Yes.

Quicksilver is one.

And Ydrargyrum is another.

In many vaccines, a compound (or mixture) called thiomersal, or ethylmercury, is alleged to cause autism and other mercury-toxic damage to vaccinated babies, although this is continuously denied by those making (and so profiting from) vaccines and by the governmental regulatory bodies who purport to protect us but have shown on many occasions to stuggle with conflicts of interest vested in vaccine makers.

There is a popular theory circulating the internet that thimersol in vaccinations has contributed to the increase in Autism levels in the US. There is absolutely no scientific evidence that there is any link between the two. When reading material on the internet about this subject, keep in mind the source of the information. Often the information is only opinion, and not researched scientific data. Vaccinations are vital for the health of all people, and have very few side effects, mostly limited to soreness at the injection site and mild fever. Please read the information provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website for more general information about vaccines and vaccine safety, and from the Vaccine Information Center, which provides scientific evidence for the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Both are provided below in "Related Links" Can autism be caused by Thiomersal from vaccines? Technically the jury is still out... but not for long. And parents armed with their children's lab tests have made up their own minds. Since 2002 the U.S. Federal Omnibus Autism Proceeding has investigated whether Thiomersal (Thimerosal) causes autism. Nearly 5,000 children have cases filed in this area of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, and the verdicts may be announced early in 2009. (Link to website below.)

Thimerosal is 49.6% ethylmercury by weight, and mercury in any form is a neurotoxin. Manufacturers Safety Data Sheets for Thimerosal state that the compound is a mutagen (mutates genes) and a teratogen (causes cancer). Research indicates Thimerosal causes damage at nanomolar levels: * 0.5 parts per billion ( ppb) mercury = Kills human neuroblastoma cells (Parran et al., Toxicol Sci 2005; 86: 132-140). * 2 ppb mercury = U.S. EPA limit for drinking water. * 20 ppb mercury = Neurite membrane structure destroyed (Leong et al., Neuroreport * 200 ppb mercury = level in liquid the EPA classifies as hazardous waste. * 600 ppb mercury = Level in a currently licensed Hepatitis B, multi-dose vaccine vial, labeled as trace. This is administered at birth. * 25,000 ppb mercury = Level in 94% of injectable influenza vaccines, 2007-2008. 2001; 12: 733-37). Many scientists and physicians worldwide believe that Thimerosal causes neurological and immunological damage, resulting in behaviors rather erroneously given the psychological label of autism spectrum disorder. Some examples: * Boyd E. Haley, PhD of the University of Kentucky, its former chemistry chair, has done extensive research on mercury toxicity from Thimerosal. * Thomas Burbacher, PhD of the University of Washington worked on a 2005 primate study that found ethylmercury bound to brain tissue more quickly than methylmercury. * Washington state chemist Andrew Hall Cutler, PhD, PE, a former NASA employee, treated himself for mercury poisoning. Cutler advises a large Yahoo listserv on biomedical treatments such as chelation, called "Autism-Mercury," and is the author of "Hair Test Interpretation: Finding Hidden Toxicities." Members of Congress who believe Thimerosal is linked to autism include Rep. Dan Burton (D-IN), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), and former Rep. Dave Weldon, M.D. (R-FL). In May 2008 U.S. News & World Report medical editor Dr. Bernadine Healy was interviewed by CBS investigative reporter Sharyl Attkisson. Dr. Healy, a former director of NIH and former head of the American Red Cross, stated, "I think the government or certain public health officials within the government have been too quick to dismiss the concerns of these families without studying the population that got sick." She also said, "I think public health officials have been too quick to dismiss the hypothesis [vaccines can trigger autism] as irrational without sufficient studies of causation." The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has relied on epidemiological studies to defend its vaccine administration politics, rather than seek biological samples from children on the autism spectrum. Other Thimerosal/autism resources: * 2005 book "Evidence of Harm" by investigative journalist David Kirby * The Coalition for SafeMinds (Sensible Action For Ending Mercury-Induced Neurological Disorders) * No Mercury * Jenny McCarthy's Autism Organization - Generation Rescue * PutChildrenFirst.org === === The information on limits on mercury levels and mercury toxicity is based on studies of a different form of mercury (methylmercury), not thiomersal (ethylmercury). They might not have the same toxicity effects at the same amounts. There is a study that has been looking at the differences between both types, published in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Andrew Wakefield, the researcher who controlled the well-known study that claimed a link between autism and vaccinations had falsified the results to show that vaccinations caused autism. In fact, several of his subjects showed signs of autism before the vaccinations. The medical and hospital records of the children were obtained in early 2009, and those show very different results from the ones that Andrew Wakefield claimed. He is defending himself against charges of professional misconduct for his ethical conduct regarding the study. In addition to falsifying the results, he also had accepted funding prior to begining the study to prove that the MMR vaccine was harmful, so it was a conflict of interest when he did this study. The link for "The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: A Look at What Causes, and Doesn't Cause, Autism" comments on Wakefield's two studies. Also related to autism and thiomersal (U.S.: thimerosal), a review in Clinical Infectious Diseases (February 2009) of the various studies of vaccines and autism show that there is no difference in autism rates between children vaccinated with thiomersal-containing vaccines and children vaccinated with thiomersal-free vaccines.

