BMJ  2004;329:588 (11 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7466.588-b

News

Thiomersal doesn't cause developmental disorders

New York

Two studies report that vaccines that contain thiomersal do not cause behavioural problems or developmental delay in young children. The studies, published in Pediatrics, are the University of Bristol's Avon longitudinal study of parents and children ( Pediatrics 2004;114: 577-83[Abstract/Free Full Text]) and a review article by US authors ( 2004;114:793-804).

The Bristol study, also known as the "children of the 90s" study, is the largest of its kind in the world. It followed nearly 13 000 children from their births in 1991 and 1992 in southwest England. The children were born when the recommended vaccines contained thiomersal and when an accelerated vaccination schedule was introduced.

Thiomersal, known as thimerosal in the United States, is a preservative that was used until recently in many children's vaccines. In the United States it is either not used at all in vaccines or used in very small amounts. Its use in vaccines in the United Kingdom will be discontinued from the end of this month.

Thiomersal contains about 50% ethylmercury, an organic compound that is metabolised into mercury. Concern about thiomersal arose because a related compound, methylmercury, was toxic in several environmental disasters. Low doses of methylmercury seem to have adverse developmental effects on children who are exposed before birth or in the first few months of life.

It was suggested that low doses of ethylmercury used as a preservative in vaccines might have similar detrimental effects, although ethylmercury is more quickly metabolised and excreted than methylmercury.

In the Bristol study, immunisation records showed when the children received the vaccines. Researchers calculated the mercury exposure the children received at 3, 4, and 6 months. The children's cognitive and behavioural development between 6 and 91 months was assessed in standard international tests of social, emotional, hyperactivity, and motor skills.

The researchers found no convincing evidence that early exposure to the additive in vaccines had any deleterious effect on neurological or psychological outcomes.

In the review article researchers from the University of Colorado and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed 10 epidemiological and two pharmacokinetic studies of ethylmercury, seeking evidence that the additive might cause autism or related disorders. They reported that the epidemiological studies did not show a link and that the pharmacokinetic studies made the link unlikely.

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Health officials can believe anything they like

John Stone
bmj.com, 10 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Extremists

Dr John MM Rumbold
bmj.com, 11 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Health officials can believe anything they like

eamonn clarke
bmj.com, 11 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Health officials can believe anything they like

John Stone
bmj.com, 12 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Extremists

Magda Taylor
bmj.com, 13 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: The effects of toxic metals in autistic children

Dr Ellen C G Grant, et al.
bmj.com, 13 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Evidence - chaos or Chaos?

Lisa C Blakemore-Brown
bmj.com, 14 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: The effects of toxic metals in autistic children

John Stone
bmj.com, 14 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Extremists

Carol Johnston
bmj.com, 14 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Health officials can believe anything they like

eamonn clarke
bmj.com, 14 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Little empirical observation

C Johnson
bmj.com, 14 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Health officials can believe anything they like - and so can Eamonn Clarke

John Stone
bmj.com, 14 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Off The Map, Out of Sight and Never Considered

Paul Shapiro
bmj.com, 14 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Health officials can believe anything they like - and so can Eamonn Clarke

Lisa C Blakemore-Brown
bmj.com, 14 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Two hundred tons of mercury per year, just to top up medical sphygmomanometers.

Phillip J. Colquitt
bmj.com, 15 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Catching up with my reading

eamonn clarke
bmj.com, 15 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Things can hurt me

Lucas McCarty
bmj.com, 16 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Things can hurt me

Carol Johnston
bmj.com, 17 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Extremists

Ruth E Acaster
bmj.com, 19 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Extremists

Tony Floyd
bmj.com, 20 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Thimerosal Benifits

Michael, F. Wagnitz
bmj.com, 22 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Another customized study

Robert R. Bloch
bmj.com, 22 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Extremists

C Johnson
bmj.com, 22 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

Samantha Line
bmj.com, 22 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

John Stone
bmj.com, 22 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

Ruth E Acaster
bmj.com, 22 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

Samantha Line
bmj.com, 23 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

Lucas McCarty
bmj.com, 23 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

MC Feliciello
bmj.com, 23 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Children of loving mothers

Dr. Herbert H. Nehrlich
bmj.com, 23 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

John Stone
bmj.com, 24 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

John Stone
bmj.com, 24 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Junk science?

Mark Struthers
bmj.com, 27 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Only Thiomersal or other factors too?

Chitra Pillai
bmj.com, 27 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

Adam Jacobs
bmj.com, 27 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Has Adam Jacobs completely missed the point?

John Stone
bmj.com, 27 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Evidence - chaos or Chaos?

stephen i black
bmj.com, 27 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

Michael, F Wagnitz
bmj.com, 27 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Evidence - chaos or Chaos?

John Stone
bmj.com, 28 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: LOSING SIGHT OF WHAT WE ARE LOSING SIGHT OF

Clifford G. Miller
bmj.com, 28 Sep 2004 [Full text]

stephen i black and the GPRD: a competing interest

John Stone
bmj.com, 1 Oct 2004 [Full text]

Re: Has Adam Jacobs completely missed the point?

