SILVER SPRING, Md., March 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — CoMeD — Yet another peer-reviewed, scientific study proving the connection between the mercury in medicine and human illnesses has just been released.  The latest study is the sixth one published in recent months.  This report specifically examines the harm inflicted on developing fetuses and children by Thimerosal, a mercury-based compound routinely used as a preservative in flu shots.

Members of non-profit groups like the Coalition for Mercury-free Drugs (CoMeD) are actively sharing the latest scientific data about the dangers of medical mercury with the public, largely because they recognize that the mercury in Thimerosal is a factor in numerous childhood diseases.

Thimerosal is the Eli Lilly trade name for sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate when used as a preservative in vaccines and other drug products.  It is also known as "Thiomersal" in Europe and "Merthiolate" when used as an antiseptic.  Consisting of approximately 49.6% mercury by weight, Thimerosal has been phased out of many vaccines in the United States because of concerns about its "potential risk."  However, it is still in most flu shots even though much safer, cost-effective alternatives are already being used.

The newest study about Thimerosal, from the University of Brazil, warns that while vaccines are essential to the well-being of children around the world, the use of Thimerosal should be reconsidered.  The author, Dr. José Dórea, reviews the published science which demonstrates that infant exposure to the amount of Thimerosal in vaccines is toxic to human brain cells.

A number of recent studies have further suggested that the mercury used in everyday medical products, such as flu shots and amalgam, or "silver" dental fillings, contributes to causing a wide variety of illnesses, including autism and other developmental diseases in children and Alzheimer's disease in adults.

Currently, the United Nations Environmental Programme is working to create international mercury regulations by 2013, and the European Commission is expected to announce their findings about health risks associated with mercury-based fillings this month.  The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also re-evaluating the safety of mercury-based fillings.

While governmental groups around the world consider the dangers of mercury, the debate over Thimerosal continues to grow.  When Bill Gates recently made remarks insinuating that people who question the safety of vaccines were killing children, many critics of Thimerosal were shocked because they agree with the need for vaccines and want to maintain public confidence in the vaccine program.

Rev. Lisa Sykes, President of CoMeD and mother of a mercury-poisoned child, responded, "Mercury is known to cause serious harm, especially to fetuses and children because of their smaller size.  Why remove Thimerosal from pediatric vaccines only to inject it into pregnant women and children with recommended flu shots?  They removed Thimerosal from other vaccines, so it should also be removed from flu shots."

SOURCE Coalition for Mercury-Free Drugs (CoMeD)