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Mercury, vaccines, and autism: one controversy, three histories.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Baker, JP
Published in: Am J Public Health
February 2008

The controversy regarding the once widely used mercury-containing preservative thimerosal in childhood vaccines has raised many historical questions that have not been adequately explored. Why was this preservative incorporated in the first place? Was there any real evidence that it caused harm? And how did thimerosal become linked in the public mind to the "autism epidemic"? I examine the origins of the thimerosal controversy and their legacy for the debate that has followed. More specifically, I explore the parallel histories of three factors that converged to create the crisis: vaccine preservatives, mercury poisoning, and autism. An understanding of this history provides important lessons for physicians and policymakers seeking to preserve the public's trust in the nation's vaccine system.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Am J Public Health

DOI

EISSN

1541-0048

Publication Date

February 2008

Volume

98

Issue

2

Start / End Page

244 / 253

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vaccines
  • United States Food and Drug Administration
  • United States
  • Trust
  • Thimerosal
  • Public Opinion
  • Public Health
  • Preservatives, Pharmaceutical
  • Methylmercury Compounds
  • Mercury Poisoning
 

Citation

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Baker, J. P. (2008). Mercury, vaccines, and autism: one controversy, three histories. Am J Public Health, 98(2), 244–253. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2007.113159
Baker, Jeffrey P. “Mercury, vaccines, and autism: one controversy, three histories.Am J Public Health 98, no. 2 (February 2008): 244–53. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2007.113159.
Baker JP. Mercury, vaccines, and autism: one controversy, three histories. Am J Public Health. 2008 Feb;98(2):244–53.
Baker, Jeffrey P. “Mercury, vaccines, and autism: one controversy, three histories.Am J Public Health, vol. 98, no. 2, Feb. 2008, pp. 244–53. Pubmed, doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.113159.
Baker JP. Mercury, vaccines, and autism: one controversy, three histories. Am J Public Health. 2008 Feb;98(2):244–253.

Published In

Am J Public Health

DOI

EISSN

1541-0048

Publication Date

February 2008

Volume

98

Issue

2

Start / End Page

244 / 253

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vaccines
  • United States Food and Drug Administration
  • United States
  • Trust
  • Thimerosal
  • Public Opinion
  • Public Health
  • Preservatives, Pharmaceutical
  • Methylmercury Compounds
  • Mercury Poisoning