Other Definitions
thimerosal (dict)
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ThimerosalThimerosal (sometimes spelled as thimerosol and thiomersalhttp://www.ncirs.usyd.edu.au/facts/f-thiomersal.html) (trade name: Merthiolate) is an organometallic compound containing mercury, commonly used as a preservative. It is found in some vaccines, most controversially including those widely administered to children. Its chemical formula is C9H9HgNaO2S. It has been in use since the 1930s. Despite a lack of empiric evidence, some have hypothesized a relationship between thimerosal exposure from childhood vaccines and autism. In a 2001 report, the Institute of Medicine concluded "that the evidence is inadequate to either accept or reject a causal relationship between thimerosal exposure from childhood vaccines and the neurodevelopmental disorders." http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimerosal.htm#saf The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases concluded that the "only known side-effects of receiving low doses of thimerosal in vaccines have been minor reactions such as redness and swelling at the injection site." http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/thimerosal.htm Concerns about mercury toxicity have nevertheless led to the production of many thimerosal-free vaccines. External links
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