Table of Contents
Preface vii
Introduction xi
Editor's Introducton xxi
Executive Summary xxv
Part 1 Thimerosal's Dangers to Human Health and the Brain 1
Chapter 1 A Brief History of Thimerosal and the Dangers of Mercury 3
Chapter 2 The Increase in Thimerosal-Containing Children's Vaccines Coincided with a Rise in Neurodevelopmental Disorders 14
Chapter 3 Despite Reductions in Thimerosal in US Childhood Vaccines, Potential Exposure Remains High 31
Chapter 4 The Comparable Dangers of Ethylmercury and Methylmercury 45
Chapter 5 A Wide Range of Animal Studies Show Thimerosal's Toxicity 63
Chapter 6 Mounting Evidence of Thimerosal's Danger in Human Studies 69
Chapter 7 Findings of Epidemiological Studies: Links between Thimerosal and Neurological Damage 76
Chapter 8 Scientific Calls for a Ban on Thimerosal 87
Chapter 9 Official Reports against Thimerosal by Public Health and Other Agencies 96
Part 2 The Unnecessary Use of Thimerosal 105
Chapter 10 The Ineffectiveness of Thimerosal as a Germicide 107
Chapter 11 Amplification of Thimerosal Toxicity by Aluminum in Vaccines 111
Chapter 12 Safer and Cost-Effective Alternatives to Thimerosal 116
Part 3 Review of the Problematic Epidemiological Studies Relied on By the Institute Of Medicine 123
Chapter 13 The Verstraeten Study: Links between Thimerosal and Neurological Damage 125
Chapter 14 The CDC's and the Institute of Medicine's Response to Verstraeten's Findings 131
Chapter 15 The CDC's and Institute of Medicine's Reliance on Flawed European Studies 141
Chapter 16 The Final, Published Verstraeten Study 152
Chapter 17 The Institute of Medicine 2004 Report and Response 162
Conclusions and Recommendations 170