Mercury FAQ

What is mercury?
Mercury is a developmental toxin that occurs naturally in the environment, as well as produced by human activities that increase occurrence in the environment. It exists in several forms: elemental or metallic mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, and organic mercury compounds.

What are the effects of mercury exposure?
Mercury in all forms is an acknowledged neurotoxin. High levels of mercury in the blood-stream of unborn babies and young children impairs brain development. Mercury has been linked to NDDs, such as mental retardation, Attention Deficit Disorder, autism and other impairments affecting behavior, mental and emo-tional health. According to the EPA, 1 in 6 women of child-bearing age already have levels of mercury in their bodies considered harmful to unborn children.

What is thimerosal?
Thimerosal contains ethyl-mercury, a documented and dangerous neurotoxin. It is used as an inexpensive preservative in vaccines. Developed in the 1930’s and marketed by Eli Lilly, thimerosal has never been tested using modern safety standards.

What amount of mercury in vaccines is safe?
The National Academies of Science set the safe standard for thimerosal based on The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) guidelines for methyl-mercury, 0.1 micro-grams per 2.2 pounds of body weight per day. Some vaccines, like the flu shot, contain as much as 25 micro-grams of mercury, over 10 times the safe limit for an infant.

Are mercury-free vaccines available?
Many vaccines in the 1990s contained mercury. Today most vaccines in the U.S. are mercury free, except the flu shot. Most flu shots contain mercury, however, mercury free versions are available. (see www.vaccinesafety.edu) Vaccines in developing countries continue to contain mercury.

Resources & Downloads

SafeMinds Environmental Mercury & Autism FAQ

This FAQ one-sheet provides important information on environmental mercury and its effects.  Please feel free to download the file here and distribute.

SafeMinds Mercury in Vaccines:  The Facts

This FAQ one-sheet provides information on thimerosal and research supporting its harmful effects.  Please feel free to download the file here and distribute.

Halting the Child Brain Drain:  Why we need to tackle global mercury contaminationHealth Care Without Harm

FDA Mercury in Drug and Biologic Products