Mercury Exposure Levels from Amalgam Dental
Fillings; Documentation of Mechanisms by Which Mercury Causes over 30 Chronic
Health Conditions; Results of Replacement of Amalgam Fillings; and Occupational
Effects on Dental Staff
Bernard Windham,
I. Introduction
II. Toxicity and Health Effects of Mercury
III. Systemic
Mercury Intake Levels from Amalgam Filling Exposure
IV. Immune System
Effects and Autoimmune Disease
V. Medical Studies
Finding Health Problems Related to Amalgam Fillings
VI. Documented
Results of Removal of Amalgam Fillings
VIII. Health Effects
from Dental Staff Exposure to Mercury
IX. Scientific Panel and Government Bodies That
Have Found Amalgam Fillings Unsafe
I. Toxic metals
such as mercury, lead, cadmium, etc. have been documented to be neurotoxic,
immunotoxic, reproductive/developmental toxins that according to U.S.
Government agencies cause adverse health effects and learning disabilities to
millions in the
The main
factors determining whether chronic conditions are induced by metals appear to
be exposure and genetic susceptibility,
which determines individuals immune sensitivity and ability to detoxify
metals(405,342). Very low levels of
exposure have been found to seriously affect relatively large groups of
individuals who are immune sensitive to toxic metals, or have an inability to
detoxify metals due to such as deficient sulfoxidation or
metallothionein function or other inhibited enzymatic processes related to
detoxification or excretion of metals. For those with chronic conditions,
fatigue regardless of the underlying disease is primarily associated with
hypersensitivity to inorganic and organic mercury, nickel, and
gold(342,369,375,382).
While there have been large increases of most neurological and immune
conditions among adults over the last 2 decades(574), the incidence of
neurotoxic or immune reactive conditions
in infants such as autism, schizophrenia, ADD, dyslexia, learning disabilities,
etc. have been increasing especially
rapidly in recent years (2,409,441,476).
A recent report by the National Research Council found that 50% of all
pregnancies in the
The health
effects of toxic metals are synergistic with other toxic exposures such as pesticides, endocrine disrupting substances
like organochlorine compounds and PCBs, etc. There are also synergistic effects
with the various types of parasites, bacteria, viruses to which people have
common exposures and commonly become infected when the immune system is weakened
by toxic exposures(485,469b,470) While
there is considerable commonality to the health effects commonly caused by
these toxic metals, and effects are cumulative and synergistic in many cases,
this paper will concentrate on the health effects of elemental mercury from
amalgam fillings. Studies have found considerable genetic variability in susceptibility
to toxic metals as well. The public appears to be generally unaware that
considerable scientific evidence supports that mercury is the metal causing the
most widespread adverse health effects to the public, and amalgam fillings have
been well documented to be the number one source of exposure of mercury to most
people, with exposure levels often exceeding Government health guidelines and
levels documented to cause adverse health effects.
II. Toxicity and
Health Effects of Mercury
1. Dental
amalgam contains about 50 % mercury, as well as other toxic metals such as
tin,copper,nickel, palladium, etc. The
average filling has 1 gram of mercury and leaks mercury vapor continuously due
to mercury’s high volatility along with loss due to galvanic action of mercury
with dissimilar metals in the mouth (182,192,276b,292,348,349,525), resulting
in significant exposure for most with amalgam fillings(see Section III). Mercury vapor is transmitted rapidly
throughout the body, easily crosses cell
membranes, and like organic methyl mercury has significant toxic effects at
much lower levels of exposure than other inorganic mercury forms
(38,281,287,304,329). The
A large U.S. Centers for Disease
Control epidemiological study, NHANES III,
found that those with more amalgam fillings(more mercury exposure) have
significantly higher levels of chronic health conditions(543). The conditions in which the
number of dental amalgam surfaces were most highly correlated with disease
incidence were MS, epilepsy, migraines, mental disorders, diseases of the
nervous system, disorders of the thyroid gland, cancer, and infectious diseases
(543). Other conditions where incidence
was significantly correlated with having more than the average number of
amalgam surfaces are: diseases of the male and female genital tracts, Disorders
of the peripheral nervous system, Diseases of the respiratory system, and
Diseases of the genitourinary system (543).
MS clusters in areas with high metals emissions from facilities such as
metal smelters have been documented(184).
As far back as 1996 it was shown that the lesions produced in the myelin
sheath of axons in cases of multiple sclerosis were related to excitatory
receptors on the primary cells involved called oligodendroglia. The loss of myelin sheath on the nerve fibers
characteristic of the disease are due to the death of these oligodendroglial
cells at the site of the lesions (called plaques). Further, these studies have
shown that the death of these important cells is as a result of excessive
exposure to excitotoxins at the site of the lesions(576,585). Most of these excitotoxins are secreted from
microglial immune cells in the central nervous system. This not only destroys
these myelin-producing cells it also breaks down the blood-brain barrier (BBB),
allowing excitotoxins in the blood stream to enter the site of damage. Some common exposures that cause
such proliferation of such excitotoxins resulting in MS are mercury and
aspartame, with additional effects from MSG and methanol. Mercury and other toxic metals
inhibit astrocyte function in the brain and CNS(119), causing increased
glutamate and calcium related neurotoxicity (119,333,416,496) which are factors
in neural degeneration in MS and ALS. There is
evidence that astrocyte damage/malfunction is a major factor in MS(544). Mercury and increased glutamate activate
free radical forming processes like xanthine oxidase which produce oxygen
radicals and oxidative neurological damage(142,13). Nitric oxide related toxicty caused by
peroxynitrite formed by the reaction of NO with superoxide anions, which
results in nitration of tyrosine residues in neurofilaments and manganese
Superoxide Dimustase(SOD) has been found to cause inhibition of the
mitochondrial respiratory chain, inhibition of the glutamate transporter, and
glutamate-induced neurotoxicity involved in ALS(524,521).
It is now known the cause for the destruction
of the myelin in the lesions is overactivation of the microglia in the region
of the myelin(585). An enzyme that converts glutamine to glutamate called glutaminase
increases tremendously, thereby greatly increasing excitotoxicity. Any dietary
excitotoxin can activate the microglia, thereby greatly aggravating the injury.
This includes the aspartate in aspartame and MSG which is in many processed
foods. The methanol in diet drinks adds to this toxicity as well. Now, the
secret to treatment appears to be calming down inflammation of the microglia.
Mercury and cadmium inhibiting
magnesium and zinc levels as well as inhibiting glucose transfer are other
mechanisms by which mercury and toxic metals are factors in metabolic syndrome
and insulin resistance/diabetes (43,198,338,589). Reduced levels of magnesium
and zinc are related to metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and brain
inflammation and are protective against these conditions(587,43).
According to neurologist Dr. RL Blaylock(585), the good news is that there are
supplements and nutrients that calm the microglia-the most potent are: silymarin,
curcumin and ibuprophen. Phosphatidylcholine helps re-myelinate the nerve
sheaths that are damaged, as does B12, B6, B1, vitamin D, folate, vitamin C,
natural vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) and L-carnitine (576) . DHA plays a major
role in repairing the myelin sheath. Vitamin D may even prevent MS, but it acts
as an immune modulator, preventing further damage - the dose is 2000 IU a day.
Magnesium, as magnesium malate, is needed in a dose of 500 mg 2X a day. They
must avoid all excitotoxins, even natural ones in foods-such as soy, red meats,
nuts, mushrooms and tomatoes. Avoid all fluoride and especially all
vaccinations since these either inhibit antioxidant enzymes or triggers harmful
immune reactions.
2. Mercury is the
most toxic of the toxic metals. Mercury (vapor) is carried by the blood to
cells in all organs of the body where it:
(a) is
cytotoxic(kills cells) (2,21,27,36,56,147,148,150,160,210,259,295,333/333)
(b) penetrates and
damages the blood brain barrier(311), resulting in accumulation of mercury and
other toxic substances in the brain
(14,20,21b,25,85,99,175,273,301,305,/149,262,274); also
accumulates in the motor function areas of the brain and
CNS(48,119,175,291,327,329).
(c ) is neurotoxic(kills brain and nerve
cells): damages brain cells and nerve cells (19,27,34,36, 43,
69,70,147,148,175,207,211,258,273,291,295,327,329,301,303,
305,395/39,262,274,303); generates high levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS) and oxidative
stress, depletes glutathione and thiols causing increased neurotoxicity from
interactions of ROS, glutamate, and dopamine (13,56,98,102, 145,169,170,
184,213,219,250,257,259,286,288,290,291,302,324,326,329,416,424, 442,
496,564,565); kills or inhibits production
of brain tubulin cells
(66,67,161,166, 207,258,300); inhibits
production of neurotransmitters by inhibiting: calcium-dependent neurotransmitter release(372,432),
dihydroteridine reductase (27,122,257,333), nitric oxide synthase(259), blocking
neurotransmitter amino acids (412),
and effecting phenylalanine,
serotonin, tyrosine and tryptophan transport to neurons (34,122,126,257,285,288,333,372,374,412/333)
(d)
is immunotoxic(damages and inhibits immune T-cells, B-cells, neutrophil
function, etc.)
(17,27,31,38,44,45,46,60,127,128,129,130,152,155,165,181,226,252,270,285,316,343,355,425,467/272)
and induces ANA antibodies and autoimmune disease
(38,43,45,59,60,118,181, 234,269,270,313,314,334, 342,343,425, 405)
(e) is nepthrotoxic(toxic to kidneys) (14,20,203,209c,223,254,260,268,334,438)
(f)
is endocrine system-disrupting chemical(accumulates in pituitary gland and
damages or inhibits pituitary glands
hormonal functions at very low levels (9,19,20,25,85,99,105,273,312,327,
348,369/274), adrenal gland function(84,369,381),
thyroid gland function (50,212,369,382,459,508-511,35), thymus gland
function(513a), and disrupts enzyme production processes at very low levels of
exposure
(9,13,33,35,56,111,194,258,348,355,410-412)
(g) exposure to mercury vapor (or methyl mercury) causes
rapid transmittal through the placenta
to the fetus
(20,22-24,27,38,39,61,112,186,281,287,304,311,338,339,348,361,366,20/
4,22,37,39, 41,42) and significant developmental effects-much more damage to
the fetus than for maternal exposure to inorganic mercury and at lower exposure
levels than for organic mercury(287,304,276e,etc.).
(h) reproductive and developmental toxin
(2,4,9,10,22,23,24,31,37,38,41,61,105,125, 160,175,275, 281,305,
338,361,367,381,20/4,39,55,149,162,255,308,339,357,540); damages
(i) prenatal/early postnatal exposure affects
level of nerve growth factor in the brain, impairs astrocyte function, and causes imbalances in development of brain
(38,119,131,161,175,194,305,458/149,255,39)
(j) causes cardiovascular damage and disease:
including damage to vascular endothelial cells, damage to sarcoplasmic
reticula, sarcolemma, and contractile proteins, increased white cell count,
decreased oxyhemoglobin level, high blood pressure, tachycardia, inhibits
cytochrome P450/heme synthesis(84,35,201,539), and increased risk of acute myocardial infarction
(35,59,201,202,205,212,232,306,310,351,510,50/201,308).
(k) causes immune system damage resulting in
allergies, asthma, lupus(234,260e),schleraderma(468),chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS),and multiple
sensitivities(MCS)
(8,17,26,35,45,46,60,75,86,87,90,95,97,
101,128,129,131,132,154,156,168,181,212, 226,228,230,234,265,267,296,313,342,388,445,
446/272) and neutrophil functional impairment (285,404,467/59,etc.).
(l) causes interruption of the cytochromeC
oxidase system/ATP energy function (43,84,232,338c,35) and blocks enzymes
needed to convert porphyrins to adenosine tri phosphate(ATP) causing
progressive porphyrinuria, resulting in low energy, digestive problems,
and porphyrins in urine (34,35,69,70,73,210,212,226,232,258,260)
(m) inhibition of
immune system facilitates increased damage by bacterial, viral, and fungal
infections
(17,45,59,129,131,251,296,350,40),and increased antibiotic resistance
(116,117,161,389,53,79).
(n) mercury causes significant destruction of
stomach and intestine epithelial cells, resulting in damage to stomach lining which along with mercury’s
ability to bind to SH hydroxyl radical in cell membranes alters
permeability(338,405,35,21c) and adversely alters bacterial populations in the
intestines causing leaky gut syndrome with toxic, incompletely digested
complexes in the blood(222,228b,35) and accumulation of heliobacter pylori, a
suspected major factor in stomach ulcers and stomach cancer(256) and candida
albicans, as well as poor nutrient absorption.
(o) forming strong bonds with and modification
of the-SH groups of proteins causes
mitochondrial release of calcium (1,21,35,38,43,329,333,432),as well as
altering molecular function of amino acids and damaging enzymatic
process(33,96,111,194,252,338,405,410-412) resulting in improper cysteine
regulation(194), inhibited glucose transfer and uptake(338,254), damaged sulfur
oxidation processes(33,194,338), and reduced glutathione availability
(necessary for
detoxification)(13,126,54).
(p) HgCl2 inhibits aquaporin‑mediated water transport in
red blood cells(479).
3. Mercury has been well documented to be an endocrine
system disrupting chemical in animals and people, disrupting function of the
pituitary gland, thyroid gland, reproduction processes, and many hormonal
functions at very low levels of exposure .
Mercury (especially mercury vapor) rapidly crosses the blood brain barrier and is stored preferentially in the pituitary
gland, thyroid gland, hypothalamus, and
occipital cortex in direct proportion to the number and extent of dental
amalgam surfaces (1,14,16,19,20,25,34,38,50,61,85,99,162,211,273,274,287,
327,348,360,366, 369) Thus mercury has a
greater effect on the functions of these
areas. Studies have documented
that mercury causes hypothyroidism(50,390,35), damage of thyroid RNA(458),
autoimmune thyroiditis (369,382,91) and impairment of conversion of thyroid T4
hormone to the active T3 form(369,382,459,35,50d,91). An overactive thyroid gland, or hyperthyroidism, can
trigger restlessness, hyperactivity, insomnia and irritability - symptoms that
could be mistaken for mania(560). On the other hand, a thyroid gland that
responds sluggishly in a hypothyroid state may result in feelings of coldness,
depression, pain, and low energy. Overt autoimmune thyroiditis is preceded by a
rise in levels of thyroid peroxidase antibodies. "Collectively, reports
show that 30-60% of women positive for TPO antibodies in pregnancy develop
postpartum thyroiditis," the researchers point out(561), calling it
"a strong association." Without treatment, many of the women with
thyroiditis go on to develop overt
clinical hypothyroidism as they age and, eventually, associated complications
such as cardiovascular disease. About 5% of pregnant women develop thyroiditis
after birth.
According to survey tests, 8 to 10 % of
untreated women were found to have thyroid imbalances so the actual level of
hypothyroidism is higher commonly recognized(508). Even larger percentages of women had elevated
levels of antithyroglobulin(anti-TG) or antithyroid peroxidase
antibody(anti-TP). Studies indicate that
slight imbalances of thyroid hormones in expectant mothers can cause permanent
neuropsychiatric damage in the developing fetus(509). Low first trimester levels of free T4 and
positive levels of anti-TP antibodies in the mother during pregnancy have been
found to result significantly reduces IQs(509).
Hypothyroidism is a well documented cause of mental
retardation(509). Women with the
highest levels of thyroid-stimulating-hormone(TSH) and lowest free levels of
thyroxine 17 weeks into their pregnancies were significantly more likely to
have children who tested at least one standard deviation below normal on an IQ
test taken at age 8. Based on study
findings, maternal hypothyroidism appears to play a role in at least 15% of
children whose IQs are more than 1 standard deviation below the mean, millions
of children. Studies have also
established a “clear association” between the presence of thyroid antibodies
and spontaneous abortions(511), as well as a connection between maternal
thyroid disease and babies born with heart, brain, and kidney defects(509c). Levels of recurrent abortions in a
population with positive levels of thyroid antibodies in one study were 40%, 5
times the normal rate(511).
Hypothyroidism is a well documented risk factor in spontaneous abortions
and infertility(9). Another study of
pregnant women who suffer from hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) found a
four-times greater risk for miscarriage
during the second trimester than those who don’t, and women with untreated
thyroid deficiency were four-times more likely to have a child with a
developmental disabilities and lower I.Q. (509). The American Assoc. of Clinical
Endocrinologists advises that all women considering becoming pregnant should
get a serum thyrotropin test so that hypothyroidism can be diagnosed and
treated early(558).
Mercury
blocks thyroid hormone production by occupying iodine binding sites and
inhibiting hormone action even when the measured thyroid level appears to be in
proper range(390,35ab). The thyroid and
hypothalamus regulate body temperature and many metabolic processes including
enzymatic processes that when inhibited result in higher dental decay(35) .
Mercury damage thus commonly results in poor bodily temperature control, in
addition to many problems caused by hormonal imbalances such as
depression. Such hormonal secretions are
affected at levels of mercury exposure much lower than the acute toxicity
effects normally tested(390,50,84), as previously confirmed by
hormonal/reproductive problems in animal populations(104,381c,50d). Mercury also damages the blood brain barrier
and facilitates penetration of the brain by other toxic metals and
substances(311). Thyroid
imbalances, which are documented to be commonly
caused by mercury (369,382,459,35,50,91), have been found to play a major role in chronic heart conditions such as
clogged arteries, mycardial infarction, and chronic heart failure(510).
Mercury
can have significant effects on thyroid function even though the main hormone
levels remain in the normal range, so the usual thyroid tests are not adequate
in such cases. Prenatal methylmercury
exposure severely affects the activity
of selenoenzymes, including glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and 5-iodothyronine
deiodinases(5-Di and 5'-DI) in the fetal brain, even though thyroxine(T4)
levels are normal(390e). Gpx activity
is severely inhibited, while 5-DI levels are decreased and 5'-DI increased in
the fetal brain, similar to hypothyroidism.
Thus normal thyroid tests will not pick up this condition.
The pituitary gland controls many of the
body’s endocrine system functions and secretes hormones that control most
bodily processes, including the immune system and reproductive systems.
One study found mercury levels in the pituitary gland ranged from 6.3 to
77 ppb(85), while another(348) found the mean level to be 30ppb- levels found
to be neurotoxic and cytotoxic in animal studies. Some of the effect on depression is related
to mercury’s effect of reducing the level of posterior pituitary
hormone(oxytocin). Low levels of pituitary
function are associated with depression and suicidal thoughts, and appear to be
a major factor in suicide of teenagers and other vulnerable groups. The pituitary glands of a group of dentists
had 800 times more mercury than controls(99).
This may explain why dentists have much higher levels of emotional
problems, depression, suicide,etc(Section VIII.). Amalgam fillings, nickel and gold crowns are
major factors in reducing pituitary function(35,50,369,etc.). Supplementary oxytocin extract has been found
to alleviate many of these mood problems(35), along with replacement of metals
in the mouth(Section VI.). The
normalization of pituitary function also often normalizes menstrual cycle
problems, endometriosis, and increases fertility(9,35).
The thymus gland plays a
significant part in the establishment of the immune system and lymphatic system
from the 12th week of gestation until puberty. Inhibition of thymus function can thus
affect proper development of the immune and lymphatic systems. Lymphocyte differentiation, maturation and
peripheral functions are affected by the thymic protein hormone thymulin.
Mercury at very low concentrations has been seen to impair some lymphocytic
functions causing subclinical manifestations in exposed workers. Animal studies
have shown mercury significantly inhibits thymulin production at very low
micromolar levels of exposure(513a).
The metal allergens mercuric chloride and nickel sulfate were found to
stimulate
4. Mercury’s biochemical damage at the cellular
level include
Part
of the toxic effects of mercury,cadmium, lead, etc. are through their replacing
essential minerals such as zinc at their sites in enzymes, disabling the
necessary enzymatic processes.
There has been a huge increase in the
incidence of degenerative neurological conditions in virtually all Western countries
over the last 2 decades(574). The increase in Alzheimer’s has been over 300%
while the increase in Parkinson’s and other motor neuron disease has been over
50%. The primary cause appears to be
increased exposures to toxic pollutants(574).
Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen
species(ROS) have been implicated as major factors in neurological disorders
including stroke, PD, MS, Alzheimer’s, ALS, MND,FM,CFS, etc.
(13,35c,56,84,98,145,169,207b,258,424,442-444,453,462,496). Mercury induced
lipid peroxidation has been found to be a major factor in mercury’s
neurotoxicity, along with leading to decreased levels of glutathione
peroxidation and superoxide dismustase(SOD)(13,254,489,494-496,577). Metalloprotein(MT) are involved in metals
transport and detoxification(442,464). Mercury inhibits sulfur ligands in MT
and in the case of intestinal cell membranes inactivates MT that normally bind
cuprous ions(477), thus allowing buildup of copper to toxic levels in many and
malfunction of the Zn/Cu SOD function.
Exposure to mercury results in changes in metalloprotein compounds that have genetic
effects, having both structural and catalytic effects on gene
expression(114,241,296,442,464,477,495).
Some of the processes affected by such MT control of genes include
cellular respiration, metabolism, enzymatic processes, metal-specific
homeostasis, and adrenal stress response systems. Significant physiological
changes occur when metal ion concentrations exceed threshold levels. Such MT formation also appears to have a
relation to autoimmune reactions in significant numbers of people
(114,60,313,342,369,442,464). Of a population of over 3000 tested by the
immune lymphocyte reactivity test(MELISA,60,342), 22% tested positive for
inorganic mercury and 8% for methyl mercury .
Programmed cell death(apoptosis)
is documented to the a major factor in degenerative
neurological conditions like ALS,
Alzheimer’s, MS, Parkinson’s, etc. Some
of the factors documented to be involved in apoptosis of neurons and immune cells
include inducement of the inflamatory cytokine Tumor Necrosis
Factor-alpha(TNFa) (126), reactive oxygen species and oxidative
stress(13,43b,56a,296b), reduced glutathione levels(56,126a,111a), inhibition
of protein kinase C(43), nitric oxide and peroxynitrite toxicity(43a),
excitotoxicity and idation(490,496,521,524), excess free cysteine
levels(56d,111a),excess glutamate toxicity(13b, 416e), excess dopamine toxicity
(56d,13a), beta-amyloid generation(462), increased calcium influx toxicity
(416e,296b,333,432,462c,507)and DNA fragmentation(296) and mitochondrial
membrane dysfunction(56d,416e,51a).
TNFa(tumor necrosis factor-alpha)
is a cytokine that controls a wide range of immune
cell response in mammals,
including cell death(apoptosis). This
process is involved in inflamatory and degenerative neurological conditions
like ALS, MS, Parkinson’s, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Cell signaling mechanisms like sphingolipids
are part of the control mechansim for the TNFa apoptosis mechanism(126a). Gluthathione is an amino acid that is a normal cellular mechanism for controlling
apoptosis. When glutathione is depleted
in the brain, reactive oxidative species increased, and CNS and cell signaling
mechinsisms are disrupted by toxic exposures such as mercury, neuronal cell
apoptosis results and neurological damage. Mercury has been shown
to induce TNFa and deplete glutathione, causing inflamatory effects and cellular apoptosis in neuronal and
immune cells(126b,126c).
Another
neurological effect of mercury that occurs at very low levels is inhibition of
nerve growth factors, for which deficiencies result in nerve degeneration. Mercury vapor is lipid soluble and has an
affinity for red blood cells and CNS cells(21a). Only a few micrograms of mercury severely
disturb cellular function and inhibits nerve growth
(175,147,226,255,305,149). Prenatal or
neonatal exposures have been found to have life long effects on nerve function
and susceptibility to toxic effects.
Prenatal mercury vapor exposure that results in levels of only 4 parts
per billion in newborn rat brains was found to cause decreases in nerve growth
factor and other effects(305). This is a
level that is common in the population with several amalgam fillings or other
exposures(500). Insulin-like-growth
factor I (IGF-I) are positively correlated with growth hormone levels and have
been found to be the best easily measured marker for levels of growth hormone,
but males have been found more responsive to this factor than women(497). IGF-I controls the survival of spinal motor
neurons affected in ALS during development as well as later in
life(497,498). IGF-I and insulin levels
have been found to be reduced in ALS patients with evidence this is a factor in
ALS(497,498). Several clinical trials
have found IGF-I treatment is effective at reducing the damage and slowing the
progression of ALS and Alzheimer’s with no medically important adverse
effects(498). It has also been found
that in chronically ill patients the levels of pituitary and thyroid hormones
that control many bodily processes are low, and that supplementing both
thyrotropin-releasing hormone and growth control hormone is more effective at
increasing all of these hormone levels in the patient(499).
(11) A direct mechanism involving mercury’s
inhibition of cellular enzymatic processes by binding with the hydroxyl
radical(SH) in amino acids appears to be a major part of the connection to
allergic/immune reactive conditions such as autism(408-414,439,464,468,476,33,160,251c),
schizophrenia(409,410), lupus (234,330,331,468,260e), Scleroderma(468), eczema and psoriasis
(323,342,385,419,455,33), and allergies
(26,46,60,95,132,152,156,271,313,330,331, 445,446,468). For example mercury has
been found to strongly inhibit the activity of dipeptyl peptidase (DPP IV)
which is required in the digestion of the milk protein casein(411,412) as well
as of xanthine oxidase(439). Studies involving a large sample of autistic and
schizophrenic patients found that over 90 % of those tested had high levels of
the milk protein beta-casomorphin-7 in their blood and urine and defective
enzymatic processes for digesting milk protein(410). Elimination of milk products from the diet
has been found to improve the condition.
Such populations have also been found to have high levels of mercury and
to recover after mercury detox(413,60,313).
As mercury levels are reduced the protein binding is reduced and
improvement in the enzymatic process occurs. Additional cellular level
enzymatic effects of mercury’s binding with proteins include blockage of sulfur
oxidation processes(33,114,194,412), enzymatic processes involving vitamins B6
and B12(418), effects on the cytochrome-C energy processes (43,84,232,338c,35),
along with mercury’s adverse effects on cellular mineral levels of calcium,
magnesium, zinc, and lithium (43,96,119,198,333, 386,427,432,38). And along with these blockages of cellular
enzymatic processes, mercury has been found to cause additional neurological
and immune system effects in many through immune/autoimmune reactions
(60,203d,313,314,21). Most
doctors treating such conditions also usually recommend supplementing the
deficient essential minerals previously noted that mercury affects, often
obtaining a hair element test to determine imbalances and needs(386,484).
But the effect on the immune system of
exposure to various toxic substances such as toxic metals and environmental
pollutants has also been found to have additive or synergistic effects and to
be a factor in increasing eczema,
allergies, asthma, and sensitivity to other lesser allergens. Most of the children tested for toxic
exposures have found high or reactive levels of other toxic metals, and
organochlorine compounds (413,313,415). Much mercury in saliva and the brain is
also organic (220,272,506), since mouth bacteria and other organisms in the
body methylate inorganic mercury to organic
mercury(51,81,225,503b,506,512).
Studies and clinical tests have found amalgam to be the largest source of methyl mercury in most people(506,220,79,386,etc.). Bacteria
also oxidize mercury vapor to the
water soluble, ionic form Hg(II) (431).
A clinical study found that methyl mercury in saliva is significantly
higher in those with amalgam fillings than those without, and correlated with
the number of amalgam fillings(506).
The average level of methyl mercury in the blood of a group with amalgam
was more than 4 times that of groups without amalgam or that had amalgam
replced. Total mercury in those with
amalgams was over 10 times that of those without amalgam. Other studies have
found similar results(512,79,etc.).
5.
Because of the extreme toxicity of mercury, only ½ gram is required to
contaminate a 10 acre lake to the extent that a health warning would be issued
by the government to not eat the fish(151,160). Over half the rivers and lakes
in Florida have such health warnings banning or limiting eating of fish, and
most other states and 4 Canadian provinces have similar health warnings(2).
Wisconsin has fish consumption warnings for over 250 lakes and rivers and
Minnesota even more, as part of the total of over 50,000 such lakes with
warnings(2)
Over
30 % of all
6. Mercury accumulates in the pituitary glands,
ovaries, testes, and prostate gland(35,99,9 19,20,25,85,273). In addition to having estrogenic effects,
mercury has other documented hormonal effects including effects on the reproductive
system resulting in lowered sperm counts, defective sperm cells, damaged
Some
of the effect on depression is related to mercury’s effect of reducing the
level of posterior pituitary hormone(oxytocin). Low levels of pituitary function are
associated with depression and suicidal thoughts, and appear to be a major
factor in suicide of teenagers and other vulnerable groups. The pituitary glands of a group of dentists
had 800 times more mercury than controls(99).
This may explain why dentists have much higher levels of emotional
problems, depression, suicide,etc(Section VIII.). Amalgam fillings, nickel and gold crowns are
major factors in reducing pituitary function(35,50,369,etc.). Nickel has also
been found to accumulate in the prostate and be related to prostate
cancer(581). Supplementary oxytocin
extract has been found to alleviate many of these mood problems(35), along with
replacement of metals in the mouth(Section VI.). The normalization of pituitary function also
often normalizes menstrual cycle problems, endometriosis, and increases
fertility(35,9).
7. An average amalgam filling contains
over ½ gram of mercury, and the average adult had at least 5 grams of mercury
in fillings(unless most has vaporized).
Mercury in solid form is not stable, having low pressure and being
subject to galvanic action with other metals in an oral
environment(182,192,292,348,349,525), so that within 10 years up to half has
been found to have been transferred to the
body of the host(18,34,35,182, & section III). In patients with galvanic cell in their oral
cavity we found decreased levels of antiinflamatory markers, such as secretory
IgA, IgA 1, IgA 2, and lysozyme, and increased levels of the proinflammatory
marker albumin (192i).
The amount of mercury released by a gold alloy
bridge over amalgam over a 10 year period was measured to be approx. 101
milligrams(mg)(60% of total) or 30 micrograms(ug) per day(18).
8. Elemental mercury vapor is more rapidly
transmitted throughout the body than most other forms of mercury and has more
much toxic effects on the CNS and other parts of the body than inorganic
mercury due to its much greater capacity to cross cell membranes, according to the World Health Organization
and other studies (38,82,183,287,360,376e,21a, section III). Mercury vapor
rapidly crosses the blood-brain barrier(14,85,311) and placenta of pregnant
women (20,22-24,27,38,105, 162,186,231,281,287,304,308, 311,361) Developmental, learning, and behavioral
effects have been found from mercury vapor at much lower levels than for
exposure to methyl mercury(287,304).
Similarly for inhibition of some essential cellular
processes(333,338,329).
9.
Running shoes with ½ gram of mercury in the heels were banned by several
states, because the amount of mercury was considered dangerous to public health
and created a serious disposal problem.
Mercury from dental offices and human waste from people with amalgam
fillings has much higher levels and is a major source of mercury in
Additionally cremation of those with
amalgam fillings adds to air emissions and deposition onto land and lakes. A study in Switzerland found that in that small
country, cremation released over 65 kilograms of mercury per year as emissions,
often exceeding site air mercury standards(420), while another Swiss study
found mercury levels during cremation of a person with amalgam fillings as high
as 200 micrograms per cubic meter(considerably higher than U.S. mercury
standards). The amount of mercury in
the mouth of a person with fillings was on average 2.5 grams, enough to
contaminate 5 ten acre lakes to the extent there would be dangerous levels in
fish(151). A Japanese study estimated
mercury emissions from a small crematorium there as 26 grams per day(421). A study in Sweden found significant
occupational and environmental exposures at crematoria, and since the
requirement to install selenium filters mercury emission levels in crematoria
have been reduced 85%(422).
10.
Studies have found that levels of exposure to the toxic metals mercury,
cadmium, and lead have major effects on classroom behavior, learning ability,
and also in mental patients and criminals behavior(3,160).
Studies
have found that both genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures are a
factor in xenobiotic related effects and disease
propagation(21d,7e,11a,230b,etc.). Large
numbers of animal studies have documented that genetically susceptible strains
are more affected by xenobiotic exposures than less susceptible strains
(234,336,425,526,etc.). Some genetic
types are susceptible to mercury induced autoimmunity and some are resistant
and thus much less affected(234,336,425,383,21d). Studies found that mercury
causes or accelerates various systemic conditions in a strain dependent manner,
and that lower levels of exposure adversely affect some strains but not others,
including inducing of autoimmunity. Also when a condition has been initiated
and exposure levels decline, autoimmune antibodies also decline in animals or
humans(342,369,405,233,234d). One
genetic factor in Hg induced autoimmunity is major histocompatibility
complex(MHC) linked. Both immune cell
type Th1 and Th2 cytokine responses are involved in autoimmunity(425c). Mercury has been found to affect both Th1 and
Th2 cytokines causing an increase in inflammatory Th2
cytokines(152,181,285,404b). In the
pancreas, the cells responsible for insulin production can be damaged or
destroyed by the chronic high levels of cytokines, with the potential of
inducing type II diabetes - even in otherwise healthy individuals with no other
risk factors for diabetes(501). Mercury inhibits production of insulin and is a
factor in diabetes and hypoglycemia, with significant reductions in insulin
need after replacement of amalgam filings and normalizing of blood sugar(35).
Diabetes incidence is increasing drastically.
For individuals born in 2000, the lifetime risk of diabetes in the
Another
genetic difference found in animals and humans is cellular retention
differences for metals related to the ability to excrete mercury(426). For example it has been found that
individuals with genetic blood factor type APOE-4 do not excrete mercury
readily and bioaccumulate mercury, resulting in susceptibility to chronic
autoimmune conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc. as early as age
40(437cd,577,35), whereas those with type APOE-2, which contains 2 cysteine
molocules, readily excrete mercury and are less susceptible. Those with type APOE-3 are intermediate to
the other 2 types. The incidence of
autoimmune conditions have increased to the extent this is now one of the
leading causes of death among women(450).
11.
Long term occupational exposure to low levels of mercury can induce slight
cognitive deficits, lability, fatigue, decreased stress tolerance, etc. Higher
levels have been found to cause more serious neurological problems
(119,128,160,285,457,etc.). Occupational
exposure studies have found mercury impairs the body’s ability to kill Candida
albicans by impairment of the lytic activity of neutrophils and myeloperoxidase
in workers whose mercury excretion levels are within current safety
limits(285,404,467). Such levels of
mercury exposure were also found to inhibit cellular respiratory burst. A population of plant workers with average
mercury excretion of 20 ug/ g creatinine was found to have long lasting
impairment of neutrophil function(285,404). Another study(59) found such
impairment of neutrophils decreases the body’s ability to combat viruses such
as those that cause heart damage, resulting in more inflammatory damage. Another group of workers with average
excretion rates of 24.7 ug/ g creatinine had long lasting increases in humoral
immunological stimulation of IgG, IgA, and IgM levels. Other studies(285b,g,395) found that workers exposed at high levels at least 20 years
previous(urine peak levels above 600 ug/L demonstrated significantly decreased
strength, decreased coordination, increased tremor, paresthesia, decreased
sensation, polyneuropathy, etc.
Significant correlations between increasing urine mercury concentrations
and prolonged motor and sensory distal latencies were established(285g,119e).
Elemental mercury can affect both motor
and sensory peripheral nerve conduction and the degree of involvement is
related to time‑integrated urine mercury concentrations. Thirty percent of dentists with more than
average exposure were found to have neuropathies and visuographic dysfunction
compared to none in the control group(395d).
Other studies have also found a connection between mercury with
peripheral neuropathy and paresthesia(190,449,502,71bd,395c). Several doctors
have found thiamin(B3), Vit B6, inositol, and folic acid supplementation to
alleviate peripheral neuropathies, pain, tinnitus, and other neurological
conditions(502)
Another study found that many of the
symptoms and signs of chronic candidiasis, multiple chemical sensitivity and
chronic fatigue syndromes are identical to those of chronic mercurialism and
remit after removal of amalgam combined with appropriate supplementation and
gave evidence to implicate amalgam as
the only underlying etiologic factor that is common to all(404).
Other
studies(285c) found that mercury at levels below the current occupational
safety limit causes adverse effects on mood, personality, and memory- with
effects on memory at very low exposure levels.
More studies found that long term exposure causes increased micro nuclei
in lymphocytes and significantly increased IgE levels at exposures below
current safety levels(128), as well as maternal exposure being linked to mental
retardation(110) and birth defects(23,35,37,38,50,142,241,361,338c/241).
III. Systemic Mercury Intake Level from Amalgam
Fillings
1. The tolerable
daily exposure level for mercury developed in a report for Health Canada is .014
micrograms/kilogram body weight(ug/kg) or approximately 1 ug/day for average
adult(209). The U.S. EPA Health
Standard for elemental mercury exposure(vapor) is 0.3 micrograms per cubic
meter of air(2). The U.S. ATSDR health
standard(MRL) for mercury vapor is 0.2 ug/ M 3 of air, and the MRL
for methyl mercury is 0.3 ug/kg body weight/day(217). For the average adult breathing 20 M 3
of air per day, this amounts to an exposure of 4 or 6 ug/day for the 2
elemental mercury standards. The EPA
health guideline for methyl mercury is 0.1 ug/kg body weight per day or 7 ug
for the average adult(2), or approx. 14 ug for the ATSDR acute oral toxicicity
standard. Since mercury is methylized in the body, some of
both types are present in the body. The
older World Health Organization(183) mercury health guideline(PTWI) is 300 ug
per week total exposure or approx. 42 ug/day. The EPA
drinking water standard for mercury is 2ppb(125). The upper level of mercury exposure
recommended by the German Commission on Human Biomonitoring is 1 micrograms per
liter in the blood(39), since adverse effects such as increases in blood pressure and cognitive
effects have been documented as low as 1 ug/L cord blood, with impacts higher
in low birth weight babies(308) and commonly in adults with levels below 10
ug/l(540). The FDA limit for
mercury in seafood is 1 ppm, with a warning at ½ ppm (125). The Japanese government's limit for mercury contamination,
0.4 micrograms per gram(533) and studies have found adverse
health effects eating fish at levels below 0.5 ppm(20,540) . EPA and several medical labs suggest health
safety guideline of 1 ppm(438). The EPA
safety standard for mercury in blood is 5.8 ppb(218b) and EPA has found that
since the fetus normally has mercury levels 70% above that of the mother’s
blood, large numbers of infants are at risk of neurological damage.
2.
Mercury in the presence of other metals in the oral environment undergoes
galvanic action, causing movement out of amalgam and into the oral mucosa and
saliva(174,182,192,436,525,179,199). Mercury in solid form is not stable due to
high volatility and evaporates continuously from amalgam fillings in the
mouth, being transferred over a period of time to the
host(15-19,26,31,36,79,83, 211, 182,183,199,276b,298,299,303,332,335,371). Mercury has a relatively high vapor pressure and vaporizes
at room temperature. The rate of mercury
volatilization is directly related to temperature so in the body it is even
more volatile. The vapor saturation
concentration in air of 20 milligrams of mercury per cubic meter of air is much
higher than the safety limit. The ATSDR
safety standard(
A
large study was carried out at the Univ. Of Tubingen Health Clinic in
which the level of mercury in saliva of 20,000 persons with amalgam fillings
was measured(199). The level of mercury in unstimulated saliva was
found to average 11.6 ug Hg/L, with the average after chewing being 3 times
this level. Several were found to have
mercury levels over 1100 ug/L, 1 % had
unstimulated levels over 200 ug/L, and 10 % had unstimulated mercury saliva
levels of over 100 ug/L.. The level of
mercury in saliva has been found to be proportional to the number of amalgam
fillings, and generally was higher for those with more fillings, increasing by
approximately 1.5 ug/L for each additional amalgam filling. The following table gives the average daily
mercury exposure from saliva alone for those tested, based on the average
levels found per number of fillings and using daily saliva volumes of 890 ml
for unstimulated saliva flow and 80 ml for stimulated flow (estimated from
measurements made in the study and comparisons to other studies). It also gives the 84th percentile mercury
exposure from saliva for the 20,000 tested by number of fillings. Note that 16% of all of those tested with 4
amalgam fillings had daily exposure from their amalgam fillings of over 17 ug
per day, and even more so for those with more than 4 fillings.
