A report by Madsen et al. published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in their journal Pediatrics claims to provide evidence against a link between autism rates and the mercury in thimerosal, a preservative used in childhood vaccines. Unfortunately, the study analysis is full of flaws and inaccuracies, invalidating the conclusions regarding thimerosal. The study adds little of value to the ...

The causes of autism and neurodevelopmental disorders are unknown. Genetic and environmental risk factors seem to be involved. Because of an observed increase in autism in the last decades, which parallels cumulative mercury exposure, it was proposed that autism may be in part caused by mercury. We review the evidence for this proposal. Several epidemiological studies failed to find a correlati...

form of a cautionary tale that is related or transmitted as if true.1 The tale is plausible enough to be believable and indeed is a type of modern folklore that represents the beliefs of ordinary people. Frequently, the legend addresses a vexing aspect of modern life and carries the moral message that new technologies may ultimately prove to be a hazard. Mass media, including the internet, may ...

The controversy regarding the once widely used mercury-containing preservative thimerosal in childhood vaccines has raised many historical questions that have not been adequately explored. Why was this preservative incorporated in the first place? Was there any real evidence that it caused harm? And how did thimerosal become linked in the public mind to the "autism epidemic"? I examine the orig...

PURPOSE To report a case of unilateral total limbal stem cell (LSC) failure and corneal opacification secondary to thimerosal- and contact lens-induced ocular surface toxicity. METHODS Interventional case report and review of the literature on thimerosal-induced ocular surface changes. RESULTS A 49-year-old woman with a 2-year history of long-term soft contact lens wear developed unilateral...

BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), tic disorder (TD), and hyperkinetic syndrome of childhood (attention deficit disorder [ADD]/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]) are disorders recently defined as abnormal connectivity spectrum disorders (ACSDs) because they show a similar pattern of abnormal brain connectivity. This study examines whether these disorders are associated wit...

The present research was planned to analyze the toxic effects of thimerosal on rat liver. Mercury and mercury compounds are universally known toxicants for animals humans. Thimerosal is widely used in vaccines as a preservative which contains 49.6% mercury. Twenty-four adult male albino rats were distributed into four groups (n=6). first group considered control group. While, second, third four...