Page 32 - Spring2018

The HISTORY OF THIMEROSAL escalation of thimerosal use in consumer prod-
Before the invention of modern antibiotics ucts occurred despite numerous studies from
escalation and antiseptics, physicians experimented with the 1930s showing that thimerosal was not, in
of thimerosal mercury-containing compounds to try to stave fact, “highly germicidal” and actually was more
use in off microbial pathogens. Thimerosal was born effective at destroying human cells than killing
consumer of those efforts. Dr. Morris Kharasch, a uni- pathogens. Thimerosal never measured up to
versity chemist and Eli Lilly fellow, developed its supposed raison d’être of safely preventing
products thimerosal and filed for a patent in June, 1929, microbial contamination, and studies continued
occurred describing thimerosal as an “alkyl mercuric to chalk up clear and unequivocal evidence that
despite sulfur compound” with antibacterial properties. thimerosal was deadly to human cells.
Eli Lilly and Company registered thimerosal
numerous under the trade name Merthiolate later that year. THIMEROSAL IN VACCINES

studies Eli Lilly researchers reported in 1931 that Nonetheless, starting in the 1930s, phar-
showing that animals seemed to tolerate high doses of thi- maceutical companies began to use thimerosal
merosal. However, many of those animals died in multidose vials of vaccine to extend shelf
thimerosal of evident mercury poisoning just days after life and lessen the risk of bacterial and fungal
actually the study ended. Also noteworthy is the fact contamination that arises when several doses are

was more that in early animal toxicity studies and many drawn from the same vial. Centers for Disease
later research efforts, researchers did not assess Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines allow
effective at socialization behaviors or perform cognition health providers to administer extra doses from
destroying tests. In other words, they did not consider the multidose vials up until the printed expiration
human cells possibility of mercury-induced brain damage. date “if the vial has been stored correctly and
During this same time period, the Eli Lilly the vaccine is not visibly contaminated.” (The
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than killing researchers reported on the first injections of CDC does not say what to do about contamina-
pathogens. thimerosal into humans. The unlucky recipients tion that may not be “visible.”)
of large doses of Merthiolate were twenty-two Through the 1970s and 1980s, children in the
patients hospitalized during a 1929 epidemic of U.S. generally received eight injections of three
meningococcal meningitis in Indianapolis. The types of vaccines—oral polio, measles-mumps-
thimerosal had no apparent therapeutic benefit, rubella (MMR) and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis
and all twenty-two patients died—seven of them (DTP) vaccine—in their first eighteen months.
within one day of thimerosal administration. The DTP vaccine contained fifty micrograms of
The researchers nevertheless described the thimerosal per shot, translating into one hundred
experiment as a success, and a published paper micrograms of mercury exposure by eighteen
stated that “these large doses did not produce months. In 1986, after more and more people
any anaphylactoid or shock symptoms” (neither began suing vaccine manufacturers for serious
of which is associated with toxic mercury ex- vaccine injuries primarily related to the DTP
posure). However, the clinician who treated the vaccine, Congress took the unprecedented step
meningitis patients apparently was not convinced of granting vaccine manufacturers full immunity
of thimerosal’s efficacy, stating, “Beneficial from lawsuits. The National Childhood Vaccine
effects of the drug were not definitely proven.” Injury Act of 1986 established a compensation
Moreover, any short-term neurological or other program “as an alternative remedy to judicial
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deleterious effects of the thimerosal would likely action for specified vaccine-related injuries.”
have been masked by or attributed to the patients’ By making it impossible for vaccine-injured
meningitis infections. plaintiffs to sue pharmaceutical companies, the
For decades, Eli Lilly promoted its confident result—whether intended or unintended—was
version of the Indianapolis results as evidence of to eliminate any financial incentive to make
thimerosal’s safety, paving the way for thimero- vaccine safety a priority.
sal’s inclusion in various antiseptic products, Beginning in 1989, the CDC’s Advisory
including nasal sprays, eyewashes, vaginal Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
spermicides and diaper rash treatments. This began steadily increasing the types and total

30 Wise Traditions SPRING 2018