Yes, but only tiny traces. The 2011-2012 flu season vaccine is made exactly like flu vaccines have been made for decades (including thimerosal) with an extremely high safety record even compared to other vaccines. The minuscule amount of mercury from the thimerosal preservative used in some doses of influenza vaccine may leave traces present in your body for a very short time. Single dose vials of the flu vaccines have no thimerosal in them, therefore no mercury, but may need to be special ordered in advance by your pharmacy or doctor, which may in turn raise the cost.

However, to put this in perspective, the amount of mercury from that compound in the flu vaccine when used, is approximately 24.5 mcg of mercury per dose of vaccine. This is well below the amount of mercury that a single serving of fish in your diet might contain.

Fish that are known to contain low amounts of mercury include catfish. It has been determined that for the amount of mercury in catfish to pose any potential danger, these hypothetical health risks from the mercury in catfish would only begin at a weekly intake of 342.8 ounces (21.4 pounds) of the fish. This should put into perspective the insignificance of the mercury from a flu shot. Scientific studies have proven no connection between thimerosal and untoward health consequences from vaccine use.

The following is quoted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website:

What is thimerosal?

Thimerosal is a very effective preservative that has been used since the 1930s to prevent contamination in some multi-dose vials of vaccines (preservatives are not required for vaccines in single dose vials). Thimerosal contains approximately 49% ethylmercury. There is no convincing evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site. However, in July 1999 the Public Health Service (PHS) agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure.

Today, all routinely recommended licensed pediatric vaccines that are currently being manufactured for the U.S. market, with the exception of influenza vaccine, contain no thimerosal or only trace amounts. Thimerosal preservative-free influenza vaccines are available, but in limited quantities. The total amount of inactivated influenza vaccine available without thimerosal as a preservative will continue to increase as manufacturing capabilities are expanded.

Does the influenza vaccine contain thimerosal?

Yes, the majority of influenza vaccines distributed in the United States currently contain thimerosal as a preservative. However, some contain only trace amounts of thimerosal and are considered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be preservative-free. Manufacturers of preservative-free flu vaccine use thimerosal early in the manufacturing process. The thimerosal gets diluted as the vaccine goes through the steps in processing. By the end of the manufacturing process there is not enough thimerosal left in the vaccine to act as a preservative and the vaccine is labeled "preservative-free".

Is it safe for children to receive an influenza vaccine that contains thimerosal?

Yes. There is no convincing evidence of harm caused by the small amount of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor effects like swelling and redness at the injection site due to sensitivity to thimerosal. Most importantly, since 1999, newly formulated thimerosal preservative-free childhood vaccines (Hepatitis B, Hib, and DTaP) have been licensed. With the newly formulated childhood vaccines, the maximum total exposure during the first six months of life will now be less than three micrograms of mercury. Based on guidelines established by the FDA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), no child will receive excessive mercury from childhood vaccines regardless of whether or not their flu shot contains thimerosal as a preservative.

Rsearch suggests that healthy children under the age of 2 are more likely than older children and as likely as people over the age of 65 to be hospitalized with flu complications. In addition, children between 24-59 months of age have higher rates of influenza-related doctor and Emergency Department visits than older children. Therefore, vaccination with either reduced or standard thimerosal-content flu vaccine is recommended for children between the ages of 6 and 59 months by CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Is it safe for pregnant women to receive an influenza vaccine that contains thimerosal?

Yes. A study of influenza vaccination examining over 2,000 pregnant women demonstrated no adverse fetal effects associated with influenza vaccine. Case reports and limited studies indicate that pregnancy can increase the risk for serious medical complications of influenza. One study found that out of every 10,000 women in their third trimester of pregnancy during an average flu season, 25 will be hospitalized for flu related complications.

Additionally, influenza-associated excess deaths among pregnant women have been documented during influenza pandemics. Because pregnant women are at increased risk for influenza-related complications and because a substantial safety margin has been incorporated into the health guidance values for organic mercury exposure, the benefits of influenza vaccine with reduced or standard thimerosal content outweighs the theoretical risk, if any, of thimerosal.

Some types do, although it is a very scant amount. Multi-dose vials of vaccines for some types of flu must have preservatives added and usually the one used is thimerosal. Thimerosal contains trace amounts of mercury. However, to put it in perspective, it is no more than the amount of mercury you would get when eating a single meal of fish. It has been proven safe for use as the preservative over decades of use in flu shots. If you are concerned, you can ask for vaccination with a single dose vial or pre-filled single dose syringe which do not contain the preservatives, however, these are not always available and you would need to plan in advance to find single dose preparations.