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
VII. Tests for Mercury Level and Toxicity and Treatments
VIII. Health Effects from Dental Staff Exposure to Mercury
IX. Scientific Panel and Government Bodies That Have Found Amalgam
Fillings Unsafe
I. Introduction
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 U.S. each year, especially children and the
elderly (105,160). Exposure of humans and animals to toxic metals such as
mercury, cadmium, lead, copper, aluminum, arsenic, chromium, manganese, etc.
is widespread and in many areas increasing. The U.S. Center for Disease
Control (276) ranks toxic metals as the number one environmental health
threat to children. According to an EPA/ATSDR assessment, the toxic metals
mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium are all ranked in the top 7 toxins
having the most adverse health effects on the public based on toxicity and
current exposure levels in the U.S., with nickel and chromium also highly
listed. While there are large numbers of neurological and immune conditions
among adults, 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, 276, 409,
441). A recent report by the National Research Council found that 50% of
all pregnancies in the U.S. are now resulting in prenatal or postnatal
mortality, significant birth defects, or otherwise chronically unhealthy
babies (441). Exposure to toxic chemicals or environmental factors appears
to be a factor in as much as 28 percent of the 4 million children born each
year (441), with 1 in 6 having one of the neurological conditions previously
listed. EPA estimates that over 3 million of these are related to lead or
mercury toxicity (2, 276, 409).
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.
Entire article at: http://tinyurl.com/2jvx7