DENTAL AMALGAM MERCURY SYNDROME ............................www.amalgam.org DAMS Intl. 1079 Summit Ave St Paul MN 55105
Mercury Vapor Causes Neurological Developmental and Behavioral Effects
at Lower Levels than Other Forms of Mercury.
1.
Mercury vapor is lipid soluble and
has an affinity for red blood cells and Central Nervous System(CNS)
cells. Mercury vapor is the most significant
exposure from dental amalgam fillings and dental office exposures.
2. Only a few micrograms
of mercury severely disturb cellular function and inhibits
nerve growth. Prenatal or neonatal
exposures have been found to have life long effects on nerve function and other
toxic developmental effects.
3.
Elemental mercury vapor is more rapidly transmitted throughout the body than other forms of
mercury and has more toxic effects on the CNS and other parts of the body.
4. Exposure
to mercury vapor causes rapid transmittal across the blood-brain barrier and
through the placenta of pregnant women to the fetus and significant
developmental effects.
5.
Developmental learning and behavioral effects have been found from mercury
vapor at much lower levels than for exposure to methyl mercury.
6. More people have
immune reactions to mercury vapor/inorganic mercury than to methyl mercury. Immune reactions to mercury are documented to
cause autoimmunity and autoimmune conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS), fibromyalgia, lupus, multiple sclerosis(MS),
rheumatoid arthritis, ALS, etc.
7.
Mercury vapor and inorganic mercury are methylated
in the body to methyl mercury by bacteria, yeast, and other methyl donors.
8.
Dental amalgam fillings are the largest source of both inorganic and methyl
mercury in most people with amalgam.
Documentation:
There
is a lot of misunderstanding about the toxic effects significance of the
various types of mercury people are exposed to: vapor, inorganic, organic(methyl) mercury. The American Dental Assoc., some at
Gov't agencies, and other
researchers have argued that methyl mercury is much more toxic than other
forms, and mercury from fish thus a more important problem than vapor from
fillings. However the pharmakinetics of mercury in
the body is complex and the evidence seems contrary to that.
Mercury
vapor may be the biggest problem even for equal exposures, in addition to the
fact it is well documented that mercury from fillings is the number one source
of both inorganic and methyl mercury in most people(506), since elemental and
inorganic mercury in the body are methylized to
methyl mercury by bacteria in the mouth and intestines, and by yeast and other
methyl donors (51,53,54,225). Some people tested who do not eat fish have
been found to have high levels of methyl mercury . An interesting finding
is evidence that indicates that mercury vapor is 10 times more toxic to the
fetal brain than methyl mercury(287,305). Richardson(paper for
Swedish Scientific Panel FRN-1999) has estimated that about 20% of the
population suffers a subclinical impairment of kidney
or CNS function related to amalgam mercury.
Some
references from the paper (500) on this are the following:
Mercury
vapor is lipid soluble and has an affinity for red blood cells and CNS cells
(21). 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). Elemental mercury vapor is more rapidly
transmitted throughout the body than most other forms of mercury and has more
toxic effects on the CNS and other parts of the body according to the World
Health Organization and other studies(38,183,265,282,287). Exposure
to mercury vapor causes rapid transmittal across the blood-brain barrier and
through the placenta of pregnant women to the fetus (38,85,113,146,162,262,
265, 281,287)-much more damage to the
fetus than for maternal exposure to inorganic mercury(265,281,287,38) and significant developmental effects(305).
A doctor with extensive experience in
researching and treating mercury toxicity has found that blocked nerve
ganglions are a common cause of
seizures, migraines, and other chronic neurological problems(5). Based on his experience Dr. Klinghardt has found that the largest cause of such
conditions are due to dental metals . He finds that after treatment to unblock the
ganglions and mercury detox, most patients rapidly
recover from such conditions. Numerous other doctors whom he has trained
through seminars and courses have had similar experience. He finds that mercury
vapor from dental amalgam can cause such ganglion blockages at very low levels
of exposure.
Developmental learning and behavioral effects
have been found from mercury vapor at much lower levels than for exposure to
methyl mercury. (287,304,276e,etc.). The OSHA
health standard level for mercury vapor in air is 50% lower than for organic
mercury in air, as is the ATSDR MRL(217).
More people have autoimmune reactions,
related to chronic autoimmune conditions, to mercury vapor/inorganic mercury
than to methyl mercury(60,313). Immune reactions to mercury are documented
to cause autoimmunity and autoimmune conditions like chronic fatigue
syndrome(CFS), fibromyalgia, lupus, mutiple
sclerosis(MS), rheumatoid arthritis, ALS, etc.(500)
References
(5) Migraines, Seizures, and Mercury
Toxicity; Klinghardt D. Alternative Medicine Magazine, Issue 21
Dec, 1997 / Jan, 1998.
http://www.healingartscenter.com/Library/articles/art10.htm
(21) R.A.Goyer,”Toxic
effects of metals”in: Caserett
and Doull’s Toxicology- TheBasic
Science of Poisons, McGraw-Hill Inc., N.Y., 1993;
(38) Ziff S. and Ziff M.
