Women with more amalgams more likely to have severely autistic child

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Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars). 2009;69(2):189-97. A prospective study of prenatal

mercury exposure from maternal dental amalgams and autism severity.

Geier DA , Kern JK , Geier MR .

Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, land, USA.

Dental amalgams containing 50% mercury (Hg) have been used in dentistry for the

last 150 years, and Hg exposure during key developmental periods was associated

with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). This study examined increased Hg exposure

from maternal dental amalgams during pregnancy among 100 qualifying participants

born between 1990-1999 and diagnosed with DSM-IV autism (severe) or ASD (mild).

Logistic regression analysis (age, gender, race, and region of residency

adjusted) by quintile of maternal dental amalgams during pregnancy revealed the

ratio of autism:ASD (severe:mild) were about 1 (no effect) for < or =5 amalgams

and increased for > or =6 amalgams. Subjects with > or =6 amalgams were 3.2-fold

significantly more likely to be diagnosed with autism (severe) in comparison to

ASD (mild) than subjects with < or =5 amalgams. Dental amalgam policies should

consider Hg exposure in women before and during the child-bearing age and the

possibility of subsequent fetal exposure and adverse outcomes.