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For the past six years the popular and medical media has been full of
the controversial potential relationship between the increased use of
thimerosal as a preservative in infant vaccines and the epidemic rise
in rates of autism spectrum disorders. Epidemiologists say that the
population based studies show no correlation, but the laboratory and
animal studies that have been conducted and the existing literature
show the potential for harm.
What has never been done and published is a true well controlled
pharmacokinetic study. Given that your discussion group includes
scientists from around the world from inside industry, government and
academia, I wanted to seek your input on this most important issue. I
lean towards feeling that the science is incomplete and a desire for
scientists whose expertise is pharmacokinetics would step into this
issues and without prejudice on vaccine policies answer the important
questions of the potential and acutal harm that thimerosal (49.5%
ethylmercury) may cause in humans across the lifespan and whether a
famil history of autoimmune disorders, as has been postulated, and
evaluated in mice at Columbia University, may play a role in increased
mercury absorption in the brain. Dr. Val Aposhian suggested two years
ago to the IOM that children who were exposed to 62.5 mcg in one day
and over 187 mcg the first six months of life of ethylmercury in
infant vaccines and who now have high levels of heavy metals in their
bodies may suffer from an as yet unrecognized efflux disorder.
Your thoughts.
Beth
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Copyright 1995-2010 David W. A. Bourne (david@boomer.org)