A Look at Mercury Amalgam Toxicity

[Guest guest]

FEAT DAILY NEWSLETTER Sacramento, California http://www.feat.org

" Healing Autism: No Finer a Cause on the Planet "

______________________________________________________

July 29, 2001 Search www.feat.org/search/news.asp

Also: Dental Group Defends Mercury Amalgam: No Harm, Autism

Mercury Amalgam Toxicity

'Your next visit to the dentist may not be as innocent as you think'

[by Jim O'Brien in LE Magazine May 2001. Thanks to Hudson.]

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2001/may2001_report_mercury_1.html

[This posting is part of an ongoing series of introductory reports on

current topics related to autism. For a complete list of the " A Look At... "

articles, go to:

www.feat.org/scripts/wa.exe?S2þatnews & LþATNEWS & q= & s=A+Look+at & f= & a= & b= ]

on, M.D., co-director of the Toxic Studies Institute

in Boca Raton, Florida and colleague, Jordan , M.D., sat down with Life

Extension magazine for an in-depth interview on the problem of mercury

toxicity caused by dental fillings. Unlike past treatments of this subject,

the two physicians spoke from a clinical, medical and scientific—not a

dental—perspective.

The issue of mercury toxicity is a delicate one. For decades, most

people have seen a visit to the dentist and subsequent cavity filling as a

necessary and regular procedure. Side effects have not routinely been

brought to light, so few have challenged the status quo. Evidence suggests,

however, that such an apparently harmless procedure can have detrimental

effects.

on, M.D., co-director of the Toxic Studies Institute

in Boca Raton, Florida, takes the matter very seriously. “Once mothers

realize the fillings in their teeth damage the development of their babies’

brains while they’re in the womb, and once these women understand this

damage can result in low IQ, learning and behavioral problems after birth,

then we’ll see a public outcry against the use of mercury amalgam.

“I envision something along the lines of the backlash against tobacco,

or drunk driving. Imagine a mercury amalgam protest group patterned after

M.A.D.D.—Mothers Against Drunk Driving. When that organization came about,

we saw results. That’s what we desperately need now. Perhaps we could call

it M.A.M.A.—Mothers Against Mercury Amalgams.”

Dr. on continues: “One of these days, there’s going to be a

mammoth lawsuit about mercury fillings, similar to one that’s already been

filed in Canada. It’s going to be bigger than what we’ve seen over tobacco.

It’s going to hit people like a Mack truck that putting mercury amalgam in

their teeth amounts to putting poison in their mouths. Once they realize

that in no uncertain terms, they’re going to be angry. Part of our job is to

educate, inform and disturb them so they’ll do something about it.”

“Mercury vapor is toxic, period,” Dr. on goes on. “The fetus

is especially vulnerable to that toxicity, which can cause brain damage.

Specifically, mercury vapor can cause learning disabilities, autism and

attention deficit disorder in unborn children. How will parents feel when

they grasp that?”

Dr. on and his colleague, Jordan , M.D., say toxicity due

to mercury amalgams is pandemic in our society—yet hardly anybody

understands or appreciates that fact. As it turns out, mercury toxicity

could provide a significant explanation for the explosion in learning and

behavioral problems, autism and a whole host of other conditions since World

War II—that 55-year period corresponds to the introduction and widespread

use of mercury amalgam.

“It’s an enormous problem,” explains Dr. .

“There are the medical consequences, the symptoms. Mercury is toxic

and it harms people. We’ll get into the science behind that statement

later—there’s a ton of evidence to substantiate it.”

Dr. on says that the toxicity results in disorders primarily

of the central nervous system; the head, neck and oral cavity; the

gastrointestinal tract; the cardiovascular, renal and immune systems.

“Exposure to mercury fillings results in a chronic toxicity, not acute

poisoning,” he noted as an aside.

According to Dr. on, the toxicity can manifest in irritability

and anxiety, restlessness and emotional instability, loss of memory,

inability to concentrate, mental confusion, depression, anti-social

behavior, suicidal tendencies, muscle weakness and loss of coordination;

bleeding gums and loosening of teeth; abdominal cramps, chronic diarrhea

and/or constipation; abnormal heart rhythms and blood pressure (high or low)

and unexplained elevations of cholesterol and triglycerides; repeated

infections or cancer; and generalized complaints such as chronic headaches,

allergies, dermatitis, cold and clammy skin or excessive perspiration,

ringing in the ears, joint and muscle pain, unsteady gait, wheezing, heart

palpitations, sinus congestion, allergies, loss of appetite or chronic

obesity.

