Mercury concentrations and metabolism in infants receiving vaccines containing thiomersal: a descriptive study

Pichichero, Michael E.; Cernichiari, Elsa; Lopreiato, Joseph; Treanor, John J.

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(02)11682-5

Cited by 218 publications

(147 citation statements)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

120

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Although individual differences in maturational timetables, metabolism, nutrition, sex, and immune responses are linked to mercury-induced neurodevelopmental outcomes, 8 most data are based on prenatal, chronic, and/or oral exposures to mercury species other than ethylmercury, in doses exceeding those in the current study. Two primate studies, one in infant humans 30 and another in nonhuman primates, 31 suggest shorter elimination half-lives for vaccine-based thimerosal in both blood and brain than for methylmercury. The slightly higher brain-to-blood partition ratios reported for thimerosal than for methylmercury in the primate study, 31 however, stand in contrast to findings in rats demonstrating higher blood than brain levels following ethyl-than after methylmercury, 32 raising concerns about the ability to predict exposures accurately across mammalian species, developmental stages, or routes or forms of administration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurotoxic effects of postnatal thimerosal are mouse strain dependent

2004

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The developing brain is uniquely susceptible to the neurotoxic hazard posed by mercurials. Host differences in maturation, metabolism, nutrition, sex, and autoimmunity influence outcomes. How population-based variability affects the safety of the ethylmercury-containing vaccine preservative, thimerosal, is unknown. Reported increases in the prevalence of autism, a highly heritable neuropsychiatric condition, are intensifying public focus on environmental exposures such as thimerosal. Immune profiles and family history in autism are frequently consistent with autoimmunity. We hypothesized that autoimmune propensity influences outcomes in mice following thimerosal challenges that mimic routine childhood immunizations. Autoimmune disease-sensitive SJL/J mice showed growth delay; reduced locomotion; exaggerated response to novelty; and densely packed, hyperchromic hippocampal neurons with altered glutamate receptors and transporters. Strains resistant to autoimmunity, C57BL/ 6J and BALB/cJ, were not susceptible. These findings implicate genetic influences and provide a model for investigating thimerosal-related neurotoxicity.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurotoxic effects of postnatal thimerosal are mouse strain dependent

2004

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A case-control study indicated that levels of mercury in infants who received routine immunization with thimerosalcontaining vaccines did not exceed guidelines for methylmercury. 3 Moreover, prenatal and early-life exposure to ethylmercury from thimerosalcontaining vaccines does not increase the risk of autism, according to the results of case-control and retrospective cohort studies. 4,5 What should be included in the history and physical examination for this patient?…”

Section: What Questions Should Be Asked To Assess the Patient's Exposmentioning

confidence: 99%

A young woman concerned about mercury

Kales

Thompson

2015

CMAJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…The route of exposure (injection versus ingestion) to methylmercury also resulted in differences in www.intechopen.com the amount of mercury deposited in the brain in mice, with exposure via intramuscular injection resulting in less mercury deposition than via ingestion [117]. In a study by Pichichero ME, et al, mercury levels in blood and other samples from infants who had received routine immunizations with thimerosal-containing vaccines were measured [119]. Blood levels of mercury did not exceed safety guidelines for methylmercury for all infants in this study.…”

Section: Insufficient Scientific Evidence Linking Thimerosal With Autismmentioning

confidence: 99%