Heron and Golding’s paper is based on two false premises, and its
results are therefore anomalous. The premises are (a) that they are
studying the results of “low doses” of mercury, and (b) that the medium of
thimerosal is less pernicious than other familiarly encountered forms of
mercury:
“It has been suggested that low doses of ethylmercury might have a
similar effect on childhood cognitive development as methylmercury;
however, there is little evidence to support this claim. Moreover,
ethylmercury is more quickly metabolized and evacuated from the body than
methylmercury.”
However, we are told in the very next paragraph:
“Current guidelines on safe exposure to thimerosal have been
extrapolated from data on methylmercury and are varied, from 0.1 µg/kg/day
of the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States to 0.47
µg/kg/day of the World Health Organization. Before the change to
thimerosal-free vaccines, US children could have been exposed to levels as
high as 187.5 µg by the time they were 6 months of age, exceeding the
Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. In the United Kingdom, the
only vaccines that contain thimerosal and have been routinely used in the
past 2 decades are whole-cell diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (wDTP) vaccine
or diphtheria-tetanus (DT) vaccine and any combination vaccine containing
wDTP or DT. Although the United Kingdom exposure is lower by 6 months, the
accelerated United Kingdom primary immunization schedule of 2/3/4 months
means that a maximum exposure of 75 µg may be received by 4 months of age.
“
So, in fact, these were not “low doses” of Thimerosal at all. Using
US CDC growth charts [1,2] I have calculated by how many times
approximately UK vaccination practice exceeded the US Environmental
Protection Agency's reference dose (RfD) for mercury: "Currently, US EPA
uses an RfD of 0.1 micrograms/kg bodyweight/day as an exposure without
recognised effects" [3]. Each shot of DPT given at 2,3 and 4 months we are
told contained approximately 25 micrograms of mercury, which is 250 times
0.1 microgram. In order to calculate the excess dose you need to divide
250 by the weight of the infant in kilograms. These are the results:
2 months: weight range 3.8-6.4kg: excess dose 40-66 times EPA RfD for
mercury
3 months: weight range 4.5-7.4kg: excess dose 35-56 times EPA RfD for
mercury
4 months: weight range 5.2-8.3kg: excess dose 30-48 times EPA RfD for
mercury
It is impossible to imagine someone deliberately overdosing on a
medical product – except to harm themselves – at this level, but this is
not a therapeutic substance but a deadly neuro-toxin.
Furthermore, far from thimerosal being an exceptionally benign format
for mercury manufacturers' safety advice suggests precisely the opposite.
I quote from Merck’s current European safety information:
“Very toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
Danger of cumulative effects. Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause
long-term adverse effects in aquatic environment.”
“Keep away from food, drink and animal feeding stuffs. After contact
with skin wash immediately with plenty of water. Wear suitable protective
clothing. In case of accident or if you feel unwell, seek medical advice
immediately (show the label where possible). This material and its
container must be disposed of as hazardous waste. Avoid release to the
environment.” [4]
A manufacturer’s safety data sheet (MSDS) for thimerosal from
Amersham/US Bioscience mentions a long list of symptoms associated with
autism:
“Chronic ingestion or excessive dosage may cause numbness, tingling
of hands, feet, lips, ataxia, painful joints, constriction of visual
fields, impaired hearing, emotional disturbances, spastic movements,
incontinence, groaning, shouting, dizziness, lacrimation, hypersalivation,
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation.” [5]
Heron and Golding’s failure to detect any adverse effects is,
therefore, quite as surprising as the practice of injecting infants with
thimerosal in the first place.
[1]
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/growthcharts/set1clinical/cj41l018.pdf
[2]
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/growthcharts/set1clinical/cj41l017.pdf
[3] http://www.epa.gov/mercury/exposure.htm
[4]
http://chemdat.merck.de/pls/pi03/web2.search_page2?text=817043&lang=4
[5] http://www.nomercury.org/science/documents/MSDS-Amersham_12-03-
02.pdf
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