Adam Jacobs
bmj.com, 28 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Is there a rise in autism?

eamonn clarke
bmj.com, 28 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Evidence - chaos or Chaos?

Samantha Line
bmj.com, 28 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Has Adam Jacobs completely missed the point?

Graeme Johnston
bmj.com, 28 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Adam Jacobs' novel direction

John Stone
bmj.com, 28 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Basic Fundamental Question

L. Travis Haws
bmj.com, 29 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Evidence - chaos or Chaos?

John Stone
bmj.com, 28 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Graeme Johnston's Silicon Valley geeks

John Stone
bmj.com, 29 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Michael Wagnitz, 27 September

John Stone
bmj.com, 29 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Swimming at the shallow end of the gene pool

Adam Jacobs
bmj.com, 29 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Evidence - chaos or Chaos? Might As Well Be As the Science is Out to Lunch

Clifford G. Miller
bmj.com, 29 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Has Adam Jacobs completely missed the point? WHY NOT, EVERYONE ELSE IS

Clifford G. Miller
bmj.com, 29 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Evidence - chaos or Chaos?

C Johnson
bmj.com, 29 Sep 2004 [Full text]

FIRST THINGS FIRST - STUDY THE MMR KIDS AS LIVING EVIDENCE

Clifford G. Miller
bmj.com, 29 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Re: Eamonn Clarke "Is there a rise in autism?"

John Stone
bmj.com, 29 Sep 2004 [Full text]

Who benefits from vaccines?

Carol Johnston
bmj.com, 1 Oct 2004 [Full text]

MRC seeks public involvement

eamonn clarke
bmj.com, 2 Oct 2004 [Full text]

Re: Who benefits from vaccines?

jan M perkins
bmj.com, 3 Oct 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Who benefits from vaccines?

Ruth E Acaster
bmj.com, 5 Oct 2004 [Full text]

Cynic or cynical of thimerosal?

John P Heptonstall
bmj.com, 14 Oct 2004 [Full text]

Re: Cynic or cynical of thimerosal?

John Stone
bmj.com, 15 Oct 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

Camille Clark
bmj.com, 29 Oct 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

John Stone
bmj.com, 29 Oct 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

Dr John Rumbold
bmj.com, 29 Oct 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

L. Travis Haws
bmj.com, 29 Oct 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

John Stone
bmj.com, 1 Nov 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

Dr John Rumbold
bmj.com, 1 Nov 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

John P Heptonstall
bmj.com, 1 Nov 2004 [Full text]

Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

Theo Fenton
bmj.com, 1 Nov 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

L. Travis Haws
bmj.com, 3 Nov 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

Dr John Rumbold
bmj.com, 7 Nov 2004 [Full text]

Re: Cynic or cynical of thimerosal?

John P Heptonstall
bmj.com, 8 Nov 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

L. Travis Haws
bmj.com, 10 Nov 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

John P. Heptonstall
bmj.com, 10 Nov 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

Aasa H. Reidak
bmj.com, 11 Nov 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

Dr John Rumbold
bmj.com, 11 Nov 2004 [Full text]

Off topic but topical - flu vaccine

Peter Flegg
bmj.com, 11 Nov 2004 [Full text]

Re: Rumbold

John Stone
bmj.com, 12 Nov 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Surely we are losing sight of what we all want?

L. Travis Haws
bmj.com, 12 Nov 2004 [Full text]

Re: Off topic but topical - flu vaccine

John P Heptonstall
bmj.com, 11 Nov 2004 [Full text]

Re: Stone

Dr John Rumbold
bmj.com, 15 Nov 2004 [Full text]

thimerosal neurotoxicity

Donna M Arnold
bmj.com, 10 Dec 2004 [Full text]

What about other sources of mercury?

Peter Flegg
bmj.com, 16 Dec 2004 [Full text]

Re: What about other sources of mercury?

John Stone
bmj.com, 17 Dec 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: What about other sources of mercury?

John P. Heptonstall
bmj.com, 20 Dec 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: What about other sources of mercury?

John Stone
bmj.com, 19 Dec 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: What about other sources of mercury?

Aasa H. Reidak
bmj.com, 20 Dec 2004 [Full text]

Re: What about other sources of mercury?

Peter Morrell
bmj.com, 20 Dec 2004 [Full text]

Re: What about other sources of mercury?

Jayne LM Donegan
bmj.com, 21 Dec 2004 [Full text]

Where is the support for using mercury in licensed pharmaceutical products?

John Stone
bmj.com, 21 Dec 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: What about other sources of mercury?

Peter Flegg
bmj.com, 25 Dec 2004 [Full text]

Peter Flegg's defence is a non-sequitur

John Stone
bmj.com, 26 Dec 2004 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: What about other sources of mercury?