Dr. explains that these symptoms have inexplicably been on the

rise in the past 50 years, without any unifying explanation. But findings in

the past 10 years indicate that mercury toxicity may be the common link

between these seemingly unrelated symptoms.

There are specific treatment protocols to detoxify individuals and rid

them of their mercury burden. Removing mercury fillings is an obvious step

in that process, but surprisingly, it’s not the first one. It must be

preceeded and followed by systemic detoxification. “We’ll detail the

clinical treatment process later,” said Dr. .

The Mercury amalgam problem also works on the level of society as a public

health problem—an unrecognized one, at that. “The pervasive lack of public

awareness about this very serious issue is an obstacle to progress. Even

scientists and physicians tend to be relatively uninformed,” says Dr. .

“And there is even organized resistance on the part of dentists who

use mercury amalgams. There has been for a very long time because they have

a lot to lose. Dentists have pride, reputation, money and liability on the

line. To admit that they have mistakenly been using a harmful substance to

treat tooth decay for many years is a very difficult confession to make—and

it’s fraught with extremely serious consequences.”

Dr. on is most outspoken about the scientific and ethical

issues of the mercury question. “When will dentists reach the point where

they’ll say, ‘We’re not going to put poison in people’s mouths any longer?

”

The science is blatantly overwhelming that mercury amalgams leak toxic

vapors. The irony is that dentists who place the compound in people’s mouths

do not treat it like a toxic substance. In fact, leftover amalgam must be

disposed of according to strict EPA guidelines.

“More importantly,” says Dr. on, “there are studies from world

renowned institutions that categorically show a cause-and-effect

relationship between mercury and disease; this is particularly true of

Alzheimer’s disease.

“Mercury is a cytotoxin—i.e. it poisons cells. Why wouldn’t it make

you sick?”

Many researchers have reasoned as much over the years but they never

had the scientific ammunition to overcome the arguments of organized

dentistry in favor of mercury amalgam. But in 1991, Boyd Haley, Ph.D., a

research toxicologist at the University of Kentucky in Lexington discovered

some hard evidence that changed the mercury debate for good.

“It was almost accidental,” Dr. Haley told Life Extension. “I found

out how damaging mercury amalgam is to the brain while studying tissue

affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

“The basic research I conducted shows the difference between normal

and diseased tissue. My own examination of Alzheimer’s affected cells told

me there had to be a toxicant—a toxic substance that causes it. So I went

searching for one. I identified two environmental sources that could be

responsible: Cadmium, mainly found in cigarette smoke, and mercury.” Dr.

Haley published his results. Then, the anti-amalgam lobby got in touch with

him and told him that dentists were putting “stuff” in people’s mouths that

leaks mercury.

“ly, I thought they were nuts,” says Dr. Haley. “No way would

anybody, let alone responsible health care professionals, put people at

serious risk by putting a toxic substance in their bodies, I reasoned.

“But I did an experiment. I put mercury amalgam in water. Then, I

placed a sample of brain tissue in that water and checked on it over time.

After a period of several weeks, I noticed that the exposure to mercury had

suppressed the secretion from the brain tissue of tubulin—a major enzyme

that performs critical functions in the brain. This finding was consistent

both with mercury toxicity and with brain tissue as affected by Alzheimer’s

disease.”

Dr. Haley continues: “From that, I concluded that there’s clearly

leakage from mercury amalgam—and that there’s a strong probability that

people who have such fillings in their teeth are being exposed to chronic,

low-dose mercury leakage.” According to Dr. Haley, having a mouthful of

mercury from age 14 until age 65 and beyond would greatly increase risk in

anyone susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease.

Needless to say, dentists do not welcome Dr. Haley’s views. “They

insist mercury amalgam is safe, non-toxic and that it doesn’t leak. [but the

fact of the matter is that] mercury is a neurotoxin. It leeches out of

dental fillings, of that there is no doubt. Anybody can measure it. It

heightens the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease as well as other

neurolgical disorders. Dentists defend their use of mercury amalgam, but it’

s unjustifiable. I feel like I’ve been arguing with the town drunk for eight

or nine years. My conclusion is simple and direct: mercury is the toxicant

behind Alzheimer’s disease. It may not be the only one, but mercury’s role

in the development of Alzheimer’s disease is clear.”

Dr. on applauds Prof. Haley’s impeccable science and says his

findings establish a straight cause-and-effect relationship. But from his

perspective as a clinician, he believes the Alzheimer’s disease connection

is only the tip of the iceberg.