Infertility and Birth Defects: Is Mercury from Dental Fillings a Hidden Cause?, Bio-Probe, Inc. ISBN: 0-941011-03-8.1987
(51) Methylation
of Mercury from dental amalgam and mercuric chloride by oral Streptococci. Heintz,
Edwardson, Derand, Birkhed Scan. J. Dent.
Res. 1983, 91:150‑152; & W.A.Sellars et al, Univ. Of Texas Southwestern Medical
School, "Methyl Mercury in the Human Mouth from Dental Amalgams",
Journal of Nutritioanl & Environmental Medicine(1996), 6:33‑36.
(53} The Methylation
of Mercuric Chloride by Human
Intestinal Bacteria. Rowland, Grasso,
Davies Experientia.
Basel 1975 ,31: 1064‑1065
(54) Formation of methyl
Mercury Compounds from
inorganic Mercury . by Chlostridium cochlearium
Yamada, Tonomura
J Ferment Technol1972 50:159‑1660
(225) S. Yannai
et al, "Transformationss of inorganic mercury by
candida albicans and saccharomyces cerevisiae",
Applied Envir Microbiology,1991,
57:245‑247; & I.R.Rowland et al, "The methylization of mercuric chloride
by human intestinal bacteria", Experentia,
Sept 1975, 31(9):1064‑5.
(57) N.Campbell & M.Godfrey,“Confirmation of Mercury Retention and Toxicity
using DMPS provocation” ,J of
Advancement in Medicine, 7(1) 1994;(80 cases);
(60) Stejskal
K. Automimmune reactions related to exposure to
inorganic
mercury common.
www.melisa.org
(85) J.A.Weiner et al,"The relationship between mercury concentration in
human organs and predictor variables",138(1-3):101-115,1993;
& "An estimation of the uptake of mercury from amalgam fillings",
Sci Total Environ,v168,n3, p255-265, 1995.
(113) M.J.Vimy et
al, Maternal-fetal distribution of mercury released from amalgam
fillings", Am J Physiol 258:R939-R945,1990. See also (238)
(146) T.Colborn(Ed.),Chemically Induced Atlerations
in Functional Development, Princeton Scientific Press,1992 & Developmental
Effects of Endocrine- Disrupting Chemicals",Eniron
Heath Perspectives, V 101, No.5, Oct 1993.
(147) M.Wood,"Mechanisms
for the Neurotoxicity of Mercury", in Organotransitional Metal Chemistry, Plenum Publishing Corp,
N.Y, N.Y, 1987. & R.P. Sharma et al, “Metals and
Neurotoxic Effects”, J of Comp Pathology, Vol 91,
1981.
(149) B.Choi et al, "Abnormal neuronal migration of human fetal
brain", Journal of Neurophalogy, Vol 37, p719-733, 1978; & L.Larkfors et al,"Methyl
mercury induced alterations in the nerve growth factor level in the developing brain ", Res Dev
Res,62(2),1991,287-
(162) N.K.Mottet
et al, "Health Risks from Increases in Methylmercury
Exposure",vol63:133-140,1985.
(175) F. Monnet-Tschudi et al,
“Comparison of the developmental effects of 2 mercury compounds on glial cells and neurons in the rat telencephalon”,
Brain Research, 1996, 741: 52-59; & Chang LW, Hartmann HA, “Quantitative cytochemical studies of RNA in experimental mercury
poisoning”, Acta Neruopathol(Berlin),
1973, 23(1):77-83.
(183) World
Health Organization(WHO),1991, Environmental Health
Criteria 118, Inorganic Mercury, WHO, Geneva; & Environ metal Health. Criterion. 101, Methyl Mercury; 1990.
(216) T.W.
Clarkson et al, in Biological
Monitoring of Toxic Metals, 1988,Plenum Press, N.Y., “The prediction
of intake of mercury vapor from amalgams”,p199-246 & p247-260; Environmental Health Perspective, 1993,April, 100:31-8; & F.L.
Lorscheider et al, Lancet, 1991, 337,p1103.
(217) Apr 19,1999 Media
Advisory, New MRLs for toxic substances, MRL:elemental mercury vapor/inhalation/chronic &
MRL: methyl mercury/ oral/acute; &
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls.html
&
Occupational Safety
and Health Administration(OSHA), www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/pel/
(226)(a)B.J. Shenker et al, Dept. Of Pathology, Univ.