Table: Average daily mercury exposure in saliva by
number of amalgam fillings(199)
Number
of fillings: 4 5
6 7 8
9 10 11
12 13 14
15 16
Av.
Daily Hg(ug) 6.5 8
9.5 11 12.4
14 15.4 16.9
18.3 19.8 21.3
22.8 24.3
84th
percentile(ug) 17 23.5 26
30.5 35 41.5
43.8 48.6 50.3
46.7 56.6 61.4
64.5
Saliva tests for mercury are commonly
performed in
The
The studies also determined that the
number of fillings is the most important factor related to mercury level, with
age of filling being much less significant(319b). Different filling composition/manufacturer
can also make a difference in exposure levels( as will be further
discussed). The authors of the
3. The main exposure paths for mercury from
amalgam fillings are absorption by the lungs from intraoral air; vapor absorbed
by saliva or swallowed; amalgam particles swallowed; and membrane, olfactory,
sublingual venal, and neural path transfer of mercury absorbed by oral mucosa,
gums, etc.
(6,17,18,31,34,77,79,83,94,133,174,182,209,211,216,222,319,335,348,364,436) The
sublingual venal , olfactory, and neural pathways are direct pathways to the
brain and CNS bypassing the liver’s detox system and appear to represent major
pathways of exposure(34) based on the high levels of mercury vapor and methyl
mercury found in saliva and oral cavity of those with amalgam. A study at
The feces mercury was essentially all
inorganic with particles making up at most 25%, and the majority being mercury
sulfuhydryl compounds- likely originating as vapor. Their study and others reviewed found that
at least 80% of mercury vapor reaching the lungs is absorbed and enters the
blood from which it is taken to all other parts of the
body(335,348,349,363). Elemental mercury
swallowed in saliva can be absorbed in the digestive tract by the blood or
bound in sulfhydryl compounds and
excreted through the feces. A review determined that approx. 20 % of swallowed
mercury sulfhydryl compounds are
absorbed in the digestive tract, but approx 60%
of swallowed mercury vapor is absorbed(292,335,348). At least 80% of
particle mercury is excreted. Approx. 80% of swallowed methyl mercury is
absorbed(335,199,etc.)e, with most of the rest being converted to inorganic
forms apparently. The primary detoxification/excretion pathway for mercury
absorbed by the body is as mercury-glutathione compounds through the liver/bile
loop to feces(111,252,538), but some mercury is also excreted though the
kidneys in urine and in sweat. A high fiber diet has been shown to be helpful
in mercury detoxification(538). The range of mercury excreted in urine per day
by those with amalgams is usually less than 15 ug(6,49,83,138,174,335,etc.),
but some patients are much higher(93). A
large NIDH study of the
As is known from autopsy studies for those
with chronic exposure such as amalgam fillings (1,14,17,20,31,34,85,94), mercury also bioaccumulates in the
kidneys(85,273,14), liver, brain/CNS
(301,273,274,327,329,348,18,19,85), heart(59,205,348)), hormonal
glands(85,99,348), and oral mucosa (174,192,436,etc.) with the half life in the
brain being over 20 years. Studies have found dental
amalgam, chewing on amalgam, and fish consumption were positively associated
with Urinary-HgC(85d). In men, including
workers occupationally exposed to mercury, U-HgC was positively associated with
the kidney markers, especially with NAG, but to some extent also with A1M and
albumin.
Elemental mercury vapor is transmitted
throughout the body via the blood and readily enters cells and crosses the
blood-brain barrier, and the placenta of pregnant women(38,61,287,311,361), at
much higher levels than inorganic mercury and also higher levels than organic
mercury. Significant levels are able to cross the blood brain barrier,
placenta, and also cellular membranes into major organs such as the heart since
the oxidation rate of Hg0 though relatively fast is slower than the time
required by pumped blood to reach these organs(290,370). Thus the level in the
brain and heart is higher after exposure to Hg vapor than for other
forms(360,370). While mercury vapor and
methyl Hg readily cross cell membranes
and the blood-brain barrier, once in cells they form inorganic mercury that
does not readily cross cell membranes or the blood brain barrier readily and is
responsible for the majority of toxicity effects. Thus inorganic mercury in the brain has a
very long half life(85,273,274,503b,etc.).
Thyroid
imbalances, which are documented to be
commonly caused by mercury (369,382,459,35,50,91), have been found to play a
major role in chronic heart conditions
such as clogged arteries, mycardial infarction, and chronic heart
failure(510). In a recent study,
published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers reported that subclinical hypothyroidism is highly
prevalent in elderly women and is strongly and independently associated with
cardiac atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction(510c). People who tested hypothyroid usually have
significantly higher levels of homocysteine and cholesterol, which are
documented factors in heart disease. 50%
of those testing hypothyroid, also had high levels of homocysteine
(hyperhomocysteinenic) and 90% were either hyperhomocystemic or
hypercholesterolemic(510a). These are also known factors in developing
arteriosclerotic vascular disease. Homocysteine levels are significantly increased in hypothtyroid
patients and normalize with treatment(510efg).
4. The average amalgam filling has
approximately 0.5 grams(500,000 ug) of mercury.
As much as 50% of mercury in fillings has been found to have vaporized
after 5 years and 80% by 20 years(182,204).
Mercury vapor from amalgam is the
single largest source of systemic mercury intake for persons with amalgam fillings, ranging
from 50 to 90 % of total exposure.
(14,16,17,19,36,57,61,77-83,94,129,130,138,161,167,183,191,196,211,216,273,292,303,332,),
averaging about 80% of total systemic intake.
After filling replacement levels of mercury in the blood, urine, and
feces typically temporarily are increased for a few days, but levels usually
decline in blood and urine within 6 months to from 60 to 85% of the original
levels(57,79,82,89,196,303). Mercury levels in saliva and feces usually decline
between 80 to 95% (79,196,335,386)
5.
Having dissimilar metals in the teeth(e.g.-gold and mercury) causes galvanic action,
electrical currents, and much higher mercury vapor levels and levels in
tissues.
(182,192,292,348,349,390,525,19,25, 27,29,30,35,47,48,100) Average mercury levels in gum tissue near
amalgam fillings are about 200 ppm, and are the result of flow of mercury into
the mucous membrane because of galvanic currents with the mucous membrane
serving as cathode and amalgam as cathode(192).
Average mercury levels are often 1000 ppm near a gold cap on an amalgam
filling due to higher currents when
gold is in contact with amalgam (30,25,35,48). These levels are among the
highest levels ever measured in tissues of living organisms, exceeding the
highest levels found in chronically exposed chloralkali workers, those who died
in Minamata, or animals that died from mercury poisoning. German oral surgeons have found levels in the
jaw bone under large amalgam fillings or gold crowns over amalgam as high as
5760 ppm with an average of 800 ppm(436).
These levels are much higher than the FDA/EPA action level for prohibiting
use of food with over 1 ppm mercury.
Likewise the level is tremendously over the U.S. Dept. Of Health/EPA
drinking water limit for mercury which is 2 parts per billion(218). Amalgam manufacturers, Government health
agencies such as Health Canada, dental school texts, and dental materials
researchers advise against having amalgam in the mouth with other metals such
as gold(446,35), but many dentists ignore the warnings.
Concentrations
of mercury in oral mucosa for a population of patients with 6 or more amalgam
fillings taken during oral surgery were 20 times the level of
controls(174). Studies have shown
mercury travels from amalgam into dentin, root tips, and the gums, with levels
in roots tips as high as 41 ppm(192,47). Studies have shown that mercury in the
gums such as from root caps for root canaled teeth or amalgam tattoos result in
chronic inflammation, in addition to migration to other parts of the
body(200,47,35). Mercury and silver from
fillings can be seen in the tissues as amalgam “tattoos”, which have been found
to accumulate in the oral mucosa as granules along collagen bundles, blood
vessels, nerve sheaths, elastic fibers, membranes, striated muscle fibers, and
acini of minor salivary glands. Dark
granules are also present intracellularly within macrophages, multinucleated
giant cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. There is in most cases chronic
inflammatory response or macrophagic reaction to the metals(47), usually in the
form of a foreign body granuloma with multinucleated giant cells of the foreign
body and Langhans types(192). Most
dentists are not aware of the main
source of amalgam tattoos, oral galvanism where electric currents caused by mixed
metals in the mouth take the metals into the gums and oral mucosa, accumulating
at the base of teeth with large fillings or metal crowns over amalgam
base(192). Such metals are documented to
cause local and systemic lesions and health effects, which usually recover
after removal of the amalgam tattoo by surgery(47fghi). The high levels of accumulated mercury also
are dispersed to other parts of the body. It is well documented that amalgam
fillings are a major factor in gingivitis, oral gum tissue inflamation,
bleeding, and bone loss(29,21ab, 47,7d etc.).
Mercury also accumulates in the trigeminal ganglia(325,329ab) and can
cause trigeminal neuralgia from which patients recover after amalgam
replacement(525a,192a,35d,222).
Cavitations from improperly healed tooth extractions also commonly cause
trigeminal neuralgia and most such recover after cavitation
surgery(437b,35a).
The periodontal ligament of extracted
teeth is often not fully removed and results in incomplete jawbone regrowth
resulting in a pocket where mouth bacteria in anaerobic conditions along with
similar conditions in the dead tooth produce extreme toxins similar to botulism
which like mercury are extremely toxic and disruptive to necessary body
enzymatic processes at the cellular level, comparable to the similar enzymatic
disruptions caused by mercury and previously discussed(35,437ab).
The component mix in amalgams has also
been found to be an important factor in mercury vapor emissions. The level of mercury and copper released from
high copper amalgam is as much as 50 times that of low copper amalgams(191). Studies have consistently found modern high
copper non gamma-two amalgams have a high negative current and much greater
release of mercury vapor than conventional silver amalgams and are more
cytotoxic (35,258,298,299). Clinics have found the increased toxicity and
higher exposures to be factors in increased incidence of chronic degenerative
diseases(35,etc). While the non
gamma-two amalgams were developed to be less corrosive and less prone to
marginal fractures than conventional silver amalgams, they have been found to
be unstable in a different mechanism when subjected to wear/polishing/ chewing/
brushing: they form droplets of mercury on the surface of the
amalgams(182,297). This has also been
found to be a factor in the much higher release of mercury vapor by the modern
non gamma-two amalgams. Recent studies
have concluded that because the high mercury release levels of modern amalgams,
mercury poisoning from amalgam fillings is widespread throughout the
population”(95,199,238,258). Numerous
other studies also support this finding(Section IV).
Amalgam also releases significant amounts
of silver, tin, and copper which also have toxic effects, with organic tin
compounds formed in the body being even
more neurotoxic than mercury(51,222,262). Alloys containing tin such as amalgam were
found to have the highest galvanic corrosion rates, while alloys containing
copper or iron were very corrosive in acid environments(297). Metals tend to cause cellular acidic
conditions which lead to disease and measuring urine acidity is useful in this
regard. Normal acidity is PH of about
6.8(228a).
6.
The number of amalgam surfaces has a statistically significant correlation to :
(a) blood
plasma mercury level (13d,17,22,23,49,79,89,133,211)(usually not as strong as
other measures)
(b) urine
mercury level (38,49,57,76,77,79,82,83,134,138,167,176,254,303,332,335)
©
oral air(16,18,100,176,335)
(d) saliva
and oral mucosa(18,30,77,79,117,179,174,199,211,222,292,315,317)
(e) feces
mercury (25,79,80,83,115,117,182,335,386)
(f) pituitary
gland (19,20,25,85,99,273/274)
(g) brain
occipital cortex (14,16,19,25,34,85,211,273,348,366/274)
(h) renal(kidney)
cortex(14,16,19,20,85,254,273,348,366)
(I)
liver(14,19,85,366)
(j) motor
function areas of the brain & CNS: brain stem, cerebellum, rhombencephalon,
dorsal root ganglia, and anterior horn motor neurons (48,291,327,329,442,35.)
(k) fetal
and infant liver/brain levels(61,112,186,231,22) related to maternal fillings.
7.
A person with amalgam fillings has daily systemic intake from mercury vapor of
between 3 and 70 micrograms of mercury, with the average being at least 7
micrograms(ug) per day (18,77,83,85,93,138,183,199,211,292,315,335). In a large German study, the median daily
exposure for those with fillings through saliva was approx. 10 ug/day, 4% of
those with fillings had daily exposure through saliva of over 80 ug/day, and 1%
had over 160 ug/day(199). The methods and results of the
8. The blood and urine mercury load of a person
with amalgam fillings is often 5 times that of a similar person
without.(14,16,17,79,80,82,93,136,138, 303,315,317,318) The average blood level
for one large population was 5 ug/l(176). Normal blood levels are less than 20
ppb, but health effects have been observed in patients in the upper part of
this range. A Swedish study estimated
the total amount mercury swallowed per day from intra-oral vapor was 10
micrograms per day(177),and a large German study(199) found median exposure
through saliva alone for those with fillings to be about 10 ug/day, with many
having several fillings with over 10 times that level. Other studies have found similar
amounts(18,83,211,183,209).
9.
Teeth are living tissue and have massive communication with the rest of the
body via blood, lymph, and nerves. Mercury vapor (and bacteria in teeth ) have
paths to the rest of the body. (34,etc.)
German studies of mercury loss from vapor in unstimulated saliva found
the saliva of those with amalgams had at least 5 times as much mercury as for
controls(138,199,292,315).
10. Mercury (especially mercury vapor) rapidly
crosses the blood brain barrier and is
stored preferentially in the pituitary gland(14,85,327), hypothalamus(348c),
thyroid gland(99), adrenal gland (84,369,381), and occipital cortex in direct
proportion to the number and extent of amalgam surfaces (14,19,20,25,34,38,85,99,273,274,287,348,366) Thus mercury has a greater effect on the
functions of these areas. The range in
one study was 2.4 to 28.7 ppb(85), and one study found on average that 77% of
the mercury in the occipital cortex was inorganic(363). Autopsy studies have
found higher levels of mercury in the brain of infants than of adults from the
same population, and much higher levels in adults who have amalgam
fillings(14d). Infants of mothers who
had dental work involving amalgam during pregnancy had significantly higher
levels of mercury in hair tests(541a).
11.
Some mercury entering nasal passages is absorbed directly into the olfactory
lobe and brain without coming from blood(34,35,182,222,348,364). Mercury also is transported along the axons
of nerve fibers (5,25,34,35,327,329).
12.
Mercury has a long half life in the body and over 20 years in the brain, and
chronic low level intake results in a slow accumulation in body tissues.
(20,34,35,38,85,etc.)
13.
Methyl mercury is more toxic to some body processes than inorganic
mercury. Mercury from amalgam is
methylated by bacteria, galvanic electric currents(35), and candida albicans in the mouth and
intestines(51,81,98,182,225,503b,506). The level of organic mercury in saliva
is significantly related to the number of amalgam fillings(506). Oral bacteria
streptococommus mitior,S.mutans, and S.sanguis were all found to methylate
mercury(81). High levels of Vit B12 in
the system also have been found to result in increased methyl mercury
concentrations in the liver and brain(51). Methyl mercury is 10 times more
potent in causing genetic damage than any other known chemical (Ramel, in(35)),
and also crosses the blood-brain barrier readily. Once mercury vapor or methyl mercury are
converted to inorganic mercury in cells or the brain, the mercury does not
readily cross cell membranes or the blood-brain barrier. Thus mercury has a very long half life in the
brain. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been
found to be effective at increasing glutathione levels and chelating methyl
mercury(54,126).
14.
The level of mercury in the tissue of
the fetus, new born, and young children is directly proportional to the number
of amalgam surfaces in the mother’s mouth. (20,23,61,112,210,361) The level of mercury
in umbilical cord blood, meconium, and placenta was higher than that in
mother’s blood (22,23b,186), with meconium level the most reliable indicator of
mercury exposure levels. The saliva and
feces of children with amalgams have approximately 10 times the level of
mercury as children without(25,315,386,528), and much higher levels in saliva
after chewing. A group of German children with amalgam fillings had urine
mercury level 4 times that of a control group without amalgams(76), while a
Canadian study found 3.2 times as much exposure in those with amalgam with
adverse health effects(low weight and height)(76c), and in a Norwegian group
with average age 12 there was a
significant correlation between urine mercury level and number of
amalgam fillings(167). The level of
mercury in maternal hair was significantly correlated to level of mercury in
nursing infants(541). One study found a 60% increase in average cord blood
mercury level between 1980 and 1990 in
16.
The fetal mercury content after maternal inhalation of mercury vapor was found
to be higher than in the mother( 4,etc.)
Mercury from amalgam in the blood of pregnant women crosses the placenta
and appears in amniotic fluid and fetal blood, liver, and pituitary gland soon
after placement (20,22,23,31,36,61,162, 186,281,348,366). Dental amalgams are
the main source of mercury in breast milk(112,186,304,339,20). Milk increases
the bioavailability of mercury(112,304,391) and mercury is often stored in
breast milk and the fetus at much higher levels than that in the mother's
tissues (19,20,22,23,61,112,186,210, 287,304). Mercury is transferred mainly by
binding to amino acids like albumin(339). The level of mercury in breast milk
was found to be significantly correlated with the number of amalgam
fillings(61,339), with milk from mothers with 7 or more fillings having levels
in milk approx. 10 times that of amalgam-free mothers. The milk sampled ranged
from 0.2 to 6.9 ug/L. Several authors suggest use of early mother’s milk as a
screen for potential problems since it is correlated both to maternal and
infant mercury levels. The highest level
is in the pituitary gland of the fetus which affects development of the
endocrine system. Levels for exposure to mercury vapor has been found to be approx 10 times that for maternal
exposure to an equivalent dose of inorganic mercury(281,287), and developmental
behavioral effects from vapor have been found at levels considerably below that
required for similar effects by methyl
mercury (20,49,119c,264,287,304,338).
The level of total mercury in nursing infants was significantly
correlated to total mercury level in maternal hair(22,541).
17.
There is a significant correlation between number of amalgam fillings of the
mother and the level of the fetus and older infants(20,22,23,61,304), and also
with the level in mother’s milk (19,20,38,112, 304,339). Fertile women should not be exposed to vapor
levels above government health guidelines(38,61,182,282);or have amalgams
placed or removed during pregnancy (20,182,231,304,339). The U.S. ATSDR mercury health MRL of 0.2
mcg/M3 (2,217).
IV.
Immune System Effects and Autoimmune Disease
1.
Many thousands of people with symptoms of mercury toxicity have been found in
tests to have high levels of mercury, and many thousands who have had amalgam
fillings removed(most) have had health problems and symptoms alleviated or
greatly improved(see Section VI). From
clinical experience some of the symptoms of mercury sensitivity/mercury
poisoning include chronic fatigue, dizziness, frequent urination, insomnia
(199d), amnesia(119d),headaches, irritability, chronic skin problems, metallic
taste, gastrointestinal problems(21c), asthma(8,97), stuffy nose, dry crusts in
nose, rhinitis, plugged ears, ringing ears, chest pain, hyperventilation,
diabetes(35,501,369), spacy feeling, chills, chronic skin problems, immune and
autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular problems, muscle weakness, and many types
of neurological
problems(21,26,34,35,36,38,45,59,60,69,70,71,75,91,109,148,165,199,204,212,246,255,268-270,
290,291,294, 313,343,503,504,508-510,539).
Amalgam results in chronic exposure rather than acute exposure and
accumulation in body organs over time, so most health effects are of the
chronic rather than acute in nature, but serious health problems have been
documented to be related to amalgam and researchers have attributed some deaths
as due to amalgam (356,32,245).
2.
Mercury vapor exposure at very low levels adversely affects the immune system
(17,27,31,38,45,60,84,118,129,
131,165,226,270,285,296,313,314,355,342,369).
