Thimerosal exposure and disturbance of emotions specific to childhood and adolescence: A case-control study in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) database. (28th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Geier, David A.; Kern, Janet K.; Homme, Kristin G.; Geier, Mark R.
• Is Part Of: Brain injury. Volume 31:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 272
• Page End: 278
• Publication Date: 2017-01-28
• Subjects: Emotional disturbances -- anxiety -- ethylmercury -- merthiolate -- shyness -- thiomersal -- mercury -- social impairment; Brain damage -- Periodicals; Brain -- Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; Brain Injuries -- Periodicals; 617.481
• DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2016.1250950
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-9052

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : This study evaluated Thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines and the risk of a diagnosis called disturbance of emotions specific to childhood and adolescence (ED). Thimerosal is an organic-mercury (Hg)-containing compound used in some vaccines. Methods : A hypothesis-testing prospective, longitudinal case-control study evaluated Hg exposure from Thimerosal in hepatitis B vaccines administered at specific times within the first 6 months of life and its association with medically diagnosed ED (313.xx) ( n = 517) in children born between 1991–2000 in comparison to controls ( n = 27 491) in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) database. Results : Cases diagnosed with ED were significantly more likely than controls to have received increased Hg exposure within the first month of life (odds ratio (OR) = 1.3384), the first 2 months of life (OR = 1.3367) and the first 6 months of life (OR = 2.37). When the data were separated by gender, similar significant adverse effects were observed for males, but not females. On a per microgram Hg basis, cases diagnosed with ED were significantly more likely than controls to have received increased exposure within the first 6 months of life (OR = 1.025 per microgram Hg). Conclusions : The results show a significant relationship between Hg exposure from Thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines and the subsequent risk of an ED diagnosis.