Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the chairman of the World Mercury Project.

The nonprofit organization’s goal is to “ban all uses of mercury on a global level.”

The group states that mercury is the second most toxic element on Earth and can cause inflammation in brain tissue. That inflammation has been connected to autism, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and other ailments.

The group says mercury is released into the air by coal-fired power plants and can be found in our food supply.

Mercury is also in thimerosal, a preservative used in tetanus and flu vaccines.

In the past, thimerosal was used some but not all childhood vaccines. The ingredient was removed as a safety precaution in 2003.

Officials at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) say thimerosal is safe to use as a preservative in vaccines, but Kennedy and others aren’t convinced.

They point out that flu shots are given to pregnant women as well as children.

The group feels strongly enough about the issue that they held a press conference last month and offered a $100,000 reward to anyone who can present a peer-reviewed study that proves that thimerosal is safe.

Healthline has taken a look at both sides of the vaccination debate in a detailed article…