Mercury and Aluminum in Vaccines
Should Parents Be Concerned about Toxins in Immunizations?
Feb 26, 2009
Vaccines have hit the news recently in connection with autism, leaving many parents wondering if mercury, aluminum, and other toxins present in immunizations are causing this childhood illness. While vaccine manufacturers are quick to say there is no connection, other voices are demanding more research. Here is a review of a few toxins commonly found in vaccines, and why this is a problem.
Mercury (Thimerosal) in Vaccines
Most parents believe that mercury or thimerosal is no longer present in vaccines, since it became a concern several years ago. Dr. Robert Sears, in the preface The Vaccine Book (Little, Brown and Company, 2007), says that he is “not going to discuss at length mercury or thimerosal, because, fortunately, these have been taken out of virtually all vaccines.” However, thimerosal is still present as a preservative in the influenza (flu) vaccine, often given to pregnant women and young children, and in some tetanus shots.
To show why mercury in vaccines is a concern, the National Vaccine Information Centre (NVIC) points out that 200 ppb of mercury is the “level in liquid the EPA classifies as hazardous waste,” while 50,000 ppb of mercury is the “current ‘preservative’ level [of] mercury in multi-dose flu . . ., meningococcal and tetanus (7 and older) vaccines.” Dr. Sears agrees that mercury is harmful, though he’s “not 100 percent convinced” that the amount of mercury in the old vaccines caused harm.
Aluminum in Vaccines
Several childhood immunizations contain aluminum, which helps to make the vaccine more effective. These vaccines include the DTaP vaccination, the hepatitis B vaccination, the HPV vaccination, and the Hib vaccination, all of which are given several times to babies under twelve months. Neil Z. Miller explains that “babies who follow the CDC immunization schedule are injected with nearly 5000 mcg (5mg!) of aluminum by 18 months of age” (Aluminum in Vaccines: A Neurological Gamble, PDF file, 2009).
This should raise some alarm, as Dr. Sears notes that “aluminum can build up to toxic levels in the bloodstream, bones and brain when injected.” Miller quotes the American Academy of Pediatrics, who say aluminum can interfere “with a variety of cellular and metabolic processes in the nervous system and in other tissues.” Miller notes that the CDC, WHO and FDA are aware of concerns connected with aluminum – but ignore this hazard in vaccines.
Dr. Sears found research recommending that aluminum be limited in other injected forms, such as IV solutions, and that injectable products containing aluminum have a warning label on them, but “none of these documents or studies mention vaccines” and “the FDA does not require aluminum warning labels on vaccines.”
Aluminum is commonly present all around people (who cook with aluminum pots, swallow aluminum in antacid pills, and encounter it elsewhere everyday). Human bodies can usually clear out excess aluminum through the kidneys. However, most of the studies that Dr. Sears found on aluminum look at a healthy adult’s ability to deal with aluminum, or the affect of aluminum on people with kidney disease, who can’t clear the aluminum out of their bodies and so are at a risk of toxicity. The studies do not look at whether aluminum in vaccines is harmful to children.
Other Ingredients in Vaccines
The NVIC notes that vaccines may contain, in differing amounts depending on the vaccine, “lab altered viruses and bacteria; ... formaldehyde; ... monosodium glutamate (MSG); hydrochloric acid; hydrogen peroxide; lactose; gelatine; yeast protein; egg albumin; ... antibiotics; unidentified contaminants.” These ingredients are present in vaccines in very small quantities. However, Dr. Sears notes that formaldehyde is carcinogenic and that MSG “can affect how the brain functions” and cause nerve tissue damage when injected.
The Immunization Decision
What, in the end, are parents to decide? The NVIC and Dr. Sears both point out that they are not anti-vaccine – they are simply supplying information for parents to make informed decisions.
Parents may trust the vaccine manufacturers and government agencies regulating healthcare products that the vaccines are safe, and continue with the regular vaccination schedule.
Parents may choose to alter the vaccine schedule, by giving their child one vaccine (rather than several) at a time and spacing the vaccines further apart, to limit the amounts of aluminum and other toxins their child is exposed to.
Parents can request mercury-free vaccines, and, in a few cases, aluminum-free vaccines.
Or parents may wish to do more research into immunizing their children.
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