Thousands of lawsuits have been filed in the U . S . to seek damages from alleged toxicity from vaccines, including those purportedly caused by thiomersal.
32.
The committee noted, in response to those who cite " in vitro " or animal models as evidence for the link between autism and thiomersal:
33.
Despite the consensus from experts that there is no link between thiomersal and autism, many parents continue to hold on to their belief that such a link exists.
34.
Ethylmercury, such as in thiomersal, clears much faster from the body after administration than methylmercury, suggesting total mercury exposure over time is much less with ethylmercury.
35.
Allegations particularly focus on disorders claimed to be caused by the thiomersal, a preservative used in vaccines routinely given to U . S . infants prior to 2001.
36.
As a professional witness he has testified in more than 90 vaccine cases, in support of the view that there is a clear link between thiomersal and autism.
37.
In the United States, countries in the European Union and a few other affluent countries, thiomersal is no longer used as a preservative in routine childhood vaccination schedules.
38.
Ethylmercury is a breakdown product of the antibacteriological agent ethylmercurithiosalicylate, which has been used as a topical antiseptic and a vaccine preservative ( further discussed under Thiomersal below ).
39.
In North America, a Canadian study of 27, 749 children in Quebec showed that thiomersal was unrelated to the increasing trend in pervasive developmental disorders ( PDDs ).
40.
In fact, the study noted that rates of PDDs were higher in the birth cohorts with no thiomersal when compared to those with medium or high levels of exposure.
