Medicine

Mercury has historically been used in medicines, notably as an attempted treatment for syphilis prior to antibiotics, and is still used in some cultures as a medicinal ingredient.

Thimerosal (ethylmercury) is used as a preservative in vaccines and eyedrops. More details on thimerosal in vaccines can be found in the “Vaccines and Autism” section of this website.

Mercurous chloride was used in teething powders for babies until the early 1950s, when it was determined that it caused acrodynia (a.k.a. Pink Disease).

Mercuric chloride was used as an antiseptic in hospitals and over-the-counter products (brand name: Mercurochrome) until the 1970s, when it was determined that mercuric chloride caused the deaths of several babies when rubbed on the umbilical cord. Some bottles of Mercurochrome might still be found in old medicine cabinets; if so, it must be disposed of as mercury-containing hazardous waste.