From animal studies it has been determined that mercury damages T-cells
by generating reactive oxygen species(ROS); depleting the thiol reserves of
cells; binding with mitochondria, damaging and decreasing the dimension of
mitochondria, impairing cellular respiration and cellular energy; causing
destruction of cytoplasmic organelles with loss of cell membrane integrity, inhibiting
ability to secrete interleukin IL-1 and IL-2R, causing activation of glial
cells to produce superoxide and nitric oxide, and inactivating or inhibiting
enzyme or coenzyme systems or hormones involving the sulfhydryl protein
(SH)groups(181,226,338,405,424,442), along with OH, NH2, and Cl groups in
proteins. HgCl2 also inhibits aquaporin‑mediated water transport in
red blood cells(479) as well as oxygen transport by hemoglobin(232). Thus some of the main mechanisms of toxic
effects of metals include cytotoxicity; changes in cellular membrane
permeability; inhibition of enzymes, coenzymes, and hormones; and generation of lipid peroxides or free radicals- which result in neurotoxicity,
immuno toxicity, impaired cellular respiration, gastrointestinal/metabolic
effects, hormonal effects, and immune reactivity or autoimmunity. Occupational studies have found that the
number of suppressor-inducer immune cells and natural killer cells are
significantly negatively correlated with urine mercury level(270ad).
Mercury
caused adverse effects on both neutrophil and macrophage function and after
depletion
of thiol reserves, T-cells were susceptible to Hg induced cellular death
(apoptosis).(226,272,355) Interferon
syntheses was reduced in a concentration dependent manner with either mercury
or methyl mercury as well as other immune functions(131), and low doses also
induce aggregation of cell surface proteins and dramatic tyrosine phosporlation
of cellular proteins related to asthma, allergic diseases such as eczema and
lupus (234,260e,323,35), and autoimmunity(181,314,405). Porphyrins are precursors to heme, the oxygen carrying component of blood. Mercury inhibits the conversion of
specific porphyrins to heme. (84,35,201,260,539) Mercury and other toxic metals block
coproporphyrin and uroporphyrin which is a marker in using the porphyrin test
for lupus diagnosis and treatment(260e).
One study found that insertion of amalgam
fillings or nickel dental materials causes a suppression of the number of
T-lymphocytes(270), and impairs the T-4/T-8 ratio. Low T4/T8 ratio has been found to be a factor
in lupus, anemia, MS, eczema, inflammatory bowel disease, and
glomerulonephritis. Mercury induced
autoimmunity in animals and humans has been found to be associated with
mercury’s expression of major histocompatibility complex(MHC) class II
genes(314,181,226,425c). Both mercuric and methyl mercury chlorides caused dose
dependent reduction in immune B-cell production. (316) B-cell expression of IgE receptors were
significantly reduced(316,165), with a rapid and sustained elevation in
intracellular levels of calcium induced(316,333). Both forms are immontoxic and cytotoxic ant
very low levels seen in individuals. Mercury also inhibited B-cell and T-cell
RNA and DNA synthesis. The inhibition of
these functions by 50 % occurred rapidly at very low levels, in the range of 10
to 25 ug/L. All types of cells exhibited a dose dependent reduction in cellular
glutathione when exposed to mercury, inhibiting generation of GSH by
lymphocytes and monocytes(252).
Workers occupationally exposed to
mercury at levels within guidelines have been found to have impairment of lytic
activity of neutrophils and reduced ability of neutrophils to kill invaders
such as candida(285,404). Immune Th1
cells inhibit candida by cytokine related activation of macrophages and
neutrophils. Development of Th2 type
immune responses deactivate such defenses(404b). Mercury inhibits macrophage
and neutrophil defense against candida by its affects on Th1 and Th2 cytokine
effects(181,285). Low doses also
induced autoimmunity in some species(181,314,369,404,405,129,43). Candida overgrowth results in production of
the highly toxic canditoxin and ethanol which are known to cause fatigue, toxicity,
and depressive symptoms(460). Another
amalgam effect found is increase in the average blood white cell count
significantly (35). The increased white
count usually normalizes after amalgam removal.
Mercury also blocks the immune function of magnesium
and zinc (198,427,43,38), whose deficiencies are known to cause significant
neurological effects(461,463). The low Zn levels result in deficient CuZnSuperoxide dismustase (CuZnSOD), which in
turn leads to increased levels of superoxide due to toxic metal exposure. This is in addition to mercury’s effect on
metallothionein and copper homeostasis as previously discussed(477). Copper is an essential trace metal which plays
a fundamental role in the biochemistry of the nervous system(489,495,464). Several chronic neurological conditions
involving copper metabolic disorders are well documented like Wilson’s Disease
and Menkes Disease. Mutations in the
copper/zinc enzyme superoxide dismustase(SOD) have been shown to be a major
factor in the motor neuron degeneration in conditions like familial ALS and
similar effects on Cu/Zn SOD to be a factor in other conditions such as autism,
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and non-familial ALS(489,495,464,111). This condition can result in zinc deficient
SOD and oxidative damage involving
nitric oxide, peroxynitrite, and lipid peroxidation(495,496,489,524),
which have been found to affect glutamate mediated excitability and apoptosis
of nerve cells and effects on mitochondria(495,496,524,119) These effects can
be reduced by zinc supplementation(464,495), as well as supplementation with
antioxidants and nitric oxide-suppressing agents and peroxynitrite scavengers
such as Vit C, Vit E , lipoic acid, Coenzyme Q10, carnosine, gingko biloba,
N-acetylcysteine, etc.(237,444,464,494,495,469,521,524,572). Some of the
antioxidants were also found to have protective effects through increasing
catalase and SOD action, while reducing lipid peroxidations(494a). Ceruloplasmin in plasma can be similarly affected by copper metabolism
disfunction, like SOD function, and is often a factor in
neurodegeneration(489).
3.
Mercury from amalgam interferes with production of cytokines that activate
macrophage and neutrophils, disabling early control of viruses or micoplasma and
leading to enhanced infection(131,251,470). Animal studies have confirmed that
mercury increases effects of the herpes simplex veris type 2 for
example(131). Both mercuric and methyl
mercury were equally highly toxic at the cellular level and in causing cell
volume reductions(131). However methyl
mercury inhibits macrophage functions such as migration and phagocytosis at
lower levels. Large numbers of people
undergoing amalgam removal have clinically demonstrated significant
improvements in the immune system parameters discussed here and recovery and
significant improvement in immune system problems in most cases surveyed(Section VI). Antigen specific LST-test was performed on a
large number of patients with atopic eczema(323), using T-cells of peripheral
blood. 87% showed LST positive reactions to Hg, 87% to Ni, 38% to Au and 40% to
Pd They removed LST positive dental
metals from the oral cavities of patients. Improvement of symptoms was obtained
in 82% (160/196) of the patients within 1-10 months. Similar results have been obtained at other
clinics(455). Several studies found
adverse health effects at mercury vapor levels of 1 to 5 mcg/M3 (35).
4.
Body mercury burden was found to play a role in resistant infections such as
Chlamydia trachomatis and herpes family viral infections; it was found many
cases can only be effectively treated by antibiotics after removal of body
mercury burden(cilantro tablets were used with followup antibiotics)(251,131). Various bacteria have enzymes that convert
organic mercury to inorganic mercury in the intestine, facilitating
excretion. However taking antibiotics
kills these bacteria and significantly reduces mercury excretion, resulting in
more mercury damage. Similar results
regarding mercury have been found for
treatment of cancer(35,228a,530). Studies have found conventional chemotherapy to be no more
effective than no treatment and clinical cases have demonstrated that
detoxification and nutritional support can be effective in treating multiple
myeloma(550) and other cancers(486).
5. Mercury by its effect of weakening the
immune system contributes to increased chronic diseases and
cancer(91,180,228a,237,239,222,234,355,530,543,35,38,40,etc,). Exposure to mercury vapor causes decreased
zinc and methionine availability, depresses rates of methylation, and increased
free radicals-all factors in increased susceptibility to cancer
(14,34,38,43,143,144,180,237,239,251,256,283,530). Amalgam fillings have also been found to be
positively associated with mouth cancer(206,251,403). Mercury from amalgam
fillings has also been found to cause increase in white blood cells and in some
cases to result in leukemia(35,180).
White cell levels decline after total dental revision(TDR) and some have
recovered from leukemia after removal of amalgam fillings in a very short
time(35,180). Among a group of patients
testing positive as allergic to mercury, low level mercury exposure was found
to cause adverse immune system response, including effects on vitro production
of tumor necrosis factor TNF alfa and reductions in interleukin-1.
(126,131,152)
Nickel and beryllium are 2 other metals commonly used in dentistry that
are very carcinogenic, toxic, and cause
6. A high correlation has been found between
patients subjectively diagnosed with CNS & systemic symptoms suggestive of
mercury intoxication and immune reactivity to inorganic mercury(MELISA
test,118,160) as well as with MRI positive patients for brain damage. Controls without CNS problems did not have
such positive correlations. Mercury,nickel,palladium, and gold induce
autoimmunity in genetically predisposed or highly exposed individuals(314,234,130,342,375,468). Tests have found a significant portion of
people to be in this category and thus more affected by exposure to amalgam
than others(see section V).
Mercury
also interrupts the cytochrome C oxidase system, blocking the ATP energy
function (35,43,84,232,338c). These
effects along with reductions in red blood cells oxygen carrying capability
often result in fatigue and reduced energy levels as well as neurological
effects (35,60,119,140,141,182,202,212,232,235,313). The majority of those with CFS having
7. People with chronic and immune reactive
problems are increasing finding dental materials are a factor in their problems
and getting biocompatiblity tests run to test their immune reactivity to the
various dental materials used. A high
percentage of such patients test immune reactive to many of the toxic
metals. Of the many thousands who have
had the Clifford immune reactivity test(445), the following percentages were
immune reactive to the following metals that have very common exposures: mercury(93%), nickel(98%), aluminum(91%),
arsenic(86%), chromium(83%),
cobalt(78%), beryllium(74%), lead(68%),
cadmium(63%), antimony(36%), copper(32%), palladium(32%), tin(32%),
zinc(33%), silver(25%).
Toxic/allergic
reactions to metals such as mercury often result in lichen planus lesions in
oral mucosa or gums and play a roll in pathogenesis of periodontal
disease. Removal of amalgam fillings
usually results in cure of such lesions(60,75,78,82,86,
87,90,94,101,118,133,168,192bcf,313).
A high percentage of patients with oral mucosal problems along with
other autoimmune problems such as CFS have significant immune reactions to
mercury, palladium, gold, and nickel (46,60,118,313,81,90,212,313,342,369,375,456,468),
including to mercury preservatives such as thimerosal. 94% of such patients had significant immune
reactions to inorganic mercury(
Mercury
has been found to impair conversion of thyroid T4 hormone to the active T3 form
as well as causing autoimmune thyroiditis common to such
patients(369,382,459,35,50d). In general
immune activation from toxics such as heavy metals resulting in cytokine
release and abnormalities of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis can cause
changes in the brain, fatigue, and severe psychological
symptoms(369,342,379-382,385,453,118, 60) such as profound fatigue, muscosketal
pain, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal and neurological problems as are
seen in CFS, Fibromyalgia, and autoimmune thyroidititis. Such symptoms usually
improve significantly after amalgam removal.
Such hypersensitivity has been found most common in those with genetic predisposition to heavy metal
sensitivity(342,369,382,60), such as
found more frequently in patients with HLA-DRA antigens(342,383). A
significant portion of the population appears to fall in this category. Conditions involving allergies, chemical
sensitivities, and autoimmunity have been increasing rapidly in recent
years(405).
The
enzymatic processes blocked by such toxic substances as mercury also result
in chronic formation of metal‑protein
compounds (HLA antigens or antigen-
presenting macrophages) that the body’s immune
system(T-lymphocytes) does not
recognize, resulting in autoimmune reactions (114,342,405). The metals bind to SH-
groups on proteins which can then
be recognized as “foreign” and attacked by immune lymphocytes. Such has been extensively documented by
studies such as the
documentation of the autoimmune
function test
and
short term exposures of inorganic Hg (20-200 mug/kg) exacerbates lupus and
accelerates mortality in mice. Low dose
Hg exposure increases the severity and prevalence
of
experimental autoimmune myocarditis induced by other factors. In a study of small-scale gold mining using
mercury, there was a positive
interaction between Hg
autoimmunity
and malaria. These results suggest a new
model for Hg immunotoxicity, as a co-factor in autoimmune disease, increasing
the risks and severity of clinical
disease
in the presence of other triggering events, either genetic or acquired(234f).
Mercury has been found to
accumulate in the pineal gland and reduce
melatonin levels, which is thought to be a significant factor in
mercury’s toxic effects(569). Melatonin has found to have a significant
protective action against methyl mercury toxicity, likely from antioxidative
effect of melatonin on the MMC induced neurotoxicity(567).
There
is also evidence that mercury affects neurotransmitter levels which has effects
on conditions like depression, mood disorders, ADHD, etc. There is evidence that mercury can block the
dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) enzyme(571).
DBH is used to make the noradrenaline
neurotransmitter and low noradrenaline can cause fatigue and depression.
Mercury molecules can block all copper catalyzed dithiolane oxidases, such as
coproporphyrin oxidase(260) and DBH.
8. Patients with other systemic neurological or immune symptoms such as
arthritis, myalgia, eczema, CFS(60,342,369), MS(369,170,35c), lupus(369,405),
ALS, diabetes(501,35), epilepsy(5,35,229,309), Hashimoto’s
thyroiditis(369,382), Scleroderma(353), etc. also often recover or improve
significantly after amalgam replacement (thousands of cases- see section VI). Of a
group of 86 patients with CFS symptoms, 78% reported significant health
improvements after replacement of amalgam fillings within a relatively short
period, and
Of the over 3,000 patients with chronic
conditions tested for lymphocyte reactivity to metals(342), the following were
the percentages testing positive: nickel- 34%, inorganic mercury- 20%, phenol
mercury- 13%, gold- 14%, cadmium- 16%,
palladium- 13%, lead-11%. For people
with autoimmune conditions such as CFS, Fibromyalgia, or Multiple Chemical
Sensitivity, the percentage testing immune reactive to mercury was much
higher- 28% percent were immune reactive
to palladium, 26% to gold, 23% to inorganic mercury, 23% to phenyl mercury, and
12% to methyl mercury, as compared to less than 5% for controls. Of 98 patients who had amalgam fillings
replaced, 76% had long term health improvement and significant improvement in
MELISA scores.
Other studies have also found relatively
high rates of allergic reactions to inorganic mercury and nickel(81,35,445,456). For groups with suspected autoimmune diseases
such as neurological problems, CFS, and oral lichen planus(313); most of the
patients tested positive to inorganic mercury and most of such patients health
improved significantly and immune reactivity declined after amalgam
removal. In a group of patients tested
by MELISA before and after amalgam removal at a clinic in
For
MS and lupus patients, a high percentage tested positive to nickel and/or
inorganic mercury(MELISA).
A patch test was given to a large group of
medical students to assess factors that lead to sensitization to
mercury(132). 13% tested positive for
allergy to mercury. Eating fish was not
a significant factor between sensitive and non- sensitized students, but the
sensitized group had a significantly higher average number of amalgam fillings
and higher hair mercury levels. In a
population of dental students tested, 44% were positive for allergy to
mercury(156).
9.
A high correlation has been found between patients subjectively diagnosed with
CNS & systemic symptoms suggestive of mercury intoxication and immune
reactivity to inorganic mercury(MELISA test,118) as well as with MRI positive
patients for brain damage. 81% of the
group with health complaints had pathological MRI results including signs of
degeneration of the basal ganglia of the brain, but none in the controls. 60% of the symptom group tested positive
for immune system reaction to mercury. Controls without CNS problems did not
have such positive correlations. The
authors concluded that immune reactions have an important role in development
of brain lesions and tumors ,and amalgam fillings induce immune reactions in
many patients (91,118)(270,286,328). Mercury,nickel,palladium, and gold induce
autoimmunity in genetically predisposed or highly exposed
individuals(60,314,234,130,342,35).
Tests have found a significant portion of people to be in this category
and thus more affected by exposure to amalgam than others.
10. Low level mercury exposure(as well as other
toxic metals) including exposure to amalgam fillings has been found to be
associated with increased autoimmune diseases (19, 27,34,35,44,45,60,215,234,268,269,270,
313,314), including lupus(12,35,60,113, 229,233,234,
270,323,330,331,456),Chrons Disease, lichen planus(86,87,90,168,313),
endometriosis (1,9,38,229). Silver also
is released from amalgam fillings and stored in the body and has been shown to
cause immune complex deposits, immune reactions and autoimmunity in animal
studies (77,78,129,314).
11. Mercury exposure through dental fillings
appears to be a major factor in chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS) through its
effects on ATP and immune system(lymphocyte reactivity, neutrophil activity,
effects on T‑cells and B‑cells) as well as its promotion of growth
of candida albicans in the body and the methylation of inorganic mercury by
candida and intensional bacteria to the extremely toxic methyl mercury form,
which like mercury vapor crosses the blood‑brain barrier, and also
damages and weakens the immune system (222,225,226,234,235, 281,
293,60,313,314,342,369,404). Mercury
vapor or Inorganic mercury have been shown in animal studies to induce
autoimmune reactions and disease through effects on immune system T
cells(226,234,268,269,270,314,425,426,21c/272.)
. Chronic immune activation is
common in CFS, with increase in activated CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells and decreased
natural killer(NK) cells(518). Numbers
of suppressor-inducer T cells and NK cells have been found to be inversely
correlated with urine mercury levels(270ad).
CFS patients usually improve and immune reactivity is reduced when
amalgam fillings are replaced(342,383,405).
V. Medical Studies Finding Health Problems
Related to Amalgam Fillings (other than immune)
1.
Neurological problems are among the most common and serious and include memory
loss(119ef,481c), moodiness, depression(119dfg,285c,481c), anger and sudden
bursts of anger/rage(119d,285c,290,465,480-483,487,534), self-effacement,
suicidal thoughts(119g), lack of strength/force to resolve doubts or resist
obsessions or compulsions, etc. Many studies of patients with major
neurological diseases have found evidence amalgam fillings may play a major
role in development of conditions such
as depression
(94,107,109,212,222,271,294,212,229,233,285ce,317,320,322,372,374,453),
schizophrenia (34,35,295,465), memory problems (212,222), and other more
serious neurological diseases such as MS, ALS, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s(see
# 25). A large U.S. Centers for Disease Control study found that those with
more amalgam fillings have significantly more chronic health problems,
especially neurological problems and cancer(543).
Some factors that have been documented in
depression are low serotonin levels, abnormal glucose tolerance(hypoglycemia),
brain inflammation(584,585), and low folate levels(480-83), which mercury has
also been found to be a cause of.
Occupational exposure to mercury has been documented to cause depression
and anxiety(534,285c,119df). One
mechanism by which mercury has been found to be a factor in aggressiveness and
violence is its documented inhibition of the brain neurotransmitter
acetylcholinesterase(175,251c,305,451,465,254).
Low serotonin levels and/or hypoglycemia have also been found in the
majority of those with impulsive and violent behavior(481,482).
Mercury causes decreased lithium levels,
which is a factor in neurological diseases such as depression and
Alzheimer’s. Lithium protects brain
cells against excess glutamate and calcium, and low levels cause abnormal brain
cell balance and neurological disturbances (280,294,333,33,56 ). Medical texts on neurology (21,27,295,503b)
point out that chronic mercurialism is often not recognized by diagnosticians
and misdiagnosed as dementia or neurosis or functional psychosis or just
“nerves”. “Early manifestations are
likely to be subtle and diagnosis difficult: Insomnia, nervousness, mild tremor,
impaired judgment and coordination, decreased mental efficiency, emotional
lability, headache, fatigue, loss of sexual drive, excitability, depression,
etc. are often mistakenly ascribed to psychogenic causes”. Diagnois of mercury toxicity can be made
based on exposure history and 3 or more of such symptoms mercury is known to
cause(21,27,295). Very high levels of
mercury are found in brain memory areas such as the cerebral cortex and
hippocampus of patients with diseases with memory related symptoms
(158,34,207,etc.} Mercury has been
found to cause memory loss by inactivating enzymes necessary for brain cell
energy production and proper assembly of the protein tubulin into
microtubules(258).
