )

(Bolding is mine).

If the amount of mercury in a vaccine were to be spilled on the ground a Hazmat team would be called in.

25 micrograms of mercury, at a density of 13.56g/mL is an incredibly small volume- 0.000002 mL. I don't know if you'd be able to even see it.

I think the larger argument is that babies especially get lots of vaccines. Mercury stays in the system for a long time so the chemical accumulates. Also, lead was once considered safe in paints too. A minimum requirement doesn't necessarily make it safe, especially when you get more than one dosage and are the size of a football.

I would also say that the flu vaccine is more of a hysteria than a real concern. On both sides of the argument. Yes, you're probably not being poisoned with mercury. Yes, you probably won't die without having it. Yes, whatever "terrible" cold that the media blows way out of proportion each year probably won't do anything except make you sick.

I just lead a clean lifestyle, get plenty of sleep, eat really good nutrient rich foods, and work out a lot. I think that's more effective than any flu vaccine because I haven't been sick in years. Treat your immune system well and it'll treat you well.

Mercury stays in the system for a long time so the chemical accumulates

do you have proof of this?

A minimum requirement doesn't necessarily make it safe, especially when you get more than one dosage and are the size of a football.

Does it make it dangerous? If so, where's your proof?

I just lead a clean lifestyle, get plenty of sleep, eat really good nutrient rich foods, and work out a lot. I think that's more effective than any flu vaccine because I haven't been sick in years. Treat your immune system well and it'll treat you well

This is not mutually exclusive with respect to vaccination.

so true so true.....

http://www.vaccine-tlc.org/docs/Thimerosal%20Material%20Safety%20Data%20Sheet.pdf

Safety data sheet from Eli Lily and Co.

Thimerosal contains 49.6% w/w organically-bound mercury.

Exposure Guidelines: Thimerosal - No known occupational exposure limits established.

Emergency OverviewSpecialR = ReproductiveA = AllergenEmergency Overview Effective Date: 08-Dec-1999Lilly Laboratory Labeling Codes:Health 2 Fire 1 Reactivity 0 Special R, APrimary Physical and Health Hazards: Skin Permeable. Toxic. Mutagen. Irritant (eyes). Allergen. Nervous System and Reproductive Effects. Caution Statement: Thimerosal may enter the body through the skin, is toxic, alters genetic material,may be irritating to the eyes, and causes allergic reactions. Effects of exposure may include numbnessof extremities, fetal changes, decreased offspring survival, and lung tissue changes.

Chronic ExposureThimerosol is a mercuric compound. Toxicity data for thimerosal and mercury are presented. Target Organ Effects: Thimerosal - Kidney effects (tubule necrosis), lung effects (tissue changes).Mercury - Nervous system effects (insomnia, tremor, anorexia, weakness, headache), liver effects(jaundice, digestive effects (hypermotility, diarrhea). Other Effects: Thimerosal - Decreased weight gain. Reproduction: Thimerosal - Decreased offspring survival.Mercury - Changes in sperm production, decreased offspring survival, and offspring nervous systemeffects including mild to severe mental retardation and motor coordination impairment. Sensitization: No applicable information found. Mutagenicity: Thimerosal - Mutagenic in mammalian cells. Not mutagenic in bacterial cells.

http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/v9/n9/abs/4001529a.html

How population-based variability affects the safety of the ethylmercury-containing vaccine preservative, thimerosal, is unknown.

http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/y73-021#.UM-vXuTHXko

Effect of Sodium Ethylmercurithiosalicylate (Thimerosal) on Serum Binding of Thyroid Hormones
Screws up thyroid hormones too.

Clockworkfox,

You may know a little about Chemistry (hard to say really). My chemistry professor at UC Davis told the joke about the irony of Na and Cl (separately as elements) and NaCl (as a compound) in my first year chemistry class. I guess (almost) every chemistry teacher/professor does. But NaCl is not an organic compound, nor is it a mercury (Hg) containing/releasing compound. There is a (huge) difference. And specifically, when you state...

