Exposure to Mercury during the First Six Months via Human Milk and Vaccines: Modifying Risk Factors

Abstract

Breastfeeding is the best natural protection infants have against morbidity and mortality, and the development of safe and effective vaccines has made it possible to immunize children against infectious disease. Both of these mechanisms for ensuring good health in children may be compromised by contact with mercury (Hg). Maternal exposure to environmental Hg during pregnancy can predispose nursing children to neurodevelopmental disorders. Despite the World Health Organization assurance that thimerosal-preserved vaccines are safe to use in infants, the United States, the European Union, and dozens of other countries have eliminated thimerosal as a vaccine preservative and stopped the immunization of children with such vaccines. Because of the increase in environmental pollution and the need to produce cheap and safe vaccines, there is a need to address the uncertainty of vaccine-ethylmercury risk of toxicity and Hg exposure during breastfeeding.

Collate the literature on toxicity data on mercury in experimental animals and humans (Part I – Data on organic mercury)

“…However, almost half of these children had been vaccinated with thimerosal-containing preparations, so that observed effects could not only be attributed to MeHg intake by fish (Dórea, 2007;Marques et al, 2008;Marques et al, 2009;Marques et al, 2011 The present document has been produced and adopted by the bodies identified above as author(s). This task has been carried out exclusively by the author(s) in the context of a contract between the European Food Safety Authority and the author(s), awarded following a tender procedure.…”

Infants' exposure to aluminum from vaccines and breast milk during the first 6 months

“…However, in intramuscular injections ethylmercury (in preservatives) and Al (as adjuvant) gain unimpeded access to body compartments. In this context, specific aspects of Hg exposure have been discussed elsewhere (Do´rea, 2007). The American Academy of Pediatrics' revision of 1996 discussed aluminum in infant feeding but did not address the additional higher and acute exposure to aluminum in commonly used infants' vaccines (AAP, 1996).…”

Cord Blood Mercury and Early Child Development: Effects of the World Trade Center

“…This timely and interesting study took into consideration maternal variables known to influence cord Hg (possibly reflecting fish consumption) and also controlled for most of the known maternal characteristics that could affect neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, two of the most important variables in the context of infant exposure and neurodevelopment were left out of the model: early (pregnancy and postnatal) thimerosal-Hg exposure and the mode of feeding (Dórea 2007). …”