Mercury(as well as toxins from root canals
and cavitations) interact with brain tubulin and disassembles microtubules that
maintain neurite structure(207b,258,35,200,437). Thus chronic exposure to low level mercury vapor can inhibit
polymerzation of brain tubulin and creatinine kinase which are essential to
formation of microtubules. Studies of
mercury studies on animals give results similar to that found the Alzheimer
brain. The effects of mercury with other
toxic metals have also been found to be synergistic, having much more effect
than with individual exposure(35).
Flu
shots have mercury and aluminum which both are known to accumulate in the brain
over time. A study of people who received flu shots regularly found that if an
individual had five consecutive flu
shots between 1970 and 1980 (the years studied) his/her chances of getting
Alzheimer's Disease is ten times higher than if they had one or no
shots(475).
Animal studies of developmental effects of
mercury on the brain have found significant effects at extremely low exposure levels,
levels commonly seen in those with amalgam fillings or in dental staff working
with amalgam. One study(305) found
prenatal mercury vapor exposure decreased NGF concentration in newborn rat’s
forebrain at 4 parts per billion(ppb) tissue concentration. Another study(175) found general toxicity
effects at 1 micromole(uM) levels in immature cell cultures, increased
immunoreactivity for glial fibrillary protein at 1 nanamole (0.2 ppb)
concentration, and microglial response at even lower levels. Other animal studies on rodents and monkeys
have found brain cellular migration disturbances, behavioral changes, along
with reduced learning and adaption capacity after low levels of mercury vapor
exposure (149,175,210,264,287,305). The
exposure levels in these studies are seen in the fetus and newborn babies of
mother’s with amalgam fillings or who had work involving amalgam during
pregnancy(61). Mercury vapor has been
found to primarily affect the central nervous system, while methyl mercury
primarily affects the peripheral nervous system(175c).
Epidemiological studies have found that human embryos are also highly
susceptible to brain damage from prenatal exposure to mercury. Studies have
confirmed that there are vulnerable periods during brain and CNS development
that are especially sensitive to neurotoxic exposures and affect development
processes and results(429).The fetal period is most sensitive, but neural
development extends through adolescence. A recent study found that prenatal Hg
exposure is correlated with lower scores in neurodevelopmental screening, but
more so in the linguistic pathway(32c). Maternal hypothyroidism has
been found to cause endocrine system abnormalities in the fetus
(458,508,509,511), and mercury is
documented to commonly cause hypothyroidism, both chronically or as a transient
condition. Some conditions found to be
related to such toxic exposures include autism, schizophrenia, ADD, dyslexia,
eczema, etc. Prenatal/early postnatal
exposure to mercury affects level of nerve growth factor(NGF) in the brain and
causes brain damage and imbalances in development of the brain
(38,119,181,305,259,210,175,305,24/ 39, 255,149). Exposure of developing
neuroblastoma cells to sub-cytotoxic doses of mercuric oxide resulted in lower
levels of neurofilament proteins than unexposed cells(305). Mercury vapor exposure causes impaired cell
proliferation in the brain and organs, resulting in reduced volume for
cerebellum and organs and subtle deficiencies(38,175,305,328).
Exposure to mercury and 4 other heavy metals tested for in a study of
school children accounted for 23% of the variation in test scores for reading,
spelling and visual motor skills(3). A
Canadian study found that blood levels of five metals were able to predict with
a 98% accuracy which children were learning disabled(3).
Several studies found
that mercury causes learning disabilities and impairment, and reduction in
IQ(3,21,38,110,264,285c,279,541b). Mercury has an
effect on the fetal nervous system at levels far below that considered toxic in
adults, and background levels of mercury in mothers correlate significantly
with incidence of birth defects and still births (23,38,50,287,338c,10).
The upper level of mercury exposure recommended by the German Commission
on Human Biomonitoring is 1 micrograms per liter in the blood(39), and adverse
effects such as increases in blood
pressure and cognitive effects have been documented as low as 1 ug/L, with
impacts higher in low birth weight babies(39).
2. Calcium plays a major role in the extreme
neurotoxicity of mercury and methyl mercury. Both inhibit cellular calcium
ATPase and calcium uptake by brain microsomes at very low levels of exposure
(270,288,329,333,432,56,). Protein Kinase C (PKC) regulates intracellular and
extra cellular signals across neuronal membranes, and both forms of mercury
inhibit PKC at micromolar levels, as well as inhibiting phorbal ester
binding(43,432). They also block or inhibit calcium L-channel currents in the
brain in an irreversible and concentration dependent manner. Mercury vapor or inorganic mercury exposure
affects the posterior cingulate cortex and causes major neurological effects
with sufficient exposure(428,453). Some
of the resulting conditions include stomatitis, tremor, ADD, erythism, etc. Metallic mercury is much more potent than
methyl mercury in such actions, with 50 % inhibitation in animal studies at 13
ppb(333,329). Motor neuron dysfunction and loss
in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have been attributed to several
different mechanisms, including increased intracellular calcium, glutamate
excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and free radical damage, mitochondrial
dysfunction, and neurofilament aggregation and dysfunction of transport
mechanisms(507). These alterations are not mutually exclusive, and increased
calcium and altered calcium homeostatis appear to be a common denominator.
Spatial and temporal changes in
intracellular calcium concentrations are critical for controlling gene
expression and neurotransmitter release in neurons(432,412). Mercury alters calcium homeostasis and
calcium levels in the brain and affects gene expression and neurotransmitter
release through its effects on calcium, etc.
Mercury inhibits sodium and potassium (N,K)ATPase in dose dependent
manner and inhibits dopamine and noreprenephrine uptake by synaptosomes and
nerve impulse transfer(288,50,270,35).
Mercury also interrupts the cytochrome oxidase system, blocking the ATP
energy function
(35,43,84,232,338c), lowering
immune growth factor IGF-I levels and impairing astrocyte
function(119,497). Astrocytes are common
cells in the CNS involved in the feeding and detox of nerve cells. Increases in inflammatory cytokines such as
caused by toxic metals trigger increased free radical activity and damage to
astrocyte and astrocyte function(152).
IGF-I protects against brain and neuronal pathologies like ALS, MS, and
Fibromyalgia by protecting the astrocytes from this destructive process.
As far back as 1996 it was shown that the lesions produced
in the myelin sheath of axons in cases of multiple sclerosis were related to
excitatory receptors on the primary cells involved called oligodendroglia. The loss of myelin sheath on the nerve fibers
characteristic of the disease are due to the death of these oligodendroglial
cells at the site of the lesions (called plaques). Further, these studies have
shown that the death of these important cells is as a result of excessive
exposure to excitotoxins at the site of the lesions(576). Most of these excitotoxins are secreted from
microglial immune cells in the central nervous system. This not only destroys
these myelin-producing cells it also breaks down the blood-brain barrier (BBB),
allowing excitotoxins in the blood stream to enter the site of damage. Some
common exposures that cause such proliferation of such excitotoxins are mercury
and aspartame, with additional effects from MSG and methanol. Aspartame and methanol are both in diet
drinks and many may drink diet drinks with Chinese food that has MSG.
Mercury and aspartame
have been found to be causes of MS, along with other contributing
exicitotoixns. It is now known the
cause for the destruction of the myelin in the lesions is overactivation of the
microglia in the region of the myelin. An enzyme that converts glutamine to
glutamate called glutaminase increases tremendously, thereby greatly increasing
excitotoxicity. Any dietary excitotoxin can activate the microglia, thereby
greatly aggravating the injury. This includes the aspartate in aspartame. The
methanol adds to this toxicity as well. Now, the secret to treatment appears to
be shutting down, or at least calming down, the microglia.
A Canadian study found those with 15 or more amalgam fillings to have
more than 250% greater risk of MS than controls, and likewise higher risk for
those who have had amalgam fillings more than 15 years(324). A retrospective study conducted in
England found that the odds of being an
MS case multiplied for every additional unit of dental fillings. Overall this
represents a 21% increase in risk of MS in relation to dental caries
restorations(324c).
According to neurologist Dr. RL Blaylock, the good news is
that there are supplements and nutrients that calm the microglia-the most
potent are: silymarin, curcumin and ibuprophen. Phosphatidylcholine helps
re-myelinate the nerve sheaths that are damaged, as does B12, B6, B1, vitamin
D, folate, vitamin C, natural vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) and L-carnitine
(576) . DHA plays a major role in repairing the myelin sheath. Vitamin D may
even prevent MS, but it acts as an immune modulator, preventing further damage
- the dose is 2000 IU a day. Magnesium, as magnesium malate, is needed in a
dose of 500 mg 2X a day. They must avoid all excitotoxins, even natural ones in
foods-such as soy, red meats, nuts, mushrooms and tomatoes. Avoid all fluoride
and especially all vaccinations since these either inhibit antioxidant enzymes
or triggers harmful immune reactions.
It has
also been found that the antibiotic minocycline powerfully shuts down the
microglia. Dr. Blaylock, tried this
treatment on a friend of mine who just came down with fulmanant MS. He was
confined to a wheelchair. I had him placed on minocycline and now, just a few
weeks later, he is walking.
Metals like mercury bind to
SH-groups(sulfhydryl) in sulfur compounds like amino acids and proteins,
changing the structure of the compound that it is attached to. This often results in the immune systems
T-cells not recognizing them as appropriate nutrients and attacking
them(226). Such binding and autoimmune
damage has been documented in the fat-rich proteins of the myelin sheaths of
the CNS(478,39b,35c) and collagen(405), which are affected in MS. Metals by binding to SH radicals in proteins
and other such groups can cause autoimmunity by modifying proteins which via
T-cells activate B-cells that target the altered proteins inducing autoimmunity
as well as causing aberrant MHC II expression on altered target
cells(425de,343). Studies have also
found mercury and lead cause autoantibodies to neuronal proteins,
neurofilaments, and myelin basic protein(MBP) (39b,269ag,405,478,515,516). Mercury and cadmium also have been found to
interfere with zinc binding to MBP(517b) which affects MS symptoms since zinc stabilizes
the association of
Mercury lymphocyte reactivity and
effects on glutamate in the CNS induce CFS type symptoms including profound
tiredness, musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal (21c) and
neurological problems along with other CFS symptoms and Fibromyalgia
(342,346,369,496). Mercury has been found to be a common cause of Fibromyalgia(293,346,369,527) , which based
on a Swedish survey occurs in about 12%
of women over 35 and 5.5% of men(368).
Glutamate is the most abundant amino acid in the body and in the CNS
acts as excitory neurotransmitter (346,386,412,496,119), which also causes
inflow of calcium. Astrocytes, a type
of cell in the brain and CNS with the task of keeping clean the area around
nerve cells, have a function of neutralizing excess glutamate by transforming
it to glutamic acid. If astrocytes are
not able to rapidly neutralize excess glutamate, then a buildup of glutamate
and calcium occurs, causing swelling and
neurotoxic effects(119,152,333,416,496).
Mercury and other toxic metals inhibit astrocyte function in the brain
and CNS(119,131), causing increased glutamate and calcium related neurotoxicity
(119,152,333,226a,416,496,527) which are responsible for much of the
Fibromyalgia symptoms and a factor in neural degeneration in MS and ALS. There is some evidence that astrocyte
damage/malfunction is a major factor in
MS(544). This is also a factor in conditions such as CFS,
Parkinson’s, and ALS(346,416,496). Animal
studies have confirmed that increased levels of glutamate(or aspartate, another
amino acid excitory neurotransmitter) cause increased sensitivity to pain , as
well as higher body temperature- both found in CFS/Fibromyalgia. Mercury and increased glutamate activate
free radical forming processes like xanthine oxidase which produce oxygen
radicals and oxidative neurological damage(346,142,13). Nitric oxide related toxicty caused by
peroxynitrite formed by the reaction of NO with superoxide anions, which
results in nitration of tyrosine residues in neurofilaments and manganese
Superoxide Dimustase(SOD) has been found to cause inhibition of the
mitochondrial respiratory chain, inhibition of the glutamate transporter, and
glutamate-induced neurotoxicity involved in ALS(524,521).
Medical studies and doctors treating
Fibromyalgia have found that supplements which cause a decrease in glutamate or
protect against its effects have a positive effect on Fibromyalgia and other
chronic neurologic conditions. Some that
have been found to be effective include CoQ10(444), ginkgo biloba and
pycnogenol(494ab), NAC(54,56,494a), Vit
B6, methyl cobalamine(B12), L-carnitine, choline, ginseng, vitamins C and
E(444,494c), nicotine, and omega 3 fatty acids(fish and flaxseed
oil)(417,495e).
Extremely
toxic anaerobic bacteria from root canals or cavitations formed at incompletely
healed tooth extraction sites have also
been found to be common factors in Fibromyalgia and other chronic neurological conditions
such as Parkinson’s and ALS, with condensing osteitis which must be removed
with a surgical burr along with 1 mm of bone around it(35,200,437ab). Cavitations have been found in 80% of sites
from wisdom tooth extractions tested and 50% of molar extraction sites
tested(35,200,437ab). The incidence is
likely somewhat less in the general population.
A
recent study assessed the large decrease in ALS incidence in Guam and similar
areas to look for possible explanations in the cause of past high incidence and
recent declines. One of the studies
conclusions was that a likely major factor for the high ALS rates in Guam and
similar areas in the past was chronic dietary deficiency since birth in Ca, Mg
and Zn induced excessive absorption of divalent metal cations which accelerates
oxidant-mediated neuronal degenerations in a genetically susceptible
population(466).
3. Numerous studies have found long
term chronic low doses of mercury cause neurological, memory, behavior, sleep,
and mood problems(3,34,60,69,70,71,74,107-109,119,140,141,160,199,212,222,
246,255, 257, 282,285,290,453). Neurological effects have been documented at
very low levels of exposure(urine Hg< 4 ug/L), levels commonly received by
those with amalgam fillings(290). One of the studies at a German
University(199) assessed 20,000 people.
There is also evidence that fetal or infant exposure causes delayed
neurotoxicity evidenced in serious effect at middle age(255,306). Substantial occupational mercury exposure can have
long-term adverse effects on the peripheral nervous system detectable decades
after cessation of exposure(255c).
Organic
tin compounds formed from amalgam are even more neurotoxic than mercury
(222,262). Studies of groups of
patients with amalgam fillings found significantly more neurological, memory,
mood, and behavioral problems than the control groups.
(3,34,107,108,109,140,141,160,199,212,222,290,453).
4.Mercury
binds to hemoglobin oxygen binding sites in the red blood cells thus reducing
oxygen carrying capacity(232,35) and
adversely affects the vascular response to norepinephrine and potassium.
Mercury’s effect on pituitary gland vasopressin is a factor in high blood
pressure(35,201). Mercury also increases cytosolic free calcium levels in
lymphocytes in a concentration-dependant manner causing influx from the
extracellular medium(270c), and blocks entry of calcium ions into the cytoplasm
(1,16,17,21,33,35,333), and at 100 ppb can destroy the membrane of red blood
cells(35,22,17,270c) and damage blood vessels- reducing blood supply to the
tissues (34,202,306)
Amalgam
fillings have been found to be related to higher blood pressure, hemoglobin
irregularities, tachycardia, chest pains,
etc.(201,202,205,212,222,306,310,539,35,59).
Mercury also accumulates in the heart and damages myocardial and heart
valves (Turpayev,in (35) & 59,201,205,306,351,370).
Mercury
has been found to be a cause of athersclerosis, hypertension, and tachycardia
in children and adults(539,59,201, 205,306,308,35) and heart attacks in adults(59,201,
310).
Mercury also interrupts the cytochrome oxidase
system, blocking the ATP energy function(35,43,84,232,338c) and impairing
astrocyte function(119). These effects
often result in fatigue and reduced energy levels (35,60,119,140,141,
182,202,212,232,235,313). Both mercury
and methyl mercury have been shown to cause depletion of calcium from the heart
muscle and to inhibit myosin ATPase activity by 50% at 30 ppb(59), as well as
reducing NK-cells in the blood and spleen. The interruption of the ATP energy
chemistry results in high levels of porphyrins in the urine(260). Mercury,lead, and other toxics have
different patterns of high levels for the 5 types of porphyrins, with pattern
indicating likely source and the level extent of damage. The average for those with amalgams is over
3 time that of those without, and is over 20 times normal for some severely
poisoned people(232,260). The FDA has approved a test measuring porphyrins as a
test for mercury poisoning. However some other dental problems such as
nickel crowns, cavitations, and root canals also can cause high
porphyrins. Cavitations are diseased
areas in bone under teeth or extracted teeth usually caused by lack of adequate
blood supply to the area. Tests by special equipment(Cavitat) found cavitations
in over 80% of areas under root canals or extracted wisdom teeth that have been
tested, and toxins such as anaerobic bacteria and other toxics which
significantly inhibit body enzymatic processes in virtually all
cavitations(200,437ab). These toxins
have been found to have serious systemic health effects in many cases, and
significant health problems to be related such as arthritis, MCS, and CFS. These have been found to be factors along
with amalgam in serious chronic conditions such as MS, ALS, Alzheimer’s, MCS,
CFS, etc.(35,200,204,222,292,437). The
problem occurs in extractions that are
not cleaned out properly after extraction. Supplements such as glucosamine sulfate and
avoidance of orange juice and caffeine have been found to be beneficial in
treating arthritic conditions as well(35).
A study funded by the Adolf Coors
Foundation(232) found that toxicity such as mercury is a significant cause of
abnormal cholesterol levels, increasing as a protective measure against metals
toxicity, and that cholesterol levels usually normalize after amalgam
replacement. However lowering
cholesterol levels by other means below 160 correlates with much higher rates
of depression, suicide, cancer, violent deaths, cerebral hemorrhage, and
deaths- all known to be affected by mercury effects(35,228a,530). The study also found that mercury has major
adverse effects on red and white blood cells, oxygen carrying capacity, and porphyrin
levels(232), with most cases seeing significant increase in oxyhemoglobin level
and reduction in porphyrin levels along with 100% experiencing improved energy.
5.
Patch tests for hypersensitivity to mercury have found from 2% to 44% to test
positive (87,154,156, 178, 267), much higher for groups with more amalgam
fillings and length of exposure than those with less. In studies of medical and dental students,
those testing positive had significantly
higher average number of amalgam fillings than those not testing positive(and
higher levels of mercury in urine(132,156).
Of the dental students with 10 or more fillings at least 5 years old,
44% tested allergic. Based on these
studies and statistics for the number with 10 or more fillings, the percent of
Americans allergic to mercury just from this group would be about 17 million
people especially vulnerable to increased immune system reactions to amalgam
fillings. However, the total would
be much larger and patch tests do not measure the total population getting
toxic reactions from mercury. The most
sensitive reactions are immune reactions,
6. People with amalgam fillings
have an increased number of intestinal microorganisms resistant to mercury and
many standard antibiotics(35,116,117,161,389,79). Mercury is extremely toxic and kills many
beneficial bacterial, but some forms of bacteria can alter their form to avoid
being killed by adding a plasmid to their
When
intestinal permeability is increased, food and nutrient absorption is impaired.
Dysfunction in intestinal permeability can result in leaky gut syndrome, where
larger molecules and toxins in the intestines can pass through the membranes
and into the blood, triggering immune response (598). Progressive damage can occur to the intestinal
lining, eventually allowing disease-causing bacteria, undigested food
particles, and toxins to pass directly into the blood stream. Dysfunctions in intestinal permeability have
been found to be associated with diseases such as ulcerative colitis, irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, CFS, eczema, psoriasis, food allergies,
autoimmune disease, and arthritis (591
abcdefgh, 592b,598).
