|
Thimerosal
Autism FAQs
What
is Thimerosal?
Thimerosal is a mercury-containing
organic compound, or an organomercurial. Since the 1930s,
it has been used as a preservative in a number of biological
and drug products, including many vaccines,
to help prevent potentially life threatening contamination
with harmful microbes. First introduced by Eli Lilly Company,
thimerosal is 49.6% mercury by weight and is metabolized or
degraded into ethylmercury and thiosalicylate.
Top
of Page
Why
is Thimerosal Controversial?
Thimerosal contains mercury, which is a toxic
compound that can result in serious health problems. Toxicity
of mercury has been linked to many  different
diseases, including autism, learning disabilities,
Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, lupus,
chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, depression, and bipolar
disorder. Health effects of mercury toxicity
have been a concern because of the potential for it to act
as a poison. Toxic doses of mercury can cause developmental
effects in the fetus, as well as affecting the kidney and
the nervous system in children and adults.
Mercury exists in a number of different chemical forms, each
one consisting of different levels of toxicity. The forms
of mercury can also be converted from one to another in the
environment and in the body, so symptoms caused by mercury
poisoning depends on the precise chemical forms involved.
Top
of Page
What
is Mercury?
Mercury is the second most toxic
element on earth to plutonium. Toxicity of mercury has been
linked to many different diseases, including autism,
learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis,
fibromyalgia, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis,
depression, and bipolar disorder. The amount of mercury found
in one mercury thermometer is enough to pollute a small lake.
Mercury can be toxic when inhaled, eaten, or when placed on
the skin. Low concentrations of mercury may appear to have
no effect but signs of toxicity can develop later or become
more noticeable with continued exposure. When toxicity in
humans takes place loss of feeling or a burning sensation
in arms and legs, psychological effects, loss of memory, loss
of vision, loss of hearing, paralysis, congenital malformations,
kidney toxicity, and death may occur. Prenatal toxicity can
result in a child with normal appearance
at birth but who later exhibits a developmental delay in the
ability to walk and/or talk. Because of the long latent period
for observable effects, the need for treatment may be recognized
too late.
Top
of Page
Why
is Mercury More Dangerous in Children?
Fetuses, infants and small children appear to be particularly
sensitive to mercury because their brains are still developing.
Vaccines with mercury have been considered
to contribute to autism, learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s
Disease, and other neurological conditions, and an FDA review
conducted in 1998 determined that, at the time, children who
received the full complement of childhood vaccines were potentially
exposed to levels of mercury that were sometimes 30 to 50
times the acceptable levels established by the EPA. The number
of children that have been affected by autism had made a drastic
jump from 1 in 2,000 in 1970 to 1 in 250 in 2000, and the
number of children diagnosed with learning disabilities is
now 1 in 5.
Top
of Page
What
is Autism?
Autism is a neurological disorder that usually appears within
the first couple years of a child’s life.
Sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral functions of
an individual are characteristics of the disorder. Autism
is the third most common child development disorders in the
U.S.
Top
of Page
What
is a Vaccine?
A vaccine is a preparation containing
the weakened or killed microorganisms that cause a particular
disease. When these substances are injected or taken orally,
the body stimulates the immune system to produce the necessary
defenses against that disease. Adverse reactions to vaccines
can occur because of the organisms introduced into the body.
Top
of Page
Do
Vaccines Have Side Effects?
Vaccines do have side effects, though not
normally very serious. Some side effects may include:
- mild
fever
- soreness,
swelling and redness at the site of the injection
- head
cold and/or runny nose
- cough
and/or puffy eyes
- localized
pain at the injection site
- nausea
- general
unwellness
- faint
rash
- joint
pain
- irritability
of the child
|
Top
of Page
Which
Vaccines Contain Thimerosal?
|
Vaccines
Containing Thimerosal
|
| DTaP |
Acel-Imune
Lederle Laboratories |
| Tripedia |
Pasteur
Merieux Connaught |
| Certiva |
North
American Vaccine |
| DTwP |
All
products |
| DT |
All
products |
| Td |
All
products |
| TT |
All
products |
| DtwP-Hib |
Tetramune
Lederle Laboratories |
| TriHIBit |
Pasteur
Merieux Connaught |
| HibTITER
(multidose) |
Lederle
Laboratories |
| ProHIBit4 |
Pasteur
Merieux Connaught |
| Hepatitis
B virus |
Engerix-B
SmithKline Beecham |
| Recombivax
HB |
Merck
|
| Influenza |
All
|
| Meningococcal |
Menomune
A, C, AC and A/C/Y/W-135
CLI |
| Pneumococcal |
Pnu-Imune
23
Lederle Laboratories |
| Rabies |
Rabies
Vaccine Adsorbed
BioPort Corporation |
Top
of Page
What
Are My Legal Rights?
lawsuits have been underway involving children
damaged by mercury containing vaccines. Parents have the right
to know if vaccines routinely administered to their children
contain additional ingredients, such as mercury, that mercury
injected along with routine vaccinations expose their children
to levels of toxic mercury in excess of
federal government safety guidelines, that exposure to toxic
mercury could lead to neurological injury, and to be informed
of mercury-free vaccines that are available. In September
1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy on
mercury in vaccines that directed physicians to warn parents
of the risks associated with thimerosal and to make available
alternatives to thimerosal where available, yet thimerosal
vaccines continue to be stocked on shelves. Serious conditions
such as autism, learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease,
and other neurological conditions have been associated to
the exposure of thimerosal-containing vaccines. Despite the
risks associated to the vaccines they continue to stock shelves
and to be administered. If you would like more information
regarding your legal rights, please contact
us.
Top
of Page
|
