2.14 Is Mercury the Problem?

A study published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Science found that exposure of low levels of mercury, as found in vaccines, accelerates autoimmune disease in mice. Via and Silbergeld (2003) stated scientists are uncertain about the impact of mercury exposure on humans.  “There is considerable concern over potential neurotoxic effects associated with current levels of human exposure to mercury.”  They concluded that further studies should examine the immune system as a target of toxicity in humans.

A mercury compound (thimerosal) is still used as a preservative in many vaccines. including the DPT-Hib. Ueha-Ishibashi, Oyama, Nakao, Umebayashi, Nishizaki, Tatsuishi, Iwase, Murao and Seo (2004) found 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. 

 Geier and Geier (2003) found that the occurrence of neurodevelopmental disorders following thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines does not appear to be coincidental but recommended additional studies to confirm and extend their study.  This study had been rebutted by Madsen, Lauritsen, Pedersen, Thorsen, Plesner, Andersen and Mortensen (2003).

According to Ball, Ball and Pratt (2001), in July 1999 the American Academy of Paediatrics and the United States Public Health Service, acknowledging that mercury exposure from vaccinations given in the first six months of life exceeded maximum acceptable levels established in federal guidelines, issued a joint statement calling for removal of thimerosal from vaccines because ethylmercury from thimerosal was able to cross the blood brain barrier: “there are well-recognised, delayed type hypersensitivity reactions from thimerosal exposure.”

This action was prompted in part by a risk assessment from the Food and Drug Administration. These finding are a massive threat to the vaccine industry, especially for the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly which holds the patent on thimerosal (National Vaccination Information Centre, 2004).

The British government has always maintained that there was no problem with thimerosal. In August 2004 the DPT vaccine was replaced with a new “safer” five in one vaccine that does not contain thimerosal !!!!        (Vide demonstrating how mercury damages the Central Nervous System)