Mercury causes significant
destruction of stomach and intestine epithelial cells, resulting in damage to stomach lining which along with mercury’s
ability to bind to SH hydroxyl radical in cell membranes alters permeability
(338,405,35,21c,592) and adversely alters bacterial populations in the
intestines causing leaky gut syndrome with toxic, incompletely digested
complexes in the blood (116,228b,35,598) and accumulation of heliobacter
pylori, a suspected major factor in stomach ulcers and stomach cancer (256,6bc)
and Candida albicans, as well as poor nutrient absorption (338,593). Dental amalgam has been found to be the largest
source of mercury exposure in most people who have several amalgam
fillings. Replacement of amalgam
fillings and metals detoxification have been found to significantly improve the
health of most with conditions related
to bowel dysfunction and leaky gut syndrome.
Other common causes or factors in leaky gut and the related conditions
include food allergies and intolerances; drugs(NSAIDs, aspirin, stomach h2
blockers, steroids,etc.); Dysbiosis( overgrowth of harmful organisms due to
antibiotic use and/or low probiotic levels); chronic alcohol consumption; toxic
exposures and chemical sensitivity; chronic infections; inadequate digestive
enzymes (598b)
Clinical studies have found that diets high in flavanoids,
cartenoids, and including nutritional supplements such as buffered Vit C and
natural E, selenium, omega-3 oils, probiotics are effective in preventing ear
infections and other chronic conditions(598b). These in addition to multiple B
vitamins, the flavanoids curcumin, hesperidin, and quercetin are effective in
preventing and treating leaky gut related conditions (598). Supplements and other treatments that reduce intestinal
permeability have also been found to be protective against and to improve these
conditions. Glutamine, berberine, probiotics, and vitamin D have been found to
decrease intestinal permeability and protect against effects caused by leaky
gut syndrome(594,586).
7.
Mercury from amalgam binds to the -SH (sulfhydryl) groups, resulting in inactivation
of sulfur and blocking of enzyme functions such as cysteine dioxygenase(CDO),
gamma‑ glutamyltraspeptidase(GGC)
and sulfite oxidase, producing sulfur metabolites with extreme toxicity that
the body is unable to properly detoxify(33,111,114,194,258,405), along with a
deficiency in sulfates required for many body functions. Sulfur is essential in enzymes, hormones,
nerve tissue, and red blood cells. These
exist in almost every enzymatic process in the body. Blocked or inhibited sulfur oxidation at the
cellular level has been found in most with many of the chronic degenerative
diseases, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, ALS, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis,
MCS, autism, etc(330,331,464,514,
33,35,56, 194), and appears to be a major factor in these conditions. Mercury also blocks the metabolic action of
manganese and the entry of calcium ions into cytoplasm(333). Mercury from amalgam thus has the
potential to disturb all metabolic processes(25,21,33,
35,56,60,111,180,194,197}. Mercury is transported
throughout the body in blood and can affect cells in the body and organs in
different ways.
Parkinson's disease involves the
aggregation of alpha-synuclein to form fibrils, which are the major constituent
of intracellular protein inclusions (Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites) in
dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra(564). Occupational exposure to
specific metals, especially manganese, copper, lead, iron, mercury, zinc,
aluminum, appears to be a risk factor for Parkinson's disease based on epidemiological
studies(98,145,564,565). Elevated levels of several of these metals have also
been reported in the substantia nigra of Parkinson's disease subjects (564). One study found that EDTA chelation was
effective at reducing some of the effects(145).
In some cases, Molybdenum, B12‑vitamin, P5P‑vitamin, B1‑vitamin,
and tetrahydrofolate supplementation has helped to boost the protective sulfite oxidase.
8.
A large study of 20,000 subjects at a German university found a significant
relation between the number of amalgam fillings with periodontal problems,
neurological problems, and gastrointestinal problems(199). Allergies and hair-loss were found to be 2-3
times as high in a group with large number of amalgam fillings compared to
controls(199,9). Levels of mercury in
follicular fluid was significantly higher for those with amalgam fillings
(9,146). Based on this finding, a Gynecological Clinic that sees a large number
of women suffering from alopecia/hair loss that was not responding to treatment
had amalgams replaced in 132 women who had not responded to treatment. 68 % of the women then responded to
treatment and alopecia was alleviated(187).
In other studies involving amalgam removal, the majority had significant
improvement (40,317). Higher levels of
hormone disturbances, immune disturbances, infertility, and recurrent fungal
infections were also found in the amalgam group. The results of hormone tests,
cell culture studies, an intervention studies agree(9,146). Other clinics have also found alleviation of
hair loss/alopecia after amalgam removal and detox(40,317). Another study in
Japan found significantly higher levels of mercury in gray hair than in dark
hair(402).
9.
Mercury accumulates in the kidneys with increasing levels over time. One study
found levels ranging from 21 to 810 ppb.
A study of levels in kidney donors found an average of 3 times higher
mercury level in those with amalgams versus those without(14c). Mercury exposure has been shown to adversely
affect kidney function in occupational and animal studies
(20,203,211,223,260,438), and also in those with more than average number of
amalgam fillings(254,223).
Richardson(Health Canada) has estimated that about 20% of the population
suffers a subclinical impairment of kidney or CNS function related to amalgam
mercury(209c). Inorganic mercury exposure has been found to exert a
dose-dependent cytotoxicity by generating extremely high levels of hydrogen
peroxide, which is normally quenched by pyruvate and catalase(203). HgCl2 also has been found to impair function
of other organelles such as lysomomes that maintain transmembrane proton
gradient, and to decrease glutathione peroxidase activity in the kidneys while
upregulating heme oxidase function. The
Government's toxic level for mercury in urine is 30 mcg/L (189), but adverse
effects have been seen at lower levels and low levels in urine often mean high
mercury retention and chronic toxicity problems(258). For this reason urine tests are not a
reliable measure of mercury toxicity(11,36,57,183,216,258,260,503).
10.
Amalgam fillings produce electrical currents which increase mercury vapor
release and may have other harmful effects(19,27,28,29,30,35,100,192,194). These currents are measured in micro amps,
with some measured at over 4 micro amps. The central nervous system operates on
signals in the range of nano-amps, which is 1000 times less than a micro
amp(28). Negatively charged fillings
or crowns push electrons into the oral cavity since saliva is a good
electrolyte and cause higher mercury vapor losses(35,192). Patients with
autoimmune conditions like MS, or epilepsy, depression, etc. are often found to
have a lot of high negative current fillings(35). The Huggins total dental revision(TDR)
protocol calls for teeth with the highest negative charge to be replaced
first(35). Other protocols for amalgam
removal are available from international dental associations like IAOMT(153)
and mercury poisoned patients organizations like DAMS(447). For these reasons it is important that no
new gold dental work be placed in the mouth until at least 6 months after
replacement. Some studies have also
found persons with chronic exposure to electromagnetic fields(EMF) to have higher
levels of mercury exposure and excretion(28,251c) and higher likelihood of
getting chronic conditions like ALS(526) and Alzheimer’s(251c) and cancer(546).
11.
Mercury from amalgam fillings is transferred to the fetus of pregnant women and
children who breast feed at levels usually higher than those of the
mother(18,19,20,23,31,38,61,112, 186,281).
Mercury has an effect on the fetal nervous system at levels far below
that considered toxic in adults, and background levels of mercury in mothers
correlate significantly with incidence of birth defects and still
births(10,23,38,50,197,210,287,338c,361). Mercury vapor exposure causes
impaired cell proliferation in the brain and organs, resulting in reduced
volume for cerebellum and organs and subtle deficiencies(38,305).
12.
Since mercury(all forms) is documented
from studies of humans and animals to be a reproductive and developmental
toxin(23,38,61,105,186,224,255,287.305,381,etc.), mercury can reduce
reproductive function and cause birth defects and developmental problems in
children (2,4,9,10,20,23,24,31,37,38,39,41,50,55,61,104,146,
159,162,224,255,458). Clinical evidence indicates that amalgam fillings lead to
hormone imbalances that can reduce fertility(9,38,55,4,105,146,367). Mercury has been found to cause decreased
sperm volume and motility , increased sperm abnormalities and spontaneous
abortions, increased uterine fibroids/endometritis, and decreased fertility in
animals(4,104,105,162) and in
humans(9,10,23,31,37,105,146,159,395,433,27,35,38). In studies of women having miscarriages or birth
defects, husbands were found to typically have low sperm counts and
significantly more visually abnormal sperm(393). It's now estimated that up to
85 per cent of the sperm produced by a healthy male is
Studies
in monkeys have found decreased sperm motility, abnormal sperm, increased
infertility and abortions at low levels of
methyl mercury(162,365). Astrocytes play a key role in MeHg-induced
excitotoxicity(162c). MeHg preferentially accumulates in astrocytes. MeHg potently and specifically inhibits glutamate
uptake in astrocytes. Neuronal
dysfunction is secondary to disturbances in astrocytes. Co-application of
nontoxic concentrations of MeHg and glutamate leads to the typical appearance
of neuronal lesions associated with excitotoxic stimulation. MeHg induces
swelling of astrocytes. These observations are fully consistent with
MeHg-induced dysregulation of excitatory amino acid homeostasis, and indicate
that a glutamate-mediated excitotoxic mechanism is involved(162c). Researcher's advise pregnant women should not
be exposed to mercury vapor levels above government health standards
(2,19,25,227,61,100,182,282,366); currently U.S. ATSDR mercury health MRL of
0.2 mcg/M3 which is exceeded by any dental work involving amalgam(Section III). Many governments have bans or restrictions
on use of amalgam by women of child-bearing age.
13.
Mercury and other toxic metals such as copper and lead cause breaks in
14.
Mercury has been well documented to be an endocrine system disrupting chemical
in animals and people, disrupting function of the pituitary gland,
hypothalamus, thyroid gland(50,369,382,405,459), enzyme production processes
(111,194,33,56), and many hormonal functions at very low levels of exposure
(9,105,146, 210, 312,369). The
pituitary gland controls many of the
body’s endocrine system functions and secretes hormones that control most
bodily processes, including the immune system and reproductive
systems(105,312,381). The hypothalamus
regulates body temperature and many metabolic processes. Mercury damage thus commonly results in poor
bodily temperature control, in addition to many problems caused by hormonal
imbalances. Such hormonal secretions
are affected at levels of mercury exposure much lower than the acute toxicity
effects normally tested. Mercury also
damages the blood brain barrier and facilitates penetration of the brain by other
toxic metals and substances (311). Low
levels of mercuric chloride also inhibit ATPase activity in the thyroid, with
methyl mercury inhibiting ATP function at even lower levels(50,35). Both types of mercury were found to cause
denaturing of protein, but inorganic mercury was more potent. These effects
result commonly in a reduction in thyroid production(50) and an accumulation in
the thyroid of radiation. Toxic metal
exposure’s adverse influence on thyrocytes can play a major role in thyroid
cancer etiology(144) . Among those with
chronic immune system problems with related immune antibodies, the types
showing the highest level of antibody reductions after amalgam removal
include thyroglobulin and microsomal
thyroid antigens(91)
15.
There has been no evidence found that there is any safe level of mercury in the
body that does not kill cells and harm body processes(WHO,183,189, etc.). This is especially so for the pituitary
gland of the developing fetus where mercury has been shown to accumulate and
which is the most sensitive to mercury(2-4,19-24,30,31,36-44,61,186).
16.
Low levels of mercury and toxic metals have been found to inhibit
dihydroteridine reductase , which affects the neural system function by
inhibiting transmitters through its
effect on phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan transport into
neurons(27,98,122,257,372,342,372,412).
This was found to cause severe impaired amine synthesis and
hypokinesis. Tetrahydrobiopterin, which
is essential in production of
neurotransmitters, is significantly decreased in patients with
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS, ALS,and
autism. Such patients have abnormal inhibition of neurotransmitter
production. Such symptoms improved for
most patients after administration of
R-tetrahydrobiopterin (412), and
some after 5-formyltetrahydrofolate, tyrosine(257), and 5-HTP(412).
17.
The level of mercury released by amalgam fillings is often more than the levels
documented in medical studies to produce adverse effects and above the U.S.
government health guidelines for mercury exposure(see previous text).
18.
Many studies of patients with major neurological or degenerative diseases have
found evidence amalgam fillings may play a major role in development of conditions such as such as Alzheimers
(66,67,158,166,204,
221,238,242,244,257,258,295,300,462,577,35),
ALS(92,97,325,346,416,423,35),
MS(102,163,170,183,184,212,229,285,291,302,324,326,537,35c),
Parkinson’s(98,117c,169,248,250,363,469, 56, 84, 35), ADD(285e,461,160,504b),
etc. Mercury exposure causes high levels
of oxidative stress/reactive oxygen species(ROS)(13,442), which has been found
to be a major factor in neurological disease(56,442). Mercury and quinones form conjugates with
thiol compounds such as glutathione and cysteine and cause depletion of
glutathione, which is necessary to mitigate reactive damage. Such conjugates are found to be highest in
the brain substantia nigra with similar conjugates formed with L-Dopa and
dopamine in Parkinson’s disease(56).
Mercury depletion of GSH and damage to cellular mitochondria and the increased
lipid peroxidation in protein and DNA oxidation in the brain appear to be a
major factor in Parkinson’s disease(33,346).
One study found higher than average levels of mercury in the
blood, urine, and hair of Parkinson’s disease patients(363). Another study(169) found blood and urine
mercury levels to be very strongly related to Parkinson’s with odds ratios of
approx. 20 at high levels of Hg exposure.
Increased formation of reactive oxygen species(ROS) has also been found
to increase formation of advanced glycation end products(AGEs) that have been
found to cause activation of glial cells to produce superoxide and nitric
oxide, they can be considered part of a vicious cycle, which finally leads to
neuronal cell death in the substantia nigra in PD(424). Another study (145)
that reviewed occupational exposure data found that occupational exposure to
manganese and copper have high odds rations for relation to PD, as well as
multiple exposures to these and lead, but noted that this effect was only seen
for exposure of over 20 years.
Mercury has been
found to accumulate preferentially in the primary motor function related areas
such as the brain stem, cerebellum, rhombencephalon, dorsal root ganglia, and
anterior horn motor neurons, which enervate the skeletal
muscles(48,291,327,329,442). Mercury,
with exposure either to vapor or organic mercury tends to accumulate in the
glial cells in a similar pattern, and the pattern of deposition is the same as
that seen from morphological changes(327g,287a). Though mercury vapor and organic mercury
readily cross the blood-brain barrier, mercury has been found to be taken up
into neurons of the brain and CNS without having to cross the blood-brain
barrier, since mercury has been found to be taken up and transported along
nerve axons as well through calcium and sodium channels and along the olfactory
path(329, 288,333,34). In addition
to the documentation showing the mechanisms by which mercury causes the
conditions and symptoms seen in ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases, many
studies of patients with major neurological or degenerative diseases have found
direct evidence mercury and amalgam fillings play a major role in development
of neurological conditions such as such as ALS
(92,97,207,229b,305,325,327,416,423,442,468,470,520,35). Mercury penetrates and damages the blood
brain barrier allowing penetration of the barrier by other substances that are
neurotoxic (20,38,85,105,162,301,311/262).
Such damage to the blood brain barrier’s function has been found to be a
major factor in chronic neurological diseases such as MS(286,289,291,302,
324,326,369,478). MS patients have been
found to have much higher levels of mercury in cerebrospinal fluid compared to
controls (163,35c,139). Large German
studies including studies at German universities have found that MS patients
usually have high levels of mercury body burden, with one study finding 300%
higher than controls(271). Most
recovered after mercury detox, with some requiring additional treatment for
viruses and intestinal dysbiosis.
Studies have found mercury related mental effects to be
indistinguishable from those of MS (207,212,222,244,271,289,291,302,183,184,324,326,369,35c).
Low levels of toxic
metals have been found to inhibit dihydroteridine reductase , which affects the
neural system function by inhibiting brain transmitters through its effect on
phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan transport into neurons(122,257,372). This was found to cause severe impaired
amine synthesis and hypokinesis. Tetrahydro-biopterin, which is essential in
production of nerurotransmitters, is
significantly decreased in patients with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and MS. Such
patients have abnormal inhibition of neurotransmitter production.(supplements
which inhibit breach of the blood brain barrier such as bioflavonoids have been
found to slow such neurological damage).
Clinical tests of
patients with MND,ALS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Lupus(SLE), rheumatoid arthritis and autism have found
that the patients generally have elevated plasma cysteine to sulphate ratios,
with the average being 500% higher than controls(330,331,56,33d), and in general
being poor sulphur oxidizers. This means
that these patients have insufficient sulfates available to carry out necessary
bodily processes. Mercury has been shown
to diminish and block sulphur oxidation and thus reducing glutathione levels
which is the part of this process involved in detoxifying and excretion of
toxics like mercury(33). Glutathione is produced through the sulphur oxidation
side of this process. Low levels of available glutathione have been shown to
increase mercury retention and increase toxic effects(111), while high levels
of free cysteine have been demonstrated to make toxicity due to inorganic
mercury more severe(333,194,56,33d).
Mercury has also been found to play a part in inducing intolerance and
neuronal problems through blockage of the P-450 enzymatic process(84,33d). Mercury has been shown to be a factor that
can cause rheumatoid arthritis by activating localized CD4+ T-cells which trigger production of immune
macrophages and immunoglobulin(Ig) producing cells in joints(405,513,514). This has been found to produce inflammatory
cytokines Such as IL-1 and TNF that contribute to cartilage and bone
destruction. Also, it is documented that
the process thus involves free
radical/reactive oxygen species effects, and antioxidants have been found to
have benefits in treatment(514).
In one subtype of ALS, damaged, blocked, or faulty enzymatic superoxide Dismustase
(SOD) processes appear to be a major factor in cell apoptosis involved in the
condition(443). Mercury is known to
damage or inhibit SOD activity(13,33,111,254).
19.
Mercury at extremely low levels also interferes with formation of
tubulin producing neurofibrillary tangles in the brain similar to those
observed in Alzheimer’s patients, with high levels of mercury in the brain
(207,305), and low levels of
zinc(363,43). Mercury and the induced neurofibrillary tangles also appear to
produce a functional zinc deficiency in the
of AD sufferers(242),as well as causing reduced lithium levels which is
another factor in such diseases.
Lithium protects brain cells against excess glutamate induced
excitability and calcium influx(280,56).
It has been documented that conditions like depression and
other chronic neurological conditions often involve damage and nerve cell death
in areas of the brain like the hippocampus, and lithium has been found to not
only prevent such damage but also promote cell gray matter cell growth in such
areas(280), and to be effective in treating not only depressive conditions but
degenerative conditions like Huntington’s Disease which are related to such
damage.
Also mercury binds with cell membranes interfering with
sodium and potassium enzyme functions, causing excess membrane permeability,
especially in terms of the blood-brain barrier (155,207,311). Less than 1ppm mercury in the blood stream
can impair the blood- brain barrier.
Mercury was also found to accumulate in the mitochondria and interfere
with their vital functions, and to inhibit cytochrome C enzymes which affect
energy supply to the brain(43,84,232,338c,35).
Persons with the Apo-E4 gene form of apolipoprotein E which transports
cholesterol in the blood, are especially
susceptible to this damage(207,221,346), while those with Apo-E2 which has
extra cysteine and is a better mercury scavenger have less damage. The majority have an intermediate form
Apo-E3. This appears to be a factor in
susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple
sclerosis. Ones susceptibility can be
estimated by testing for this condition.
In many cases (many thousand documented)removal of amalgam fillings and
treatment for metal toxicity led to “cure’ or significant improvement in
health(see Section V). Mercury causes an
increase in white blood cells, with more created to try to react to a foreign
toxic substance in the body. There
is evidence that some forms of leukemia
are abnormal response to antigenic stimulation by mercury or other such toxics,
and removal of amalgam has led to remission very rapidly in some
cases(35,38,180,239).
20. Mercury and
methyl mercury impair or inhibit all cell functions and deplete calcium stores
(96,258). This can be a major factor in bone loss of
calcium(osteoporosis).