"the form of ethyl mercury was probably deemed safe because that particular compound of mercury does not pose a threat or our cells. It passes through our bodies, and away. No heavy metal poisoning, no mental damage, none of that. All thanks to our good friend, chemistry!"

You are wrong on every point.

This "particular compound" ethyl mercury DOES indeed pose a threat to our cells, especially the cells in our brain! In fact, ethyl mercury --is-- an extremely hazardous neurotoxicant (especially to the developing CNS of the fetus and infants).

And ethyl mercury injected into the body of a child or an adult (via IM/SQ injection) does not magically "pass through our bodies, and away." It is partially excreted, but also partially deposited in the brain as inorganic mercury (Hg++). Indeed, Burbacher (2005) found that ethyl mercury from thimerosal is distributed to the brain much more readily than methyl mercury. The accumulation of inorganic mercury in the brain is associated with increased numbers of microglia, cellular disruption and death of astrocytes (brain/neuroglial cells), and higher risk of autoimmune reactions. Inorganic mercury is highly toxic to the brain.

Please see my references above to Thomas M Burbacher (professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the University of Washington) and Thomas W Clarkson (professor of environmental medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, NY) -scientists who are nationally known experts in mercury research and toxicology.

But NaCl is not an organic compound,

so what? That distinction is mostly historical, when people thought "organic" compounds were somehow different than inorganic ones. The governing chemistry principles are the same

nor is it a mercury (Hg) containing/releasing compound.

see above. The point is that all elements, including mercury, change their properties, and germane to this discussion, their bioavailability, when combined with other substances

Indeed, Burbacher (2005) found that ethyl mercury from thimerosal is distributed to the brain much more readily than methyl mercury

Actually, that statement is not really accurate. I read the paper you cited...in fact, mercury is distributed in the brain in much higher quantities from methyl mercury than thimersol--only as a percentage of total blood concentration does thimersol brain concentrations exceed MMe.

And if the important point of the discussion is the effect of mercury on the brain, I think we can both agree the relevant fact is how much mercury ends up in the brain, not what percent that amount is of a body concentration

Furthermore, I take issue with the study as the mercury from thimersol was administered IV and the MMe was ingested. This is not a fair comparison. If I injected you with one substance but fed you that same substance at a different time, you would end up with different blood and brain concentrations, even though the substance in question is the same

Eric,

Please tell me you know the difference between organic chemistry and inorganic chemisty. You have a BS in microbiology. Really?

And if you believe that I have characterized Burbacher's 2005 study in any way inaccurately, I encourage you to contact him via email at his office (Thomas Burbacher PhD, Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington).

Please tell me you know the difference between organic chemistry and inorganic chemisty. You have a BS in microbiology. Really

I honestly doubt you do. But if challenged, im sure you would go and copy and paste the most relevant website, since that seems to be your MO.

But a non copy and pasted definition would be that organic chemistry involves the chemical reactions of substances typically found in living organsims; mainly carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen.

I did take a year of it in college, and remember drawing the electron diagrams, and writing out the theoretic intermediaries of chemical reactions. And memorizing the strong acids vs the weak acids. And doing the quantum chemistry with electron shells and seesaw shape vs bent shape, etc.

I doubt you would know anything about that though

nd if you believe that I have characterized Burbacher's 2005 study in any way inaccurately, I encourage you to contact him via email

Are you not capable of pointing out my "inaccuracies"?

1. Don't have much time this morning to 'talk', but... you're right you probably are a MD. Most MDs do not (have the time to) post on popular media comment boards. Anyway, it really didn't sound like it before in your exchanges with Robert. I am curious what subspecialty you work (respectfully).

2. I think you should have caught Scubasteve's error about the safety guideline (RfD) for the oral ingestion of methyl mercury not because you should have that info memorized but because most MDs engaged in a debate would fact check such a claim for accuracy.

