Sarah Bennett
Thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, has been used for decades in multi-dose vials of vaccines to prevent the growth of harmful microbes inadvertently introduced into the vaccine during use. It is added to vials of vaccines that contain more than one dose to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi, which can cause severe local reactions, serious illness, or even death. While the use of mercury-containing preservatives has declined in recent years due to the development of new products formulated into single-dose presentations, thimerosal is still used in some flu vaccines. Studies have shown that thimerosal does not cause harm and is not associated with neurodevelopmental problems in children.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mercury-based preservative used in vaccines | Thimerosal |
| Other names | Thiomersal, mercury-containing organic compound |
| Thimerosal composition | Approximately 50% mercury by weight; metabolized or degraded to ethylmercury and thiosalicylate |
| Use | Prevent growth of harmful microbes in vaccines; prevent bacterial and fungal contamination |
| Safety | No evidence of harm except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site; no association with neuropsychological delays or neurodevelopmental problems in children |
| Use in pneumonia vaccine | Pneumovax 23 contains thimerosal |
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What You'll Learn
- Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative used in some vaccines
- Thimerosal is added to multi-dose vials of vaccines to prevent the growth of harmful microbes
- Thimerosal has been used safely in vaccines since the 1930s
- Studies show no association between thimerosal exposure and neuropsychological delays
- The use of mercury-containing preservatives has declined due to the development of single-dose vaccines
Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative used in some vaccines
Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative that has been used for decades, primarily in multi-dose vials of vaccines. It is an organic compound that is approximately 50% mercury by weight and has been used to prevent the growth of harmful microbes inadvertently introduced into the vaccine during use. It is added to vials of vaccines that contain more than one dose to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi.
Thimerosal has been used safely in vaccines since the 1930s. It is metabolized or degraded to ethylmercury and thiosalicylate. Ethylmercury is an organomercurial that is different from methylmercury, which is the type of mercury found in certain kinds of fish. Methylmercury can be toxic to people at high exposure levels. However, ethylmercury is cleared from the human body more quickly than methylmercury, making it less likely to cause harm.
Thimerosal has been the subject of numerous studies over the years, and there is no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor local reactions such as redness and swelling at the injection site. In 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Public Health Service recommended removing or reducing thimerosal from vaccines as a precautionary measure. Since then, the use of thimerosal as a preservative in vaccines has significantly declined due to the development of single-dose vaccines that do not require preservatives.
Thimerosal is still used in some vaccines, such as certain influenza vaccines for adults and high-risk children. It is also used in other products such as immune globulin preparations, anti-venins, skin test antigens, and ophthalmic and nasal products. While thimerosal has been removed from most childhood vaccines, it is important to note that vaccines do not cause mercury toxicity due to the different chemical forms of mercury involved.
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Thimerosal is added to multi-dose vials of vaccines to prevent the growth of harmful microbes
Thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, has been used for decades in multi-dose vials of vaccines to prevent the growth of harmful microbes. It is added to vaccines that contain more than one dose to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi, which can enter a vaccine during the administration process when a syringe needle enters a vial. Contamination by microbes in a vaccine could lead to severe local reactions, serious illness, or even death.
Thimerosal has been used safely in vaccines since the 1930s. It is approximately 50% mercury by weight and is metabolized or degraded into ethylmercury and thiosalicylate. Ethylmercury is cleared from the human body more quickly than methylmercury, the type of mercury found in certain kinds of fish, and is therefore less likely to cause harm.
Research has found no association between thimerosal exposure and neuropsychological delays. Results from several studies, including a CDC study, an Italian study, and a review by the Immunization Safety Review Committee, do not support an association between thimerosal exposure and an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or other neurodevelopmental problems in children.
While the use of mercury-containing preservatives has declined in recent years due to the development of single-dose vaccines, thimerosal is still used in some flu vaccines. The benefits of the influenza vaccine, with or without thimerosal, are considered to outweigh the theoretical risks of thimerosal.
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Thimerosal has been used safely in vaccines since the 1930s
Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative that has been used safely in vaccines and other biological and pharmaceutical products since the 1930s. It is added to vials of vaccines that contain more than one dose (multi-dose vials) to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi, which can enter a vaccine during its administration and lead to severe local reactions, serious illness, or even death.
