The 5th Most Common Allergen - Thimerosal

The chemical preservative Thimerosal (which contains thiosalicylate and ethylmercury) is a light colored crystalline powder found in childhood vaccines, make up and personal care products. Other products that contain it are antitoxins, ophthalmic and otolaryngolic medications, topical and intramuscular steroid preparations and intradermal tests.

If Thimerosal is used in adults and children with autism it can produce undesired side effects. Such patients, as well as their families, need to consider alternative immunization methods and this is encouraged by physicians (also recommended that siblings of people with autism should take similar precautions). Needless to say, anybody who suffers from autism needs to avoid thimerosal and thiscan be found in make up, personal care products and medications like throat sprays and eye drops.

Common products in which this preservative is present (but not limited to) are:
Contact lens solutions, eye ointments, eye drops, antitoxins, antibiotic ointments, nose drops, soap free cleansers, cosmetics, eye moisturizers, make up removers, desensitization solutions and tuberculin testing.

The North American Contact Dermatitis Group states that, in the United States, a Thimerosal allergy is rated as the 5th most common allergen affecting people. Removing Thimerosal from everyday life is practically not possible but daily exposure can be reduced by using products without it.

In many cases a Thimerosal allergy occurs only on the skin and people with allergic reactions to it might develop a rash where an injection was performed. They can also develop extreme conjunctivitis if the preservative is used in contact lens solutions that they use.

People who seem to face higher risks to a thimerosal allergy are cooks, women and healthcare workers - increased thimerosal allergy reactions amongst such groups could be as a result of increased exposure. The preservative is present in many products and immunizations that they are required to use.

Other names that Thimerosal is known as are: Mercuochrome, Merthiolate, Merzonin, Sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate, Mertorgan, Merfamin, Thiomersalan, Thiomersal, and Thiomersalate - it is by no means a comprehensive list of chemical names used for Thimerosal.

There may be no obvious side effects or allergic reactions to this preservative in people not allergic to it, but the question beckons - how does, or will exposure to this preservative, in their personal care products, immunizations and antibiotics eventually affect their bodies?