3. I am not a biochemist. I said I earned a BS in biochemistry from UC Davis. And I did. I'd be happy to discuss the Krebs cycle with you later when we have more time. After working for a long time helping conduct research with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, I now work in the biomed field in Northern Calif. For reasons that would be obvious to you if you knew me, I have a strong personal interest in preventative medicine, pediatrics, and children's environmental health. Dr. Philip J. Landrigan and Dr. Irva Hertz-Picciotto are heros of mine. Check them both out. They have had fascinating carreers.

4. Toxicology is a complex subject. Just stating "dose makes the poison" does not tell the full story (as I pointed out above). Many factorys determine the "toxicoity "of a substance. Also dose response curves does not always behave in expected ways. For example, the very low-dose effects of endocrine disruptors can not be predicted from high-dose studies, which contradicts the standard “dose makes the poison” rule of toxicology. Nontraditional dose-response curves are referred to as non-monotonic dose response curves.

Please see: environmentalhealthnews.org/sciencebackground/2007/2007-0415nmdrc.html

Sorry for the typos above in #4. I'm running late and typing fast...

1. Cardiology. More specifically, electrophysiology

2. I don't have time to fact check every single claim made in every single post on every single thread. I check the ones that sound outrageous--yours, specifically.

3. I have no desire to rehash the krebs cycle. Specifically, do you work in the wine industry? Thats a far cry from medicine and toxicology....

4. I never claimed to tell the full story on toxicology in a sentence on an internet message board. Your post does not even come close to the full story. It would take a textbook. My point is still relevant, valid, and unchallenged after 2 posts from you. Surely there are exceptions, but remember, the topic at hand is thimersol. "endocrine disruptors" are not at all relevant

Now, my turn for a couple observations/questions:

I looked up some of your other posts on the subject. There are all nearly word for word the same posts here. In fact, you have approx. 5 posts you just keep rehashing over and over again with absolutely no attempt at synthesizing or analyzing the data. Just the same quotes and copied and pasted sources

If you want to be taken seriously, and I don't mean on here but with science in general, you need to make some attempt to draw real conclusions from the data. You also have to be able to deal with questions from sources you cite. Saying, "well, email the author if you disagree" is laughable.

If you are serious about pursuing/researching thimersol, then you need to familiarize yourself with studies done post 1932. Furthermore, you need to read about thimersol studies specifically, not studies involving other forms of mercury injected into monkeys.

I'd like to ask these members of the AAP

I have. they would go with either

ya John...good call remove 1 toxin, but inject with the others..

Go to a real news site and stop believing conspiracy theories.

Ah shoot, link didn't appear.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3395253/

For some reason it won't appear if I include the www on it, so just add it to the front.

agreed, this is why there are vaccine injuries and deaths but it does not happen with every shot, why some smoke their entire lives and never get kung canceer and those who don't get it at 40 & die, why a certain treatment works for one and not someone else. Everyone is different.

In the study you posted, they grew brain cells in a petri dish and then bathed them in Thimerosal.

As about 50 people above me have posted, all toxicity is dose dependent. If you drink enough water, it's toxic.

Comparing the effects on brain cells grown in vitro and bathed in Thimerosal to the effects of a tiny dose given to a complete organisim isn't really a good comparison.

25 micrograms of gasoline i injected into babies is healthy and very safe.

Seriously it won't hurt a single baby. It's such a small amount. We don't need RCT's we know that it's a small amount and small amounts are always safe to developing brains. They're exactly like big brains except smaller.

Actually one cigarrette won't hurt them either. Try it. It's safe.

Put a little alcohol in the bottle every now and then too. It helps calm them down and makes them "sleep like a baby". The benefits outweigh the risks. The small amount is absolutely safe. It destresses the mom, too!

do you have epidemilogical data to back up your gasoline claim?

Because i have it to support the safety of thimersol

Important difference, dont you think?

Please post the original studies that showed thimerasol was safe in order to be approved for the FDA.

DOh. Those studies weren't done. Doh!

o you have epidemilogical data to back up your gasoline claim?

