Childhood vaccines contain doses of mercury that are in excess of the Federal Safety Guidelines, and evidence shows a link between these excessive doses of mercury, found in thimerosal-containing vaccines, and neurodevelopment disorders such as autism and speech disorders, as well as heart disease, according to a study.

Since the introduction of thimerosal to vaccines, rates of autism have drastically increased. In the mid-1980s, one in 2,500 children had autism compared with one in about 300 children in 1996--an increase of over 800 percent in 20 years.

Researchers say that thimerosal should be banned from all U.S. vaccines and hope such a ban would curb the epidemic of autism and speech disorders facing America.

The study found a two- to six-fold increased occurrence of neurodevelopment disorders after an additional 75- to 100-microgram dosage of mercury from thimerosal-containing vaccines as compared to thimerosal-free vaccines.

To investigate, researchers analyzed the doses of mercury from thimerosal-containing vaccines that children received from routine childhood immunizations. They also evaluated the incidence of rates of neurodevelopment disorders and heart disease following thimerosal-containing vaccines and thimerosal-free vaccines.

Additionally, researchers looked at data on children with various types of disabilities in comparison to the amount of mercury they received from thimerosal in their childhood vaccines.

Based on the results, which found thimerosal-containing vaccines to contain mercury in excess of Federal Safety Guidelines, researchers confirmed a link between thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines and neurodevelopment disorders and heart disease.

Journal American Physicians & Surgeons Spring 2003 (PDF)

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It is nearly incomprehensible that the well-documented, toxic mercury is still in many vaccines, years after federal agencies have mandated that thimerosal be removed from the hepatitis vaccine. Most people, physicians included, don't understand that the mercury preservative thimerosal is still used in most vaccines and is likely one of the major contributing factors to vaccine toxicity. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin. Injecting it into a child, whose nervous system is rapidly developing, could have terrible consequences. To find out more about the vaccine issue, including how to protect your children from potential adverse effects, consider "The Danger of Vaccines, and How You Can Legally Avoid Them" audiotape. In August 2002, I hosted an important teleconference featuring nationally renowned vaccine expert, Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, to discuss the real dangers of vaccines and how you can legally avoid them. This professionally recorded 90-minute cassette presents that full conference, and many listeners have called it the most comprehensive overview of the topic to date. It will help you: Understand why vaccines are essentially loaded guns aimed at your child's body Find out how you can disarm your school nurses by legally avoiding vaccines Learn what approaches you can take to immunize your child against disease safely--and for life. Related Articles: Mercury in Childhood Vaccines: What Did the Government Know? Autism 'Linked to Mercury Vaccine' Study Claims Mercury in Vaccines is Insignificant