Thimerosal has been the subject of numerous studies over the years, and no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines has been found. Thimerosal is approximately 50% mercury by weight and is metabolized or degraded into ethylmercury and thiosalicylate. Ethylmercury is cleared from the human body more quickly than methylmercury, the type of mercury found in certain kinds of fish, and is therefore less likely to cause harm.
In 1999, the Public Health Service agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure. This was due to concerns about mercury toxicity, as mercury can be toxic to the nervous system, kidneys, and lungs. However, the type of mercury in thimerosal is different from the type found in seafood. Methylmercury exposure is particularly concerning during pregnancy and breastfeeding as it can negatively affect brain and nervous system development in the fetus.
Thimerosal has not been used in vaccines for children since 2001, although it is still used in some flu vaccines. Overall, thimerosal has a long record of safe and effective use, and its inclusion in vaccines has helped to facilitate immunization campaigns in the United States and globally.
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Studies show no association between thimerosal exposure and neuropsychological delays
Thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, has been used for decades in the United States in multi-dose vials of vaccines and medicines. It is added to prevent the growth of harmful microbes inadvertently introduced into the vaccine during use, which can cause severe local reactions, serious illness, or even death.
Thimerosal is approximately 50% mercury by weight and is metabolized or degraded into ethylmercury and thiosalicylate. Ethylmercury is different from methylmercury, the type of mercury found in certain kinds of fish, which can be toxic to people at high exposure levels. Ethylmercury is cleared from the human body more quickly than methylmercury, making it less likely to cause harm.
While thimerosal has been used safely in vaccines since the 1930s, its use as a preservative has declined in recent years due to the development of single-dose presentations that do not require preservatives. Thimerosal is no longer used in vaccines for children and is only still used in some flu vaccines.
Despite its long-term safe use, concerns have been raised about the potential association between ethyl mercury exposure from thimerosal-containing vaccines and neuropsychological functioning. Multiple studies have been conducted to investigate this possible link, including assessments of prenatal and infant exposure to thimerosal-containing vaccines and immunoglobulins.
Results from these studies consistently show no association between thimerosal exposure and neuropsychological delays. A CDC study found no link between early exposure to thimerosal in vaccines and neuropsychological problems in children between the ages of 7 and 10 years. Similarly, an Italian study concluded that immunization in infancy with thimerosal-containing vaccines did not negatively impact neuropsychological performance later in childhood. These findings are further supported by additional research, which has found no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor local reactions at the injection site, such as redness and swelling.
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The use of mercury-containing preservatives has declined due to the development of single-dose vaccines
Thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, has been used in vaccines since the 1930s. It is added to multi-dose vials of vaccines to prevent the growth of harmful microbes, bacteria, and fungi, which can enter when a syringe needle pierces the vial. This contamination can cause severe local reactions, serious illness, or even death.
Thimerosal is approximately 50% mercury by weight and is metabolized or degraded into ethylmercury and thiosalicylate. Ethylmercury is different from methylmercury, the type of mercury found in certain kinds of fish, which can accumulate in the human body and cause sickness. Ethylmercury is cleared from the human body more quickly and is therefore less likely to cause harm.
Despite the long record of safe and effective use, concerns have been raised about the potential harm caused by thimerosal in vaccines. Studies have been conducted to assess the association between ethyl mercury exposure from thimerosal-containing vaccines and neuropsychological functioning, with no association found. There is also no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor local reactions such as redness and swelling at the injection site.
The use of thimerosal as a preservative has declined due to the development of vaccines supplied in single-dose presentations, which do not require preservatives. This shift has been driven by precautionary measures and the reformulation of vaccines into single-dose containers. While thimerosal is no longer used in vaccines for children, it is still present in some flu vaccines.
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Frequently asked questions
Pneumovax 23, a vaccine for the prevention of pneumococcal disease, contains thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative.
Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative that has been used in multi-dose vials of vaccines and medicines. It is added to prevent the growth of harmful microbes inadvertently introduced into the vaccine during use.
Thimerosal has been used safely in vaccines since the 1930s. There is no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor local reactions at the site of injection such as redness and swelling.
The use of thimerosal as a preservative has declined in recent years due to the development of single-dose vaccines that do not require preservatives. However, thimerosal is still used in some flu vaccines.