Mercury(like copper) also accumulates in areas of the eyes such as the
endothelial layer of the cornea and macula and is a major factor in chronic and
degenerative eye conditions such as iritis, astigmatism, myopia, black streaks
on retina, cataracts, macula degeneration, retinitis
pigmentosa,color vision loss,
etc.(529) Most of these conditions have
been found to improve after amalgam replacement(35,212,271,322,529,etc.)
VI. Results of
Removal of Amalgam Fillings
2. Removal of amalgam fillings resulted in a significant
reduction in body burden and body waste product load of
mercury(75,82,88,89,93,95,115).
Total reduction in mercury levels
in blood and urine is often over 80%
within a few months(79,82,89,93,115,57). On average those with 29 amalgam surfaces
excreted over 3 times more mercury in urine after DMPS challenge than those
with 3 amalgam surfaces, and those with 45 amalgam surfaces more than 6 times
as much mercury(12b).
For the
following case studies of amalgam replacement, some clinics primarily replaced
amalgam fillings using patient protective measures and supportive supplements,
whereas some clinics do something
comparable to Hal Huggins total dental revision where in addition to amalgam
replacement, patients gold or nickel crowns over amalgam are replaced by
biocompatible alternatives, root canals extracted and cavitations checked for
and cleaned. There are extensive
documented cases (many thousands)where removal of amalgam fillings led to cure
or significant improvement of serious
health problems such as periodontal
diseases(tissue inflamation,metal mouth,mouth sores,bone loss,burning
mouth,etc.)
(8,35,40,46,57,60,62,75,78,82,94,95,100,115,133,192bcf,212,222,233abcdefgh,271,313,317,321,322,341,376,525,532,538,551,552,583),
oral lichen planus/leukaplakia
(56,86,87,90,101,168, 313a) (oral
keratosis (pre cancer)(87,251), immune system/ autoimmune problems
(8,35,60,62,222,270,271,313,323,322, 342,91,212, 229,291,452, 470, 485,523,532,552), multiple chemical sensitivities
(26,35,60,62,95,222,229,232,233,115,313,342,537,583), allergies (8,26,35,40,46,62,94,95,97,165,212,222,228,229,233,271,317,322,
349,376,469,525c,532,557,583), asthma(8,75,97,222,228,271,322,552,556,557), chronic headaches/migraines
(5,8,34,35,47f,62,95,185,212ab,222,229,233abdefgh,271,317,322,349,354,115,376,440,453,
523,525,532,537,538,552,556,583),
epilepsy (5,35,309,229,386e,557),
tachycardia and heart problems
(8,35,59,94,115,205,212,222 ,232,233bcdg, 271,306, 310,322,525c,554,556,557),
blood conditions (8,212,222,232,233,271,322,523,551,35,95), Chron’s disease
(60,222,229,469,485), stomach(gastrointestinal) problems
(8,35,62,95,212ab,222,228,229, 233bdg,271,317,322, 440,469,525c, 532) , lupus(12,35,60,113,222,233,323,537),
dizzyness/vertigo
(8,40,95,212,222,229,233bcdgh,271,322,376,453,525c,551,552), joint pain/ arthritis
(8,35,62,95,103,212ab,222,229,233abcg,271,313,322,358,386de,469,523,525c,538,551,
552,556,557,583), insomnia
(35,62,94,212,222,233ag,271,317,322,376,525c,583), MS(62,94,95,102,163,170,212,222,229,271,291,302,322,369,469,485,34,35c,229,523,532),
ALS(97,246,423,405,469,470,485,535,35),
Alzheimer’s(62,204,251c,386e,535,35), Parkinson’s/
muscle tremor (222,248,228a,229,233f, 271,322,
469,535,557,212,62,94,98,35), Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome(8,35,47f,60,62,88,185,212,293,229,222,232,233abcdfgh,271,313, 317,
322, 323,342, 346, 369,376,386de, 440, 469,
470,523,532,537,538,551,552,556,557), nausea(525c), neuropathy/paresthesia
(8,35,62,94,163,212,222,322,556,557), muscular/jointpain/Fibromyalgia
(5,8,35,60,62,185,222,233bcfg,293,317,322,346,369,440,469,470,523,527,532,538,552,94),
infertility(9,35,38,229,367), endometriosis(229,35,38,9), autism (601)
schizophrenia (294,34,35), memory
disorders (8,35,94,212,222,322,437,440,453,552,557), depression
(62,94,107,163,185,212,222,229,233bcfh,271,294,285e,317,322,376,386de,437,453,465,485,523,
525c,532,538,551,556,557,583,35,40), anger(212,233,102,557,35,62),
anxiety & mental confusion (62,94,212,222,229,233abcfgh,271,317,322,440,453,525c,
532,551, 557,583, 35,57), susceptibility to
infections (35,40,62,222,233cd,251,317,322,349,350,469,470,532), antibiotic
resistant infection(251), cancer(breast,etc./leukemia/oral)
(35,38,94,180,228a,469,486,530),
neuropathy/paresthesia (8,35,62,94,163,212,222,322,556,557), alopecia/hair loss
(40,187,271,317,322,349,583), sinus problems (35,40,47f,94,222,271,322,532,583),
tinnitus(8,35,62,94,222,233cdg,271,322,349,376,525c), chronic eye conditions:
inflamation/ iritis/ astigmatism/myopia /cataracts/macula degeneration/retinitis
pigmentosa, color vision loss,etc. (35,222,233abcg,271,322,440,529), vision disturbances
(8,35,62,212,233abcg,271,322,525c), eczema and
psoriasis (62,168b,212b,233c,322,323,385,342, 375, 408, 459,525c,557), autoimmune
thyroiditis(369,382,91), skin
conditions (8,62,212,222,233bc,322,525c,583), urinary/prostrate
problems(212,222), hearing loss(102,322,35), candida(26,35,404,537,etc.),
PMS(35,6,322,etc.), diabetes(35,369,etc.),
etc.
The above over
60,000 cases of cure or significant improvements were not isolated cases of
cures; the clinical studies indicated a large majority of most such type cases treated showed significant
improvement. Details are available and
case histories. For example, one of the
clinics(95) replacing amalgams in a large number of patients with chronic
conditions had full recovery or significant improvement:
in over 90% of cases for: metallic taste, tender teeth, bad
breath, and mouth sores;
in over 80% of cases for: depression, irrational fear, head
aches/migraines, irritability, dizziness, insomnia, bleeding gums, throat
irritation, nasal congestion or discharge, muscle
tremor, and leg cramps;
in over 70% of cases for: bloating or intestinal cramps,
skin reactions, sciatic pain, chest pain, poor memory, urinary disorders,
fatigue, poor concentration/ADD, watery eyes;
in over 60% of cases for: allergies, constipation, muscle
fatigue, cold hands/feet, heart problems.
A Jerome meter was
used to measure mercury vapor level in the mouth, and the average was 54.6
micrograms mercury per cubic meter of air, far above the Government health
guideline for mercury(217).
Some of the above
cases used chemical or natural chelation to reduce accumulated mercury body
burden in addition to amalgam replacement.
Some clinics using DMPS for chelation reported over 80% with chronic
health problems were cured or significantly improved(222,271,359).
Other clinics reported similar success. But the recovery
rate of those using dentists with special equipment and training in protecting
the patient reported much higher success rates than those with standard
training and equipment, 97% versus 37 to 88%(435). The Huggins TDR protocol includes testing
teeth with metal for level of galvanic current caused by the mixed metals, and
removal of the teeth with highest negative galvanic current first(35,228a). This has been found to improve recovery rate
for chronic conditions like epilepsy and autoimmune conditions. Metals are being pushed into the body from negatively charged metal dental work with
saliva as electrolyte and the highest charged teeth lose the most metal to the
body(35).
Clinical studies
have found that patch testing is not a
good predictor of success of amalgam removal, as a high percentage of those
testing negative also recovered from chronic conditions after replacement of
fillings(86,87,168,etc.).
The Huggins
Clinic using TDR has successfully treated over a thousand patients with chronic
autoimmune conditions like MS, Lupus, ALS, AD, diabetes, etc.(35), including himself
with the population of over 600(approx. 85%) who experienced significant
improvement in MS. In a large German study of MS patients after amalgam
revision, extraction resulted in 85% recovery rate versus only 16% for filling
replacement alone (222,302). Other cases have found that recovery from serious
autoimmune diseases, dementia, or cancer may
require more aggressive mercury removal techniques than simple filling
replacement due to body burden. This appears to be due to migration of mercury
into roots & gums that is not eliminated by simple filling
replacement. That such mercury(and
similarly bacteria) in the teeth and gums have direct routes to the brain and
CNS has been documented by several medical studies(34,325,etc.).
Among those with
chronic immune system problems with related immune antibodies, the types
showing the highest level of antibody reductions after amalgam removal include
glomerular basal membrane, thyroglobulin, and microsomal thyroid antigens(91). TDR and other measures used in metals detox
have been found to increase T-cells and immune function in AIDS patients(35).
Swedish researchers
have developed a sophisticated test for immune/autoimmune reactions that has
proved successful in diagnosing and treating environmentally caused diseases
such as lichen planus, CFS,MS, etc. related to mercury and other
immunotoxics(60,313,etc.).
Interviews of a
large population of Swedish patients that had amalgams removed due to health
problems found that virtually all reported significant health improvements and
that the health improvements were permanent(233). (study period 17 years) A
compilation of an even larger population found similar results(212,282). For example 89% of those reporting allergies
had significant improvements or total elimination; extrapolated to U.S.
population this would represent over 17 million people who would benefit
regarding allergies alone.
1. Feces is the major
path of excretion of mercury from the body, having a higher correlation to
systemic body burden than urine or blood, which tend to correlate with recent
exposure level (6b,21abd,35,36,79,80,183,278). For this reason many researchers
consider feces to be the most reliable indicator of daily exposure level to
mercury or other toxics. The average level of mercury in feces of populations
with amalgam fillings is as much as 1 ppm and approx. 10 times that of a
similar group without fillings (79,80,83,335,386,528,25), with significant
numbers of those with several filings having over 10 ppm and 170 times those
without fillings(80). For those with
several fillings daily fecal mercury excretion levels range between 20 to 200
ug/day. The saliva test is
another good test for daily mercury exposure, done commonly in Europe and
representing one of the largest sources of mercury exposure. There is only a weak correlation between
blood or urine mercury levels and body burden or level in a target
organ(36,157,183,258,278,11,21abd,6b). Mercury vapor passes through the blood
rapidly(half-life in blood is 10 seconds(370)) and accumulates in other parts of the body such
as the brain, kidneys, liver, thyroid gland, pituitary gland, etc. Thus blood
test measures mostly recent exposure.
Kidneys have a lot of hydroxyl(SH) groups which mercury binds to causing
accumulation in the kidneys, and inhibiting excretion(503). As damage occurs to kidneys over time,
mercury is less efficiently eliminated (11,36,57,183,216,258,260,503), so urine tests are not reliable for body
burden after long term exposure. Some researchers suggest hair offers a better
indicator of mercury body burden than blood or urine(279,21ab), though still
not totally reliable and may be a better indicator for organic mercury than
inorganic. In the early stages of mercury exposure before major systemic damage
other than slight fatigue results you usually see high hemoglobin, hemocrit,
alkaline phosphatase, and lactic dehydroganese; in later states you usually see
marginal hemoglobin, hemocrit, plus low oxyhemoglobin(35). Hair was found to be significantly correlated
with fish consumption, as well as with occupational dental exposure and to be a
good medium for monitoring internal mercury exposure, except that external
occupational exposure can also affect hair levels. Mercury hair level in a population sampled
in Madrid Spain ranged from 1.3 to 92.5 ppm. This study found a significant
positive correlation between maternal hair mercury and mercury level in nursing
infants. Hair mercury levels did not
have a significant correlation with urine mercury in one study(340) and did not
have a significant correlation to number of fillings(350). One researcher suggests that mercury levels
in hair of greater than 5 ppm are indicative of mercury intoxication.
A new test
approved by the FDA for diagnosing damage that has been caused by toxic metals
like mercury is the fractionated porphyrin test(260,35), that measures amount
of damage as well as likely source. Mercury blocks enzymes needed to convert
some types of porphyrins to hemoglobin and
adenosine tri phosphate(ATP). The
pattern of which porphyrins are high gives an indication of likely toxic
exposure, with high precoproporphyrin almost always high with mercury toxicity
and often coproporphyrin.
Provocation
challenge tests after use of chemical chelators such as DMPS or DMSA also are
effective at measuring body burden(57,58), but high levels of DMPS can be
dangerous to some people- especially those still having amalgam fillings or
those allergic to sulfur drugs or sulfites. Many studies using chemical
chelators such as DMPS or DMSA have found post chelation levels to be poorly
correlated with prechelation blood or urine levels(57,115,303), but one study
(340) found a significant correlation between pre and post chelation values
when using DMPS. Challenge tests using
DMPS or DMSA appear to have a better correlation with body burden and toxicity
symptoms such as concentration , memory, and motor deficits(290)- with many
studies finding a significant correlation between post chelation mercury level
and the number of amalgam
surfaces(57,172,173,222,290,292,273,303).
On average those with 29 amalgam surfaces excreted over 3 times more
mercury in urine after DMPS challenge than those with 3 amalgam surfaces, and
those with 45 amalgam surfaces more than 6 times as much mercury(12b). Several doctors use 16 ug/L as the upper
bound for mercury after DMPS challenge, and consider anyone with higher levels
to have excess body burden(222,352). However one study(290) found significant
effects at lower levels. Some
researchers believe DMSA has less adverse side effects than DMPS and prefer to
use DMSA for chelation for this reason. Some studies have also found DMSA as
more effective at removing mercury from the brain(58). A common protocol for DMSA(developed to
avoid redistribution effects) is 50 mg orally every 4 hours for 3 days and then
off 11 days.
Another chelator
used for clogged arteries, EDTA, forms toxic compounds with mercury and can
damage brain function(307). Use of EDTA
may need to be restricted in those with high Hg levels. N-acetylcysteine(NAC) has been found to be
effective at increasing cellular glutathione levels and chelating
mercury(54). Experienced doctors have
also found additional zinc to be useful when chelating mercury(222) as well as
counteracting mercury’s oxidative damage(43). Zinc induces metallothionein
which protects against oxidative damage and increases protective enzyme
activities and glutathione which tend to inhibit lipid peroxidation and
suppress mercury toxicity(430,464).
Also lipoic acid,LA, has been
found to dramatically increase excretion of inorganic mercury(over 12 fold),
but to cause decreased excretion of organic mercury(572d) and copper. Lipoic acid has a protective effect regarding
lead or inorganic mercury toxicity through its antioxidant properties(572), but
should not be used with high copper. Lipoic acid and N-acetylcysteine(NAC) also
increase glutathione levels and protect against superoxide
radical/peroxynitrite damage, so thus have an additional neuroprotective
effect(494a,521,524,572c,54,56). Zinc is
a mercury and copper antagonist and can be used to lower copper levels and protect
against mercury damage. Lipoic acid has
been found to have protective effects against cerebral ischemic-reperfusion,
excitotoxic amino acid(glutamate) brain injury, mitochondrial dysfunction,
diabetic neuropathy(572). Other
antioxidants such as carnosine(495a), Coenzyme Q10,Vitamins C & E, gingko
biloba, pycnogenol and selenium have also been found protective against
degenerative neurological conditions(494,495e, 444,237).
2. Tests suggested by
Huggins/Levy(35) for evaluation and treatment of mercury toxicity:
(a) hair element test(386)
(low hair mercury level does not indicate low body level)(more than 3
essential minerals out of normal range
indicates likely metals toxicity)
(b) CBC blood test with differential and platelet count
© blood serum profile
(d) urinary mercury (for person with average exposure with
amalgam fillings, average mercury level is 3 to 4 ppm;
lower test level
than this likely means person is poor excreter and accumulating mercury, often
mercury toxic(35)
(e) fractionated porphyrin(note test results sensitive to
light, temperature, shaking)
(f) individual tooth electric currents(replace high negative
current teeth first)
(g) patient questionnaire on exposure and symptom history
(h) specific gravity of urine(test for pituitary function,
s.g>1.022 normal; s.g.< 1.008 consistent with depression and suicidal tendencies(35)}
3. Note: during
initial exposure to mercury the body marshals immune system and other measures
to try to deal with the challenge, so
many test indicators will be high; after prolonged exposure the body and immune
system inevitably lose the
battle and measures to combat the challenge decrease- so some test indicator
scores decline. Chronic
conditions are common during this phase.
Also high mercury exposures with low hair mercury or urine mercury level usually indicates body is
retaining mercury and likely toxicity problem(35). In such cases where (calcium> 1100 or < 300 ppm) and low
test mercury,manganese,zinc,potassium; mercury toxicity likely and hard to treat since retaining mercury.
Test results
indicating mercury/metals toxicity(35):
(a) white blood cell count >7500 or < 4500
(b) hemocrit > 50%
or < 40%
(c ) lymphocyte
count > 2800 or < 1800
(d) blood protein level > 7.5 gm/100 ml
(e) triglycerides > 150 mg %ml
(f) BUN > 18 or < 12
(g) hair mercury > 1.5 ppm or <
.4 ppm
(h) oxyhemoglobin level < 55% saturated
(I) carboxyhemoglubin > 2.5% saturated
(j) T lymphocyte count < 2000
(k)
(l)
(m) hair aluminum > 10 ppm
(n) hair nickel > 1.5 ppm
(o) hair manganese > 0.3 ppm
(p) immune reactive to mercury, nickel, aluminum, etc.
(q) high hemoglobin and hemocrit and high alkaline
phosphatase(alk phos) and lactic dehydrogenese(LDA) during initial phases of exposure; with low/marginal hemoglobin and hemocrit
plus low oxyhemoglobin during long
term chronic fatigue phase.
4. Huggins Total
Dental Revision Protocol(35):
(a) history questionnaire and panel of tests.
(b) replace amalgam fillings starting with filling with
highest negative current or highest negative quadrant, with supportive vitamin/mineral supplements.
(c ) extract all root canaled teeth using proper finish
protocol.
(d) test and treat cavitations and amalgam tattoos where
relevant
(e) supportive supplementation, periodic monitoring tests,
evaluate need for further treatment(not usually needed).
(f) avoid acute
exposures/challenge to the immune system on a weekly 7/14/21 day pattern.
note: after treatment
of many cases of chronic autoimmune conditions such as MS, ALS, Parkinson’s,
Alzheimer’s, CFS, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc., it has been observed that
often mercury along with root canal toxicity or cavitation toxicity are major
factors in these conditions, and most with these conditions improve after TDR
if protocol is followed carefully(35). Also, it is documented that the process
is inflammatory involving free radical/reactive oxygen species effects,
and antioxidants have been found to have
benefits in treatment(514). Other
measures in addition to TDR that have been found to help in treatment of MS in
clinical experience are avoidance of milk products, get lots of sunlight,
supplementation of calcium AEP(448) and alpha lipoic acid(572). Progesterone creme has been found to promote
regrowth of myelin sheaths in animals(448c).
VIII. Health Effects
from Dental Personnel Exposure to Mercury Vapor
1. Dental offices are known to be one of the largest users
of inorganic mercury(71b,etc.). It is
well documented that dentists and dental personnel who work with amalgam are
chronically exposed to mercury vapor, which accumulates in their bodies to much higher levels than for most
non-occupationally exposed. Adverse
health effects of this exposure including subtle neurological effects have also
been well documented that affect most dentists and dental assistants, with
measurable effects among those in the lowest levels of exposure. Mercury levels of dental personnel average at least 2 times
that of controls for hair(397-401), urine
(25d,57,64,69,99,123,124,138,171,173,222,249, 290,362,397-399), toenails(562),
and for blood (124,195,253,249,397,563). A Lebonese study(398b) found 25 % of
dentists had hair mercury levels over 5ppm and 8% had level over 10 ppm.