“The list of problems mercury vapor can cause is endless. There is an

extremely high incidence of depression, memory loss and behavioral problems

including violent outbursts that can be explained by exposure to mercury

vapor,” Dr. on told Life Extension.

He says that mercury toxicity also produces systemic effects, from foul

breath and ringing in the ears to general fatigue or unexplained numbness or

burning sensations that may be related. Most disturbingly, Dr. on

points out, is the evidence linking mercury vapor exposure to the

development of chronic kidney disease and autoimmune disorders such as

arthritis, lupus erythematosus (LE), multiple sclerosis (MS), scleroderma,

amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and hypothyroidism.

“The real point is this: mercury is toxic. And that statement is now

beyond debate.”

According to Dr. on, The World Health Organization (WHO)

states that there is no safe level of mercury in humans that does not kills

cells and harm body processes. Florida’s environmental regulatory agency

notes that one mercury filling from one tooth thrown into a lake is enough

to contaminate that lake for fishing and swimming. Dentists have

consistently denied that mercury amalgam is dangerous, but, says Dr.

on, “that position is simply wrong. We won’t spend a lot of time

analyzing why dentists have maintained this mistaken position, but mistaken

it is.

“The American Dental Association, which for so long has promoted the

use of mercury amalgams, has recently divested itself of any culpability

with regard to mercury. In a case before the Superior Court of the State of

California, lawyers for The ADA and others stated: ‘The ADA owes no legal

duty of care to protect the public from allegedly dangerous products used by

dentists. The ADA did not manufacture, design, supply or install the

mercury-containing amalgams. The ADA does not control those who do. The ADA’

s only alleged involvement in the product was to provide information

regarding its use. Dissemination of information relating to the practice of

dentistry does not create a duty of care to protect the public from

potential injury.’ ”

Dr. on goes on to make an observation: “Now, an obvious

question arises: if mercury were safe, as the dental profession has insisted

for years, why would the American Dental Association feel obligated to claim

nobody can hold it responsible for the harm it has caused? Their statement

is just a way of saying, ‘the stuff’s dangerous, but don’t blame us if it

hurts you.’ ”

+ Article continues at:

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2001/may2001_report_mercury_1.html

>> DO SOMETHING ABOUT AUTISM NOW <<

Subscribe, Read, then Forward the FEAT Daily Newsletter.

To Subscribe go to www.feat.org/FEATnews No Cost!

* * *

Dental Group Defends Mercury Amalgams: No Autism

[This testimony by the President of the American Dental Association,

M. Anderton, was presented at Dan Burton’s Committee on Government

Reform looking into environmental mercury poisoning, in Washington D.C.,

April 25, 2001.]

http://www.ada.org/prof/govt/dentistryworks/letters/010511amal.html

The American Dental Association (ADA) requests that the Committee on

Government Reform accept this letter as a statement for the record for the

committee's hearing on April 25, entitled " Autism -- Why the Increased

Rates? A One Year Update. "

During the hearing, Dr. Boyd E. Haley stated in his testimony that

elementary mercury from dental amalgams could work synergistically with

other ethyl-mercury sources and have a cumulative toxic affect on the body.

Dr. Haley postulated that this could be a potential cause of autism and

Alzheimer's disease.

There is no scientifically valid evidence linking either autism or

Alzheimer's disease with dental amalgam. And there is no scientifically

valid evidence demonstrating in vivo transformation of inorganic or mercury

vapor into organo mercury species in individuals occupationally exposed to

amalgam mercury vapor. (Chang, S.B. et al., Factors Affecting Blood Mercury

Concentrations in Practicing Dentists; Journal of Dental Research 1992,

71(1) 66-74).

Based on currently available scientific evidence, the ADA believes

that dental amalgam is a safe, affordable and durable material for all but a

handful of individuals who are allergic to one of its components. It

contains a mixture of metals such as silver, copper and tin, in addition to

mercury, which chemically binds these components into a hard, stable and

safe substance. Dental amalgam has been used for more than 150 years and,

during that time, has established an extensively reviewed record of safety

and effectiveness.

