Mercury
Poisoning and Thimerosal
Mercury
is a natural element that can occur
in three forms: metallic, inorganic,
and organic. High levels of organic
mercury can be toxic to humans, especially
in a compound known as methylmercury.
Humans are usually exposed to methylmercury
by eating contaminated fish. Methylmercury
exposure is especially dangerous for
developing fetuses, infants, and young
children, often resulting in severe
brain and nervous system damage.Thimerosal
is an antiseptic ingredient used since
the 1930s in some vaccines and other
products to kill bacteria.
Thimerosal is a compound that contains
an inorganic form of mercury called
ethylmercury. The health effects of
thimerosal are unknown. The only documented
reactions to vaccines containing thimerosal
have been minor redness and irritation
at the injection site.
The
controversy over thimerosal
Although
the health effects of ethylmercury
are currently undetermined, the recognized
dangers of methylmercury have incited
a debate over whether or not people
should be given vaccines containing
thimerosal. No harm to children given
thimerosal-containing vaccines has
been documented. Still, research indicates
that it is possible for an infant
to exceed one federal limit (established
by the Environmental Protection Agency,
using data on methylmercury) through
the routine immunizations given before
the child is six months old if each
injection contains thimerosal. The
controversy arises, however, in the
fact that the apparent risks of exposure
to ethylmercury through thimerosal
seem to be much less likely and less
dangerous than the risk of foregoing
immunizations to diseases like mumps
and polio.
Committee
decision and recommendation
In
1999, the U.S. Public Health Service
(PHS), the American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP), and vaccine manufacturers agreed
that thimerosal should no longer be
used in vaccines as a precautionary
measure. In the meantime, however,
they recommend that all children continue
to follow the prescribed immunization
schedule, even if that means being
exposed to thimerosal. Because negative
health effects from ethylmercury have
not been proven, but the risks of
disease without immunization are well
documented, the PHS and AAP believe
that adhering to the vaccination timetable
is of paramount importance. All the
vaccines on the recommended schedule
have been available in forms that
do not contain thimerosal since July
2000.
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