It is important to understand that
there are different forms of mercury. Mercury is a naturally found element in
the earth’s crust, air, soil, and water (3). Methylmercury is found in fish,
animals, and even humans can be toxic at high levels and lead to adverse
effects in humans (1). Such as damage to the nervous system. Which was found to
be the case in a case in a population that had prolonged exposure to high
levels of methylmercury in their foods. The US has guidelines to try and limit
as much methylmercury that is in the environment and food but almost everyone
will come be exposed to some degree (2).
(4).
However, there is no methylmercury is
vaccines (1,2,3). People sometimes confuse this compound to ethylmercury that
is in a compound called thimerosal (2). Ethylmercury is broken down and
excreted differently in the body than methylmercury. It is broken down much and
excreted much faster. Not only that but Size wise ethylmercury is much bigger
and unable to cross the blood brain barrier to cause damage to the nervous like
methyl mercury is known for doing (3). Either way, as a precaution in 1999,
thimerosal was removed from vaccines to reduce mercury exposure among infants
as possible. The only exception was the flu vaccine in multi-dose vials that
has thimerosal as a preservative (2).
Resources:
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2013, February 28). Vaccine Ingredients: Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved May 5, 2020, from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/Vaccine-Ingredients-Frequently-Asked-Questions.aspx
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013, February). Understanding Thimerosal, Mercury, and Vaccine Safety. Retrieved May 5, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/patient-ed/conversations/downloads/vacsafe-thimerosal-color-office.pdf
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. (2014, November
5). Thimerosal. Retrieved May 5, 2020, from https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-ingredients/thimerosal
- Thimerosal: What to Know About Mercury in Vaccines. (2017, June 05). Retrieved May 07, 2020, from https://www.immunizationinfo.com/thimerosal-what-to-know-about-mercury-in-vaccines/