Because i have it to support the safety of thimersol

Rigorous safety studies have not been done. absence of evidence does not mean evidence of absence. mercury is a neurotoxin.

This isn't about the safety of mercury of absence of appropiate studies. This is about money. These vaccine can be made without mercury. Mercury is not a necessary ingredient. It makes the vaccine cheaper because of repeat needle aspiration of the same vial.

Rigorous safety studies have not been done

Rigorous epidemiologic studies have been done. If thimersol were toxic, we would see some effect.

We haven't

bsence of evidence does not mean evidence of absence.

Nice stolen phrase, but doesn't apply here. Sorry

ERIC: Rigorous epidemiologic studies have been done. If thimersol were toxic, we would see some effect.

We haven't

Yep, that's why giving a child one cigarette to smoke isn't bad for them. it's too small for epidemiological studies to pick up. Therefore smoking small amounts of cigarettes is safe for young children. Same goes with gasoline injections. A little bit surely won't hurt. Epidemiological couldn't prove it.

HaHa in the 1920's cigarettes were considered safe. But were they really?

im not sure what you are trying to say with your example

Its true the risk for one cigarette is small

I doubt thats the same for gasoline

Again, the point is that if thimersol were dangerous, we would have seen some effect on large epidemiologic studies. We haven't

Is the same true for gasoline? No studies have been done but science and common sense say probably not

not true at all

Citation for the 90% statistic please

Citation for the 90% statistic please

Do you think I'm lying?

frankly, yes.

But more importantly, i want you to pull out your source so I can show you how you are wrong. If your stat is from an unbiased source, it should give an explanation of why although most of the cases occur in the vaccinated, the unvaccinated are still at higher risk.

Or I could just explain it to you now in a hypothetical situation:

Imagine a vaccine thats 90% effective. While not perfect, its certainly very good and far better than nothing. Now imagine that 1000 people get vaccinated and 50 choose not to.

So, out of the vaccinated group the number of people infected is 100 (10% of the total vaccinated). And out of the unvaccinated group 25 get infected

You would look at these numbers and say: "Wow, four times as many people got infected who got the vaccine compared to not, and 80% of all cases occur in vaccinated people, therefore the vaccine doesn't work"

Of course, this is wrong. First, by definition, we know the vaccine works 90% of the time. Again, very good by any measure. Secondly, the risk per individual is much higher in the unvaccinated group vs vaccinated (50% vs 10%)

These are numbers, and they, unlike you, don't lie

Imagine a vaccine thats 90% effective

Yeh, Imagine if you can.

Now imagine that..

You can stop with the imagination scenarios.

If one thousand people get a pertussis vaccine that is 60-70% effective and then the vaccine wanes after 3 years, and if 90% don't get boosters how many are vaccine immunized? heck if it were 100% efficacious (not the same as effectiveness) how many would still be vaccine immunized after it waned?

I love how you stole this little scenario from the skeptics. it's cute and very effective at persuasion. But's it's not real world.

. Imagine a vaccine thats 90% effective.

You are putting a conclusion into your argument.

-------------------------------------

"Certainly the major epidemics in 2005, in 2010 and now in 2012 suggest that failure of the DTaP vaccine is a matter of serious concern," Cherry said. (Cherry is vaccine proponent and expert in pertussis)

ou can stop with the imagination scenarios.

Relax. We have to imagine since you lied about your statistic and have yet to provide a source. If you provided your source when I asked we wouldn't have to imagine

e and then the vaccine wanes after 3 years,

Source?

heck if it were 100% efficacious (not the same as effectiveness)

Yes it is. Are you illiterate?

) how many would still be vaccine immunized after it waned?

Your whole argument depends on the vaccine waning after 3 years. Fine--source?

I love how you stole this little scenario from the skeptics. it's cute and very effective at persuasion. But's it's not real world.

I didn't steal anything--i made that scenario up. If you think I stole it, please provide a source or place you think I stole it from. I doubt you can

You are putting a conclusion into your argument.

