Association Between Thimerosal-Containing Vaccine and Autism

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Abstract
High doses of mercuric compounds are nephrotoxic and neurotoxic.1 Thimerosal, an organic compound that contains ethylmercury, has been widely used since the 1930s as a preservative in certain vaccines. In the 1990s, an increasing number of different vaccines containing thimerosal were introduced in immunization schedules around the world, and thus the average cumulative exposure to thimerosal in infants has increased in recent years. This has led to the suggestion that childhood vaccination with thimerosal-containing vaccines increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and language and speech delay.