Thimerosal
Thimerosal
Thimerosal (pronounced /θaɪˈmɪərəsɔːl/), also known as thiomersal, is a mercury-containing organic compound that has been widely used as a preservative in a number of biological and drug products, including many vaccines, to help prevent potentially life-threatening contamination with harmful microbes.
Etymology
The term "thimerosal" is derived from a combination of words. The prefix "thio-" denotes a sulfur-containing compound, while "-mer-" refers to mercury. The suffix "-sal" is derived from salicylic acid, which is used in the synthesis of thimerosal.
Usage
Thimerosal has been used as an additive to vaccines and other biological products since the 1930s because it is very effective at killing bacteria used in vaccines and preventing bacterial contamination, especially in multi-dose vials of vaccines.
Safety and Controversy
There has been some controversy over the use of thimerosal in vaccines due to its mercury content. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health bodies have stated that there is no evidence of harmful effects in infants, children or adults exposed to thimerosal in vaccines. The type of mercury in thimerosal, ethylmercury, is different from methylmercury, a mercury compound that can accumulate in the body and is toxic.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Thimerosal
- Wikipedia's article - Thimerosal
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