John P. Heptonstall
bmj.com, 29 Dec 2004 [Full text]

Re: Cynic or cynical of thimerosal?

John Stone
bmj.com, 31 Dec 2004 [Full text]

Your life in their hands...

John Stone
bmj.com, 10 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: Re: Cynic or cynical of thimerosal?

John P. Heptonstall
bmj.com, 28 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Cynic or cynical of thimerosal?

John P. Heptonstall
bmj.com, 1 Mar 2005 [Full text]

They've suddenly realised: IT COSTS MONEY

John Stone
bmj.com, 2 Mar 2005 [Full text]

Mercury damage to IQs and lives is incalculable

Ellen C G Grant
bmj.com, 4 Mar 2005 [Full text]

They've suddenly realised: IT COSTS MONEY II

John Stone
bmj.com, 4 Mar 2005 [Full text]

Re: Mercury damage to IQs and lives is incalculable

Aasa H. Reidak
bmj.com, 5 Mar 2005 [Full text]

Dental mercury is too toxic

Ellen C G Grant
bmj.com, 7 Mar 2005 [Full text]

Thimerosal is TOXIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Donna M Arnold
bmj.com, 2 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Re: Thimerosal is TOXIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John Stone
bmj.com, 3 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Re: Thiomersal is toxic

Graeme Johnstnon
bmj.com, 3 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Re: Re: Thiomersal is toxic

John P Heptonstall
bmj.com, 4 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Re: Re: Thiomersal is toxic

C Johnson
bmj.com, 4 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Thimerosal is Toxic

Donna M Arnold
bmj.com, 4 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Graeme Johnston's toxic red-herrings

John Stone
bmj.com, 4 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Re: Re: Thiomersal is toxic

L. Travis Haws
bmj.com, 4 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Re: Thiomersal is toxic

Graeme Johnston
bmj.com, 4 Apr 2005 [Full text]

The collapse of moral integrity in government, and at the top of the medical profession

John Stone
bmj.com, 5 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Heron et al: Rhetoric and Substance

John Stone
bmj.com, 6 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Thimerosal and Autistic Symptoms: an MSDS from Amersham/US Bioscience

John Stone
bmj.com, 8 Apr 2005 [Full text]

The Lost Generation: An Appeal to the Medical and Political Establishment

John Stone
bmj.com, 8 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Further Thimerosal Issues

John Stone
bmj.com, 10 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Thimerosal inhibits DNA methylation

Donna M Arnold
bmj.com, 13 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Re: The collapse of moral integrity in government, and at the top of the medical profession

John Stone
bmj.com, 14 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Re: Re: Thiomersal is toxic

John P. Heptonstall
bmj.com, 15 Apr 2005 [Full text]

A calculation relating to "low doses" of mercury

John Stone
bmj.com, 15 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Re: Thiomersal is toxic

Graeme Johnston
bmj.com, 16 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Re: Re: Thiomersal is toxic

Stevie M Gamble
bmj.com, 17 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Re: Re: Thiomersal is toxic

John P. Heptonstall
bmj.com, 19 Apr 2005 [Full text]

'The Influence of the Pharmaceutical Industry' and the lack of independence of the Pediatrics reports

John Stone
bmj.com, 19 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Re: Thiomersal is toxic

Graeme Johnston
bmj.com, 20 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Mercury amalgams and other teething troubles

Mark Struthers
bmj.com, 20 Apr 2005 [Full text]

A challenge to Heron and Golding

John Stone
bmj.com, 20 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Re: Re: Thiomersal is toxic

John P. Heptonstall
bmj.com, 22 Apr 2005 [Full text]

1988-91, the missing years: a letter from Prof Miller to the Sunday Times

John Stone
bmj.com, 22 Apr 2005 [Full text]

NIH New study on THIMEROSAL!

Donna M Arnold
bmj.com, 22 Apr 2005 [Full text]

New evidence inviting perhaps more spin?

Paul G Champion
bmj.com, 22 Apr 2005 [Full text]

Thimerosal and Blood and Brain Mercury Study

Alex Snelgrove
bmj.com, 25 Apr 2005 [Full text]

The official response to the Burbacher study

John Stone
bmj.com, 26 Apr 2005 [Full text]

The official response to the Burbacher study II

John Stone
bmj.com, 28 Apr 2005 [Full text]

The official response to the Burbacher study III

John Stone
bmj.com, 2 May 2005 [Full text]

No report of the Burbacher study

John Stone
bmj.com, 2 May 2005 [Full text]

Re: A challenge to Heron and Golding - and Andrews et al

John Stone
bmj.com, 5 May 2005 [Full text]

Re: No report of the Burbacher study

John P Heptonstall
bmj.com, 14 May 2005 [Full text]

Thimerosal is a neurotoxin injected into infants

Donna M Arnold
bmj.com, 26 May 2005 [Full text]

Mercury dose in UK injection double that previously disclosed in some cases

John Stone
bmj.com, 15 Jun 2005 [Full text]