In the context of vaccination chelation with carnosine may be crucial, as it removes organic mercury (thiomersal or thimerosal) from a child. Organic mercury is present in most vaccines as an anti-microbic preservative, although it since the 1930´s has been recognised as a toxic substance affecting the central nervous system. Every vaccinated child and adult should take carnosine as a precaution in order to remove thiomersal from the body as soon as possible.
Carnosine has an ability to chelate pro-oxidative metals, such as copper, zinc and toxic heavy metals (arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel).