THIMEROSAL is a sodium salt which is derived from the toxic mercury and is used as a disinfectant and preservative.  It is an ingredient in many vaccines most notably HepB, and influenza.

From some pretty basic reading there seem to be several factors that effect the toxicity of thimerosal in the body; some of them are aluminium, lead, hormones, antibiotics (tetracycline / ampicillin)

"To date, the data have been very consistent: the toxicity of the vaccines is primarily dependent on the presence of thimerosal, and, in my opinion, thimerosal-containing vaccines would be classified as severely toxic to numerous brain proteins.1

  • "vaccines with thimerosal present were much more toxic [to brain cultured cells] than thimerosal-free vaccines. Pure thimerosal was toxic at the low nanomolar level -- an extremely low concentration, about 10,000 times less than the thimerosal concentration found in most vaccines."1
  • "the presence of aluminium dramatically increased the rate of neuronal death [brain cells] caused by thimerosal. Therefore, the aluminium-an-thimerosal combination found in vaccines produces a toxic mixture that cannot be compared to situations where thimerosal alone is the toxic exposure"1
  • "For some reason, tetracycline increased the ocular toxic reaction to thimerosal. We've done some experiments to determine if certain antibiotics could also increase thimerosal-induced neuronal death in the neuron culture system. Our preliminary results indicate that this is the case, especially with tetracycline and ampicillin."1
  • "Neurons that were pre-incubated with estrogen demonstrated substantial protection against thimerosal-induces neuronal death. In contract, the addition of testosterone caused a very large increase in thimerosal-induced death. A low nano-molar level of thimerosal that gave less than 5 percent neuron death in three hours could result in 100 percent cell death by the addition of one micromolar level of testosterone."1

For a site that reviews this in depth please see: http://www.altcorp.com/DentalInformation/thimerosal.htm

Or see specific articles:

  1. EXPOSURE TO THIMEROSAL IN VACCINES USED IN CANADIAN INFANT IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMS, WITH RESPECT TO RISK OF NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS

Notable: Sites:

Don't forget! Mercury is not just in vaccines (i.e. influenza). Other common sources are dental fillings, and  

1 Haley, Boyd E., PhD., "Toxic Overload: Assessing The Role of Mercury in Autism" Mothering No. 115 P.44-46 November / December 2002. To order go to mothering.com

Disclaimer: Nothing on this site should be construed as personal medical advice. This information should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your physician and your own education in this matter.  If you have a medical condition or problem please consult the appropriate health-care provider. There may be variations in treatment that your physician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. Obtain your own medical advice and make your own mind up as to how to proceed with vaccinating your own family.