Sweden, which voted
to phase out use of mercury in fillings,
is the country with the most exposure and health effects studies regarding
amalgam, and urine levels in dental
professionals from Swedish and European studies ranged from 0.8 to 30.1 ug/L
with study averages from 3.7 to 6.2 ug/L (124,172,253,64,68). The Swedish safety guideline for mercury in
urine is 5.6 nmol Hg/nmol(11.6 ug/L).
Study averages for other countries ranged from 3.3 to 36
microgram/liter(ug/L)(69,70,171,290,397).
A large survey of dentists at the Norwegian Dental Assoc. meeting(171)
found that the mean mercury level in 1986 was 7.8 ug/L with approx. 16% above
13.6ug/L, and for 1987 found an average of 8.6 ug/L with approx. 15% above 15.8
ug/L, with women having higher levels than men in general.
A U.S. national sample of dentists provided by
the American Dental Association had an average of 5.2 ug/L (70,290). In that large sample of dentists, 10% of
dentists had urine mercury levels over 10.4 ug/L and 1% had levels over
33.4ug/L(290,25c), indicating daily exposure levels of over 100 ug/day. Researchers from the Univ. of Washington School of
Dentistry and Dept. of Chemistry tested a sample of dentists at an annual ADA
meeting(230). The study found that the
dentists had a significant body burden of mercury and the group with higher
levels of mercury had significantly more adverse health conditions than the
group with lower exposure. The increased
effects in the group with more mercury exposure included mood
disturbances,memory deficits, fatigue, confusion, anxiety, and delay in simple
reaction time. Another study of a
group of 194 U.S. male dentists with mean urine mercury level of 3.3 ug/L and
233 female dental assistants with mean urine mercury level of 2.0 ug/L
considered effects of polymorphism in brain-derived neurotrophic factor(
Mercury excretion levels were found to have a positive correlation with
the number of amalgams placed or replaced per week, the number of amalgams
polished each week, and with the number of fillings in the
dentist(171,172,173). In one study, each
filling was found to increase mercury in the urine approx. 3%, though the
relationship was nonlinear and increased more with larger number of fillings(124). Much higher accumulated body burden levels
in dental personnel were found based on challenge tests than for controls(303),
with excretion levels after a dose of a chelator as high as 10 times the
corresponding levels for controls(57,69,290a,303). Autopsy studies have found similar high body
accumulation in dental workers, with levels in pituitary gland and thyroid over
10 times controls and levels in renal cortex 7 times controls(99,363,38). Autopsies of former dental staff found
levels of mercury in the pituitary gland averaged as high as 4,040 ppb. They also found much higher levels in the
brain occipital cortex(as high as 300 ppb),
renal cortex(as high as 2110 ppb) and thyroid(as high as 28,000
ppb. In general dental assistants and
women dental workers showed higher levels of mercury than male dentists
(171,172,173,253,303,362).
Mercury levels
in blood of dental professionals ranged from 0.6 to 57 ug/L, with study
averages ranging from 1.34 to 9.8 ug/L (124,195,253,249,531). A review of several studies of mercury level
in hair or nails of dentists and dental workers found median levels were 50 to
300% more than those of controls(38, p287-288,& 10,16,178,531). Dentists
have been found to have elevated skeletal mercury levels, which has been found
to be a factor in osteoporosis, as well as mercury retention and kidney effects
that tend to cause lower measured levels of mercury in urine tests(258). A group of dental students taking a course
involving work with amalgam had their urine tested before and after the course
was over. The average urine level increased by 500% during the course(63).
Allergy tests given to another group of dental students found 44% of them were
allergic to mercury(156). Studies have
found that the longer time exposed, the more likely to be allergic and the more
effects(6b,154c,156,503a) . One study
found that over a 4 year period of dental school, the sensitivity rate
increased 5 fold to over 10%(154c).
Another group of dental students had similar results(362), while another
group of dental student showed compromised immune systems compared to medical
students. The total lymphocyte count,
total T cell numbers(CD3), T helper/ inducer(CD4+CD8-),
and T suppressor/cytotoxic(CD4-CD8+) numbers were significantly elevated in the
dental students compared to the matched control group(408). Similar results
have been seen in other studies as well(408).
More than 10,000 dental assistants
were exposed to extremely high concentrations of mercury fumes while working with
amalgam in dental offices during the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and early
90’s(575). 25% of them report they
often or very often have neurological problems.
They have been compared with a group of nurses of the same age. Dental assistants scored much higher than
nurses on 4 health problems:
tremor/shaking; heart and lung
problems, depression, and lack of memory/memory failure.
Urinary porphyrin
profiles were found to be an excellent biomarker of level of body mercury level
and mercury damage neurological effects, with coproporphyrin significantly
higher in those with higher mercury exposure and urine levels(70,260). Coproporphyrin levels have a higher
correlation with symptoms and body mercury levels as tested by challenge
test(69,303), but care should be taken regarding challenge tests as the high
levels of mercury released can cause serious health effects in some, especially
those who still have amalgam fillings or high accumulations of mercury. Screening test that are less burdensome and
less expensive are now available as first morning void urine samples have been
found to be highly correlations to 24 hour urine test for mercury level or
porphyrins(73).
2. The average dental office exposure affects the body
mercury level at least as much as the workers on
fillings(57,64,69,123,138,171,173,303), with several studies finding levels
approximately the same as having 19 amalgam fillings(123,124,173). Many surveys have been made of office
exposure levels(1,6,7,10, etc.) The level of mercury at breathing point in
offices measured ranged form 0.7 to over 300 micrograms per cubic meter(ug/M3)
(120,172,253,249). The average levels in
offices with reasonable controls ranged from 1.5 to 3.6 ug/M3, but even in
Sweden which has had more office environmental controls than others spot levels
of over 150 ug/M3 were found in 8 offices(172) . Another study found spot
readings as high as 200 ug/M3 in offices with few controls that only used
saliva extractor(120). OSHA surveys
find 6-16% of U.S. dental offices exceed the OSHA dental office standard of 50
ug/M3, and residual levels in equipment sterilizers often exceed
this level(454a). Note that the OSHA
standard of 50 ug/M3 assumes a 40 hour work week exposure period with no other
exposures, assumptions which are never
met but the standard hasn’t been revised based on new toxicity information like those of other
agencies. The German workplace mercury
standard of 1 ug/M3 is almost always exceeded(258). Hursh and coworkers (454b), in a study of
five male volunteers, measured absorption of mercury vapor through the forearm
skin. On the basis of their measurements, and exposure assumptions comparable
to the OSHA air concentration of 50 μg/m3,
(and a skin area of 18,000 cm2), these investigators calculated a
mean uptake of 10.4 µμg/day mercury by
this route during an 8-hour period
The U.S. A
Use of high speed
drill in removal or replacement has been found to create high volume of mercury
vapor and respirable particles, and dental masks to only filter out about 40 %
of such particles (219,247). Amalgam
dust generated by high speed drilling is absorbed rapidly into the blood
through the lungs and major organs such as the heart receive a high dose within
minutes(219a,395c,503c). This produces high levels of exposure to patient and
dental staff and common adverse health efffects. Use of water spray, high
velocity evacuation and rubber dam reduce exposure to patient and dental staff
significantly, as seen in previous discussion.
In addition to these measures researchers also advise all dental staff
should wear face masks and patients be supplied with outside air(120,153). Some studies note that carpeting and rugs in
dental offices should be avoided as it is a major repository of
mercury(6,7,21d,71b,188,395c,503) For office’s using an aspirator, at the
dentist's breathing zone, mercury vapor concentrations of ten times the current occupational exposure limit of
25 microg/m3 were recorded after 20 minutes of
continuous aspirator operation(219). A build up of amalgam contamination
within the internal corrugated tubing of
the aspirator was found to be the main source of mercury vapor emissions
followed by particulate amalgam trapped within the vacuum motor. As the vacuum
motor heated up with run time,
mercury vapor emissions increased. It was found that the bacterial air exhaust
filter (designed to clean the contaminated waste air entering the surgery) offered
no protection to mercury vapor. Use of such measures along with a Clean-UpTM aspirator
tip was found to reduce exposure to patient and staff approximately 90%(397).
3. Dentists were
found to score significantly worse than a comparable control group on
neurobehavioral tests of motor speed, visual scanning, and visuomotor
coordination (69,70,123,249,290ab,395,531,563,1b), concentration , verbal
memory, visual memory (68,69,70,249,290ab,395,531,1b), and emotional/mood
tests(70,249,290a,395,563,1b). Test
performance was found to be proportional to exposure/body levels of
mercury(68,70,249,290ab,395,1b).
Significant adverse neurobehavioral effects were found even for dental
personnel receiving low exposure levels(less than 4 ug/l Hg in urine)(70). This
study was for dental personnel having mercury excretion levels below the 10th
percentile of the overall dental population. Such levels are also common among
the general population of non- dental personnel with several fillings. This
study used a new methodology which used standard urine mercury levels as a
measure of recent exposure, and urine levels after chelation with a chemical,
DMPS, to measure body burden mercury levels.
Thirty percent of dentists with more than average exposure were found to
have neuropathies and visuographic dysfunction(395). Mercury exposure has been
found to often cause disability in dental workers(230b,395c,503,504a,etc.)
Chelators
like DMPS have been found after a fast to release mercury
from cells in tissue to be available for excretion. This method was found to give enhanced
precision and power to the results of the tests and correlations. Even at the low levels of exposure of the
subjects of this study, there were clear demonstrated differences in test
scores involving memory, mood, and motor skills related to the level of
exposure pre and post chelation(70).
Those with higher levels of mercury had deficits in both memory, mood,
and motor function compared to those with lower exposure levels. And the plotted test results gave no indication
of there existing a threshold below effects were not measurable. Mood scores including anger were found to
correlate more strongly with pre chelation urine mercury levels; while toxicity
symptoms, concentration, memory(vocabulary,word), and motor function correlated
more strongly with post-chelation mercury levels. Another study using DMPS challenge test found
over 20 times higher mercury excretion in dentists than in controls, indicating
high body burden of mercury compared to controls(491).
Many dentists have been documented to suffer from mercury
poisoning(6f,71,72,74,193,246,247,248,369,531) other than the documented
neurological effects, such as chronic fatigue, muscle pains, stomach problems,
tremors, motor effects, immune reactivity,
etc. One of the common effects of
chronic mercury exposure is chronic fatigue due to immune system overload and
activation. Many studies have found this
occurs frequently in dentists and dental staff along with other related
symptoms- lack of ability to concentrate, chronic muscular pain, burnout,
etc.(249,369,377,378,490,531,1b). In a group of dentists and dental workers
suffering from extreme fatigue and tested by the immune test MELISA, 50% had
autoimmune reaction to inorganic mercury and immune reactions to other metals
used in dentistry were also common(369).
Tests of controls did not find such immune reactions common. In another study nearly 50 % of dental staff
in a group tested had positive autoimmune ANA titers compared to less than 1 %
of the general population(35).
One dentist with
severe symptoms similar to ALS improved after treatment for mercury
poisoning(246), and another with Parkinson’s disease recovered after reduction
of exposure and chelation(248). Similar cases among those with other occupational
exposure have been seen. A survey of
over 60,000 U.S. dentists and dental assistants with chronic exposure to
mercury vapor and anesthetics found increased health problems compared to controls, including significantly higher
liver, kidney, and neurological diseases(99,193). A recent study in Scotland found similar
results(531). Other studies reviewed
found increased rates of brain cancer and allergies(99,193,328). Swedish male dentists were found to have an
elevated standardized mortality ratio compared to other male academic
groups(284). Dental workers and other workers exposed to mercury vapor were
found to have a shortening of visual evoked potential latency and a decrease in
amplitude, with magnitudes correlated with urine excretion levels(190). Dentists were also found to have a high
incidence of radicular muscular neuralgia and peripheral sensory
degradation(190,395,490). In one study
of dentists and dental assistants, 50% reported significant irritability, 46%
arthritic pains, and 45% headaches(490a), while another study found selective
atrophy of muscle fibre in women dental
workers(490b). In a study in
Brazil(492a), 62% of dental workers had urine mercury levels over 10 mg/L, and
indications of mild to moderate mercury poisoning in 62% of workers. The most common problems were related to the
central nervous system. A recent study in
Turkey(492b) found the dental staff group had higher whole blood (B-Hg) and
urine (U-Hg) Hg levels than the control group. The mean B-Hg value was 2.18
nmol/l and U-Hg was 1.17 nmol/mmol creatinine. U-Hg had an inverse relationship
with logical memory (in WMS-R test) and total retention score (in VTMP test),
and a positive relationship with increased scores of Anxiety and Psychoticism
(in SCL-90-R).
4. Both dental hygienists and patients get high doses of
mercury vapor when dental hygienists polish or use ultrasonic scalers on
amalgam surfaces(240,400,503c).
Pregnant women or pregnant hygienist especially should avoid these
practices during pregnancy or while nursing since maternal mercury exposure has
been shown to affect the fetus and to be related to birth defects, SIDS,
etc.(10,23,31c,37,38,110,142,146,401,19,31,50).
Amalgam has been shown to be the main source of mercury in most infants
and breast milk, which often contain
higher mercury levels than in the mother’s blood (20,61,112,186,287). Because of high documented exposure levels
when amalgam fillings are brushed(182,222,348) dental hygienist are advised not
to polish dental amalgams when cleaning teeth.
Face masks worn by dental workers filter out only about 40% of small
dislodged amalgam particles from drilling or polishing, and very little mercury
vapor(247). Dental staff have been found to have significantly higher prevalence
of eye problems, conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis, and contact
urticaria(247,156,74).
An epidemiological
survey conducted in Lithuania on women working in dental offices(where Hg
concentrations were < 80 ug/M3) had increased incidence of spontaneous
abortions and breast pathologies that were directly related to the length of
time on the job(277a). A large U.S.
survey also found higher spontaneous abortion rate among dental assistants and
wives of dentists(193), and another study found an increased risk of
spontaneous abortions and other pregnancy complications among women working in
dental surgeries(277b). A study of dentist and dental assistants in the
Netherlands found 50% higher rates of spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and
congenital defects than for the control group(394), with unusually high
occurrence of spina bifida.
A study in Poland also found a significant positive
association between mercury levels and occurrence of reproductive failures and
menstrual cycle disorders, and concluded dental work to be an occupational
hazard with respect to reproductive processes(401).
5. Body burden increases with time and older dentists have
median mercury urine levels about 4 times those of controls, as well as higher
brain and body burdens(1,34, 68-74,99), and poor performance on memory
tests(68, 69,70,249,290) Some older
dentists have mercury levels in some parts of the brain as much as 80 times
higher than normal levels(14,34,99).
Dentists and dental personnel experience significantly higher levels of
neurological, memory, musculoskeletal, visiomotor, mood, and behavioral
problems, which increase with years of exposure
(1,34,68-73,88,123,188,246,247,248,249,290, ,395). Even dental personnel with relatively low
exposure(urine Hg<4 ug/l) were found to have significant neurological
effects(290) and was found to be correlated with body burden of mercury. Most studies find dentists have increased
levels of irritability and tension(1,490,504b), high rates of drug dependancy
and disability due to psychological problems(15,1b), and higher suicide rates
than the general white population (284,493,1b), but one study found rates in
same range as doctors.
6. Female dental technicians who work with amalgam tend to
have increased menstrual disturbances (275,401,10,38), significantly reduced
fertility and lowered probability of conception (10,24,38,121), increased
spontaneous abortions (10,31,38,277,433), and their children have significantly
lower average IQ compared to the general population (1,279,541,38,110). Populations with only slightly increased
levels of mercury in hair had decreases in academic ability(3). Effects are directly related to length of
time on the job(277). The level of
mercury excreted in urine is significantly higher for female dental assistants
than dentists due to biological factors (171,172,173,247,124a). Several dental assistants have been
diagnosed with mercury toxicity and some have died of related health
effects(32,245,246,247,248). From the
medical register of births since 1967 in Norway, it can be seen that dental
nurse/assistants have a clearly increased risk of having a deformed child or
spontaneous abortion(433).
Female dentists have increased
rates of spontaneous abortion and perinatal mortality (193,38,10,433)),compared
to controls. A study in Poland found a much higher incidence of birth defects
among female dentist and dental assistants than normal(10). A chronically ill dental nurse diagnosed
with mercury sensitivity recovered after replacement of fillings and changing
jobs(60), and a female dentist recovered from Parkinson’s after mercury
detox(248). Some studies have found
increased risk of lung, kidney, brain, and CNS system cancers among dental workers(14,34,99,143,283).
7. Many homes of dentists have been found to have high
levels of mercury contamination used by dentists bringing mercury home on shoes
and clothes(188).
IX. Scientists and Government Panels or Bodies That Have
Found Amalgam Fillings to be Unsafe.
1. A World Health Organization
Scientific Panel concluded that there is no safe level of mercury
exposure(183,189,208). The Chairman of
the panel, Lars Friberg stated that “dental amalgam is not safe for everyone to
use(208,238). A study of dental
personnel having very low levels of mercury excretion found measurable
neurological effects including memory, mood, and motor function related to
mercury exposure level as measured by excretion levels(290). and found no
threshold level below which effects were not measurable. Other studies have found measurable effects
to the immune, cardiovascular, hormonal, and reproductive systems from common
levels of exposure(Section IV). Studies
have found significant measurable adverse health effects at levels far below
current government regulatory levels for mercury(290).
2. In 1987 the Federal Dept. of Health in Germany issued an
advisory warning against use of dental amalgam in pregnant women(61). Most major countries other than the U.S. have
similar or more extensive bans or health warnings regarding the use of amalgam,
including Canada(209), Great Britain,
France, Austria, Norway(435), Sweden(164), Switzerland(536), Italy(434),
Japan(536), Australia(573), New Zealand, etc. Mercury fillings for youth are
already banned or restricted in a host of first-world countries, including
Germany, Sweden Denmark and Austria. In Japan and Switzerland, dental schools
have stopped teaching amalgam use as the primary source of dental
care(536). A Swedish National Mercury
Amalgam Review Panel and a similar Norwegian panel found that "from a
toxicological point of view, mercury is too toxic to use as a filling
material"(164,435). A Swedish
medical panel unanimously recommended to the government “discontinuing the use
of amalgam as a dental material”(282). A
futher review also recommended banning amalgam use(282b). Both countries have banned use of amalgam in
dentistry(435).
Amalgam has been found to be the largest source of mercury in sewers
and most sewer systems have dangerous levels of mercury. Thus installation of
an approved amalgam-separating apparatus in dental clinics is now mandatory in
most countries with advanced medical systems- for example, Switzerland,
Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Canada.
A major amalgam manufacturer, Caulk Inc., advises that
amalgam should not be used as a base for crowns or for retrograde root fillings
as is commonly done in some countries(387). Other manufacturers have similar
warnings. U.S. EPA found that removed
amalgam fillings are hazardous and must be sealed airtight and exposed of as
hazardous waste(214). Most European
countries require controls on dental waste amalgam emissions to sewers or air. A Canadian Government study for Health Canada
concluded that any person with any number of amalgam fillings receives exposure
beyond that recommended by the USPHS Standard(209). Many of those researching
amalgam related health effects including several very prominent scientists have
concluded that the health effects are widespread and serious so that mercury
should not be used as a filling material (1,18,19,20,
36,38,57,60,61,88,94,99,115,148,153,164,170,183,208,209,210,212,222, 227,236,
238,282,541,etc.).
3. The Legislature of the State of California passed a law,
Proposition 65, that requires all dentists in the state to discuss the safety
of dental materials with all patients and to post the following warning about
use of amalgam on the wall of their office: “This
office uses amalgam filling materials which contain and expose you to a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects and
other reproductive harm”. Maine and
New Hampshire also require such warnings(542).
4. The use of mercury amalgams has been banned for children
and women of child-bearing age or put on a schedule for phase out by several
European countries. The use of amalgam
is declining in Europe and Germany’s largest producer of amalgam has ceased
production, The director of the U.S.
Federal program overseeing dental safety advises against using mercury amalgam
for new fillings.
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