Its not a conclusion. Its a premise that the argument is based off of. It proves that efficacious vaccines can still produce a group with more infected people than unvaccinated given more raw numbers. I am absolutely flabbergasted that you cannot see that.

Simply stated, there are many, many more vaccinated people than unvaccinated. Given ANY degree of imperfection in the vaccine, the infection rates in the vaccinated will outnumber the unvaccinated. thats not proof of vaccine failure--thats proof of math

"Certainly the major epidemics in 2005, in 2010 and now in 2012 suggest that failure of the DTaP vaccine is a matter of serious concern," Cherry said. (Cherry is vaccine proponent and expert in pertussis)

I love how you don't understand biology, math, or statistics so you can't make any persuasive argument using numbers or facts. Instead, you go to your grab bag of skeptics and pull out random opinions

If you want to battle with just opinion, 99.9% of all infectious disease resarchers and doctors and epidemiologists think vaccination is a good thing.

Do you really think by highlighting the dissenting 0.1% youre doing anything but showing how wrong you are?

Lest you be reminded of those who were coerced without informed consent:

Numbers affected

The mistake resulted in the production of 120,000 doses of polio vaccine that contained live polio virus. Of the children who received the vaccine, 40,000 developed abortive poliomyelitis (a form of the disease that does not involve the central nervous system), 56 developed paralytic poliomyelitis and of these 5 children died as a result of polio infection.^[6] The exposures led to an epidemic of polio in the families and communities of the affected children, resulting in a further 113 people paralyzed and 5 deaths.^[7]

[edit]Administrative consequences

The director of the microbiology institute lost his job, as did the equivalent of the assistant secretary

for health. Oveta Culp Hobbystepped down. Dr Sebrell, the director of the NIH, resigned.^[3]

Other incidents

In the 1980s, numerous companies, including Bayer's Cutter Biologic division, produced unsafe blood products to treat hemophilia. The pharmaceutical product, which was produced from blood given by donors all across the US, was contaminated with HIV at a time when HIV could not be screened out. These problems were the subject of lawsuits over the next twenty years.^[9]

A recent German documentary called "Tödlicher Ausverkauf: Wie BAYER AIDS nach Asien importierte" (Deadly Sale: How Bayer imported AIDS into Asia) researched the Koate product for hemophiliacs sold by Bayer's Cutter division under full knowledge of its HIV contamination. Cutter ex-manager Merill Boyce expressed the opinion that the company should be made responsible and pay damages. Another ex-manager John H Hink, who was also in the team responsible for marketing Koate to Asia, expressed regret in the documentary that management had required that old stock be sold despite its knowledge of HIV contamination. Lexi J Hazan and Charles A Kozak are attorneys representing victims against Bayer AG in the Koate cases. Thomas C Drees is a consultant that researched the Koate Cutter case.

KARACHI: Intramuscular injections linked to paralytic polio

Vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis: a retrospective cohort study of acute flaccid paralyses in Brazil
http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/29/4/757.long

Since 1989 there have been no cases of paralytic poliomyelitis caused by wild poliovirus in Brazil.¹⁴ The same happens in the Americas, where the last isolation of wild poliovirus occurred in 1991, in Peru, and in 1979 in the US. Thus, the only cases of paralytic poliomyelitis identified in the Western Hemisphere since then are vaccine-related.¹⁵

India: Paralysis cases soar after oral polio vaccine introduced

Read more: http://digitaljournal.com/article/323371#ixzz2FdiuKptg

Their findings, which were published in the Indian Journal of medical Ethics, revealed that rates of non-polio acute flaccid paralysis (NPAFP) have increased 1200% since the oral polio vaccine was introduced to India a decade ago.

“In 2011, there were an extra 47500 new cases of NPAFP [in India]. Clinically indistinguishable from polio paralysis but twice as deadly, the incidence of NPAFP was directly proportional to doses of oral polio received.”