Global Mercury Treaty May Include Ban on Mercury in Medicine

Thimerosal (49.6% mercury by weight), still used as a vaccine preservative and in-process sterilizing agent, is an unnecessary, and sometimes undisclosed, component in many vaccines.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently distributed a revised text for its comprehensive global treaty on mercury.  Advocates for mercury-free drugs were gratified to see pharmaceuticals listed in "Annex C (Mercury-added product not allowed)" of the proposed treaty.

The Coalition for Mercury-free Drugs (CoMeD) helped initiate this addition through its advocacy efforts at the United Nations (UN) negotiations held in Chiba, Japan, in January 2011. 

Thimerosal (49.6% mercury by weight), still used as a vaccine preservative and in-process sterilizing agent, is an unnecessary, and sometimes undisclosed, component in many vaccines.  Its use is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, cancer, birth defects and miscarriage.  Thos