Mercury Levels in Newborns and Infants After Receipt of Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines

摘要

To the Editor.-Magos et al found that in Porton-Wistar rats the overall brain mercury concentration was lower after exposure to ethyl mercury than to methyl mercury. However, it is significant to note that this study also demonstrated that a higher proportion of inorganic mercury was retained in the brain after exposure to ethyl mercury than to methyl mercury, in each case the inorganic mercury likely being formed as a result of the dealkylation of the ethyl or methyl mercury in the brain. In fact, the absolute concentration of inorganic mercury found in the brain was higher after exposure to ethyl mercury. Furthermore, in addition to the findings commented on by Pichichero et al in the February 2008 Pediatrics Electronic Pages, thorough examination of the data from Burbacher et al3 demonstrates that in infant Macaca fascicularis monkeys a higher proportion of mercury from thimerosal-containing vaccines was retained in the brain as inorganic mercury than from oral dosing of methyl mercury; this time, approximately the same level of inorganic mercury was found in both cases.