Thiomersal

[fiveworlds]

My mom was telling me a story how people in the healthcare industry in America were complaining because they were forced to have regular flu vaccinations and that the vaccination contained mercury. I have looked up the flu vaccination and it contains a substance called Thiomersal C₉H₉HgNaO₂S which does indeed contain mercury. Is there any correlation between Thiomersal and mercury poisoning?

Edited April 11, 2015 by fiveworlds

[Strange]

There is no evidence that thiomersal is toxic: http://www.who.int/vaccine_safety/committee/topics/thiomersal/questions/en/

[Asimov]

Strange and fiveworlds: Thiomersol is called Thimerosol in the U.S. and is not considered toxic in vaccinations. IMO this is because vaccinations are only every so often and the mercury never reaches a toxic level. Used long enough a toxic reaction is almost certain when the murcury reaches a certain level in the body and it is severe when used in the eyes.I was starting practice in the early 70's when soft CL first came out.. First they were boiled to disinfect in special units, later the so called cold solutions came out with thimerosol and it was disastrous for optometrists.Almost everyone eventually had a delayed hypersensitivity to the thimerosol. Pain redness and contact lense intolerance blur and edema were pronounced.. I myself was a victim.And no, I i didnt make house calls in a buckboard wagon.

Thimerosol is no longer used for this purpose but intolerance or allergies to preservatives in solutions can occur and we use H2O2,, peroxide for disinfecting.A platinum disk overnight knocks of an "O" leaving pure saline, no preservatives.

[CharonY]

It is used in low concentrations and it is readily converted to ethylmercury in the body, which is eliminated fairly quickly. There are efforts to replace thiomersal, especially for infants, though. However, in absence of alternatives the risk is far lower than that of infections and is very safe for adults (occupational Hg exposure in industry can be higher, for example).

[swansont]

One should also note that danger varies with the compound. Chlorine gas, for example is a poison, but table salt contains chlorine and is not.

 

Also, Thiomersol / Thimerosol was eliminated from many vaccines years ago.