Issued in late 1997, the FDI World Dental Federation and the World

Health Organization consensus statement on dental amalgam stated, " No

controlled studies have been published demonstrating systemic adverse

effects from amalgam restorations. " The document also states that, aside

from rare instances of local side effects of allergic reactions, " the small

amount of mercury released from amalgam restorations, especially during

placement and removal, has not been shown to cause any … adverse health

effects. "

The ADA's Council on Scientific Affairs' 1998 report on its review of

the recent scientific literature on amalgam states: " The Council concludes

that, based on available scientific information, amalgam continues to be a

safe and effective restorative material. " The Council's report also states,

" There currently appears to be no justification for discontinuing the use of

dental amalgam. "

In an article published in the February 1999 issue of the Journal of

the American Dental Association, researchers report finding " no significant

association of Alzheimer's disease with the number, surface area or history

of having dental amalgam restorations " and " no statistically significant

differences in brain mercury levels between subjects with Alzheimer's

disease and control subjects. "

The U.S. Public Health Service issued a report in 1993 stating there

is no health reason not to use amalgam, except in the extremely rare case of

the patient who is allergic to a component of amalgam. This supports the

findings of the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of

Health Technology Assessment Conference and the National Institute of Dental

and Craniofacial Research, that dental amalgam is a safe and effective

restorative material.

There have been several peer reviewed scientific studies concerning

the safety of dental amalgam. These studies disprove any link between dental

amalgam and various medical conditions. We have listed some of them below:

Dahl JE, Sundby J, Hensten-Pettersen A, sen N. " Dental Workplace

exposure and effect on fertility " Scand J Work Environ Health 1999

Jun;25(3):285-90.

The study groups consisted of 558 female dental surgeons (1/3 of whom

placed more than 50 fillings a week) and 450 high school teachers (control)

that had given birth in Norway to at least 1 living child. The study

comprised data from a total of 1408 pregnancies. The effects of practicing

dentistry and of the given workplace exposure on fertility were analyzed

with the discrete proportional hazard regression method.

Conclusions: Occupational exposures had no clear adverse effects on

fertility among the female dental surgeons studied.

Schuurs AH. " Reproductive toxicity of occupational mercury. A review

of the literature " J. Dent 1999;27(4):249-56.

This paper provides insight into the potential reproductive effects on

handling dental silver amalgam. Both animals and case reports and

epidemiological studies were reviewed. Conclusions: The studies conclude

that negative reproductive effects from exposure to mercury in the dental

office are unproven. Consequently, given the low amounts of mercury stemming

from dental amalgam fillings, the population at large are at even less risk

than dental staff.

Saxe SR, Wekstein MW et al. " Alzheimer's disease, dental amalgam and

mercury " , JADA 1999 Feb;130(2):191-9

This study consisted of 68 human subjects with diagnosed Alzheimer's

disease and 33 control subjects without Alzheimer's to determine mercury

levels in multiple brain regions at autopsy and to ascertain the subjects'

dental amalgam status and history. Conclusions: Mercury in dental amalgam

restorations does not appear to be a neurotoxic factor in the pathogenesis

of this disease. The authors found that brain mercury levels are not

associated with dental amalgam, either from existing amalgam restorations or

according to subjects' dental amalgam restoration history. Furthermore,

dental amalgam restorations, regardless of number, occlusal surface area or

time, do not relate to brain mercury level.

Ahlqwist M, Bengtsson C et al, " Serum mercury concentration in

relation to survival, symptoms, and diseases: results from the prospective

population study of women in Gotherburg, Sweden. Acta Odontol Scand 1999

June; 57(3):168-74

This prospective population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden was

started in 1968-69 and comprised of 1462 women aged 38-60 years at baseline.

Follow-up studies were conducted in 1974-75, 1980-81 and 1992-93.

Conclusions: No statistically significant correlation was observed between

dental amalgam and the incidence of diabetes, myocardial infarction, stroke,

or cancer. No association was established between disease and mercury on a

population basis in middle-aged and older women.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research is

currently supporting two very large clinical trials on the health effects of

dental amalgam. Studies underway for several years each in Portugal and the

Northeastern United States involve not only direct neurophysiological

measures but also behavioral and cognitive functional assessments. In

addition, the trials are monitoring the impact of amalgam on immune

function, antibiotic resistance and renal function. Preliminary findings

from these studies are consistent with any number of small and large

epidemiological studies published over the years concerning the health

effects of dental amalgam.

The ADA supports ongoing research in the development of new materials

that it hopes will someday prove to be as safe and effective as dental

amalgam. However, the ADA continues to believe that amalgam is a valuable,

viable and safe choice for dental patients and concurs with the findings of

the U.S. Public Health Service that amalgam has " continuing value in

maintaining oral health. "

_______________________________________________________

Lenny Schafer, Editor PhD Ron Sleith Kay Stammers

Editor@... Decelie CALENDAR: Guppy events@...

Unsubscribe: FEATNews-signoff-request@...