thimerosal

American  

[thahy-mur-uh-sal, -mer-] / θaɪˈmɜr əˌsæl, -ˈmɛr- /

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a cream-colored, crystalline, water-soluble powder, C 9 H 9 HgNaO 2 S, used chiefly as an antiseptic.

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thimerosal British  

/ θaɪˈmɛrəˌsæl /

noun

1. a creamy white crystalline compound of mercury, used in solution as an antiseptic. Formula: C 9 H 9 HgNaO 2 S

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Etymology

Origin of thimerosal

1945–50; perhaps thi- + mer(cury) + -o- + sal(icylate)

Example Sentences

The new panel made its first decision last week, voting to stop recommending a small number of flu vaccines that still contain the preservative thimerosal, something Kennedy wrote a book about in 2015.

From BBC

Manufacturers long ago removed thimerosal from childhood vaccines because of unfounded fears it contained mercury that could accumulate in the brain and unfounded fears about a relationship between mercury and autism.

From Los Angeles Times

“The risk from influenza is so much greater than the nonexistent risk as far as we know from thimerosal,” he said, per the New York Times.

From Salon

On Thursday, the group is scheduled to hear a presentation on the use of thimerosal in vaccines given by Lyn Redwood, a former leader of Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group Kennedy used to run.

From BBC

Those treatments corresponded to a pet theory of the Geiers that autism stemmed from the interaction of mercury in thimerosal with testosterone, and therefore that reducing testosterone would address autism.

From Los Angeles Times