I just finished reading an article in the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients Aug/Sept 1999 about mercury toxicity and amalgam fillings. Anyone considering removing amalgams would be well served to read this article.
Interesting facts about Mercury
- Mercury is the most toxic non-radioactive element on earth.
- A silver coloured mercury amalgam filling normally contains 52% mercury.
- On average, amalgam filling weighs 1 gram and contains 1/2 gram of mercury.
- The typical adult carries ten amalgam fillings containing about 5 grams of mercury.
- 1/2 gram of mercury in a ten acre lake would warrant issuance of a a fish advisory for the lake.
- Running shoes with mercury lights in their heels were banned by the Minnesota Legislature in 1994 because they contained a 1/2 gram of mercury in them and this was considered dangerous to public health.
- The use of mercury amalgams has been banned and are on a scheduled phaseout in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Sweden.
- Mercury-amalgam dental fillings have never been subjected to the kind of regulatory scrutiny and approval process demanded of all modern drugs and medical devices to prove safety.