Mercury-Containing Medicines: Harmful to Children

SILVER SPRING, Md., March 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New studies have linked mercury to serious harm in children.  These peer-reviewed publications provide pertinent scientific findings at a crucial juncture in the ongoing debate about the dangers of using mercury in medicine.

In the past three months, various governmental groups have explored mercury-related health risks.  

Most recently, concerned about the growing mercury poisoning of the environment, the United Nations Environmental Programme's Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee met in January 2011 to continue its development of a worldwide 'mercury treaty.'  Members of various groups from the United States attended the convention, including representatives from the Coalition for Mercury-Free Drugs (CoMeD), a Maryland-based non-profit group and UN-recognized non-governmental organization (NGO) founded with the goal of stopping the use of mercury in medicine and dentistry.

In December 2010, the United States Food and Drug Administration hosted a Dental Products Panel to consider the hazards of using mercury in 'silver,' or amalgam, fillings.

Further, several peer-reviewed publications have again found that mercury is toxic to children.

Dr. Joachim Mutter, author of one of the newest mercury studies, offers evidence confirming the toxic effects of using mercury in vaccines and other medical products.  Published in the Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology in January, Dr. Mutter's study noted, "Prenatal exposure to maternal amalgam, maternal thimerosal and postnatal sources (mercury from vaccines for the child) together with genetic susceptibility may trigger autism."  

Investigators in another recent study, published in December 2010 in the Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, came to similar conclusions when they observed that organic mercury (in Thimerosal) is added to vaccines "without being sufficiently tested for its safety."  The study also warned that the use of Thimerosal is "potentially damaging the health of children."

CoMeD's rationale for the removal of mercury from medicine and dentistry is clear.  As Dr. Mark R. Geier, MD, PhD, FACMG, FACE, ABMG, and a Director of CoMeD, recently stated: "We advocate for safer vaccines.  We want children to have vaccines and proper dental care, but we want them to achieve optimum health with the mercury-free alternatives that already exist.  Thus, the medical community needs to adapt to what we now know is best for our children's health.  The detrimental effects of mercury are undeniable, and it's time for a change."

SOURCE Coalition for Mercury-Free Drugs (CoMeD)