More on Mercury & Thimersal

I was lied to.

Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative developed in the 1930s that has been used in as many as 50 vaccines. In the 1982 Federal Register, an expert panel at the FDA reviewed thimerosal and found that it was toxic and caused cell death. The FDA called for its removal in over the counter products. Additionally, In 1999, the FDA stated that mercury exposure from vaccines exceeded Federal Safety Guidelines. Government officials admitted they were "asleep at the switch" when they failed to add up the cumulative exposure levels as new vaccines were added to the early infant vaccination schedule in the early1990's.

A decade ago, the rate of autism was 1 to 2 per 10,000. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) research now indicates that one in every 150 children now have autism. The dramatic rise in autism rates correlates with the increase in mercury exposure. Thimerosal was first marketed in the mid 1930's. Autism was first described as a new, never before seen disorder in 1943, in children born in the 1930's. Neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism have similar symptoms to those of mercury poisoning.

Thousands of families have reported that their normally-developing children changed after receiving mercury-containing vaccines and began displaying symptoms that lead to a diagnosis of autism. The symptoms of autism not only mimic those of mercury poisoning, but children with autism have been found to have more mercury in their bodies than typically-developing children.

In March, 2001, the FDA issued a statement warning pregnant women and young children not to eat fish containing high levels of mercury for fear of causing neurological problems in children. Yet, the CDC's National Immunization Program has continued to allow these same sensitive populations to be exposed to mercury from routinely administered flu shots which contain more mercury than seafood.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently closed down schools when it was discovered that air mercury levels were at 30mcg/m. (EPA's action level in the air is 1mcg/m). Yet infants injected with multiple mercury containing vaccines in the 1990s received up to 187 mcg during the first six months of life. A typical dose received by a two-month old who received three mercury vaccines was 125 times EPA's daily allowable exposure levels .

In 2001, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) stated it is "biologically plausible" that Thimerosal in vaccines caused autism, ADD/ ADHD and neurodevelopmental disorders in general.

Mercury, having been acknowledged as one of the most neurotoxic substances on earth, must be fully investigated to determine its impact on the population's health and to identify treatments for affected individuals, as well as establishing much needed safety standards. Mercury in medicinal uses, created via industry emissions, in the waterways and food chain of our planet must be reduced. SafeMinds is committed to funding research that lends itself to these goals and has historically furnished research that continues to support the need for these investigates, as well as the harm of continued exposure to mercury.