Of Penn. School of Dental Med.,”Immunotoxic effects
of mercuric compounds on human lymphocytes and monocytes:
Alterations in cell viability” Immunopharmacologicol Immunotoxical,
1992, 14(3):555-77; & M.A.Miller et al, “Mercuric chloride induces apoptosis in
human T lymphocytes”, Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, 153(2):250‑7
1998;& Rossi AD,Viviani B, Vahter
M. Inorganic mercury modifies Ca2+
signals, triggers apoptosis, and potentiates NMDA
toxicity in cerebral granule neurons.
Cell Death and Differentiation 1997; 4(4):317-24. & Goering PL, Thomas D, Rojko JL, Lucas AD.
Mercuric chloride-induced apoptosis is dependent on protein
synthesis. Toxicol
Lett 1999; 105(3): 183-95;
(260) J.S. Woods et al, “Urinary porphyrin
profiles as biomarker of mercury exposure: studies on dentists”, J Toxicol Environ Health, 40(2-3):1993, p235-; & “Altered porphyrin
metabolites as a biomarker of mercury exposure and toxicity”, Physiol Pharmocol,
1996,74(2):210-15, & Canadian J
Physiology and Pharmacology, Feb 1996;
& M.D.Martin et al, “Validity of urine
samples for low-level mercury exposure
assessment and relationship to porphyrin and creatinine excretion
rates”, J Pharmacol Exp Ther,
Apr 1996 & J.S. Woods et al,
“Effects of Porphyrinogenic Metals on Coproporphrinogen Oxidase in
Liver and Kidney” Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Vol
97, 183-190, 1989.
(262) L.W.Chang,
"Neurotoxic effects of mercury", Environ. Res.,1977,
14:329-(265)M.R.Greenwood et al, "Transfer of
metallic mercury into the fetus", Experientia,
28:1455-1456, 1972.
(265) K.Lohmann et al, “Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Disorder in
patients with neurotoxic illnesses”, Gesundheitswesen,
1996, 58(6):322-31.
(281) T.W. Clarkson et al, "Transport of
elemental mercury into fetal tissues", Biol. Neonate. 21:239-244, 1972.
(287) M.C. Newland et al,"Behavioral consequences of in utero
exposure to mercury vapor", Toxicology & Applied Pharmacology, 1996,
139: 374-386; & K.Warfvinge et al, "Mercury
distribution in neonatal cortical areas ...after exposure to mercury vapor",Environmental Research, 1994, 67:196-208.
(304) M.J.Vimy et al, “Mercury from Maternal Silver Tooth Fillings:
a source of neonatal exposure”, Biological Trace Element Research, 56: 143-52,1997.
(305) Soderstrom
S, Fredriksson A, Dencker
L, Ebendal T, “The effect of mercury vapor on
cholinergic neurons in the fetal brain, Brain Research & Developmental Brain
Res, 1995, 85:96-108; & Toxicol
Lett 1995; 75(1-3):133-44.; & E.M.
Abdulla et al, “Comparison of neurite
outgrowth with neurofilament protein levels In neuroblastoma cells
following mercuric oxide exposure”, Clin Exp Pharmocol Physiol, 1995, 22(5): 362-3;
& Leong CC, Syed
NI, Lorscheider FL.
Retrograde degeneration of neurite membrane structural integrity of nerve growth cones
following in vitro exposure to mercury.
Neuroreport 2001 Mar 26;12(4):733-7
(313) V.D.M.Stejskal
et al, “Mercury-specific
Lymphocytes: an indication of
mercury allergy in man”, J. Of Clinical Immunology, 1996, Vol 16(1);31-40; & Sterzl I, Prochazkova J, Stejskal VDM et
al, Mercury and nickel allergy: risk factors in fatigue and autoimmunity. Neuroendocrinology Letters 1999
(500) B.Windham, Health
Effects of amalgam fillings and results of replacement of amalgam filings.
Over 2000 medical study
references(most in Medline) documenting common high mercury exposures
from amalgam, mechanisms by which mercury causes over 30 chronic conditions,
and that vapor from amalgam is the most dangerous form of mercury to the fetus,
along with results of approx. 60,000
clinical cases of those conditions of amalgam replacement followed by doctors; www.flcv.com/amalg6.html
(503) Center for Chemical Hazard Assessment, Potential Occupational
Hazards: Dentistry, Syracuse Research, Contract No.210-78-0019, 1980; &
Merck Manuel, 14th Edition, p1552.
(506) Leistevuo
J et al, Dental
amalgam fillings and the amount of organic mercury in human saliva. Caries Res 2001
May-Jun;35(3):163-6;
& www.flcv.com/damspr1.html
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National contact person: Bernie Windham berniew1@embarqmail.com 850-878-9024
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