Mercury Vapors Not Easily Absorbed by Body

Inhalation of elemental mercury vapors is the main cause of toxicity, as
mercury is well absorbed 80% by the lungs.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_
uids=2270464&dopt=Abstract

Sci Total Environ 1990 Dec 1;99(1-2):1-22 Related Articles,Links

Does mercury from amalgam restorations constitute a health hazard?

Weiner JA, Nylander M, Berglund F.

National Board of Occupational Safety and Health, Solna, Sweden.

Amalgam is the most extensively used implant material in dentistry. There have
been no clinical trials of this substance and there are no epidemiological
studies that allow any conclusions on the safety of amalgam fillings. Amalgam
restorations continuously emit mercury vapour, which is absorbed in
considerable quantities via the lungs. A comparison with dose-effect
relationships, obtained in occupational studies, for certain effects on the
kidneys and central nervous system (CNS), suggests that individuals with
unusually high emission of mercury from amalgam fillings are at risk. It is
unclear whether or not clinically significant effects could be expected. The
limited sensitivity of available occupational studies, together with
insufficient knowledge of possible host factors affecting resistance to
mercury, implies that other more severe effects in susceptible individuals
cannot be excluded. Information on long-term effects on organs other than brain
or kidney is sparse. Animal studies suggest the possibility of immune system
reactions to mercury, i.e. development of autoimmunity, that are not primarily
dose-dependent, but rather depend on genetic susceptibility. From a
toxicological point of view, amalgam is an unsuitable material for dental
restorations.

Publication Types:
Review
Review, Academic
PMID: 2270464 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Environmental medicine, part three: long-term effects of chronic low-dose
mercury exposure.

Crinnion WJ.

Healing Naturally, 11811 NE 128th St., Suite 202, Kirkland, WA 98034, USA.

Mercury is ubiquitous in the environment, and in our mouths in the form of
"silver" amalgams. Once introduced to the body through food or vapor, mercury
is rapidly absorbed and accumulates in several tissues, leading to increased
oxidative damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell death. Mercury primarily
affects neurological tissue, resulting in numerous neurological symptoms, and
also affects the kidneys and the immune system. It causes increased production
of free radicals and decreases the availability of antioxidants. It also has
devastating effects on the glutathione content of the body, giving rise to the
possibility of increased retention of other environmental toxins. Fortunately,
effective tests are available to help distinguish those individuals who are
excessively burdened with mercury, and to monitor them during treatment.
Therapies for assisting the reduction of a mercury load include the use of
2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and 2,3-dimercato-1-propanesulfonic acid
(DMPS). Additional supplementation to assist in the removal of mercury and to
reduce its adverse effects is discussed.

Publication Types:
Review
Review, Tutorial
PMID: 10869102 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]    

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1: Stomatologiia (Mosk) 1997;76(4):9-11 Related Articles, Books  [Patterns of
mercury release from amalgam fillings into the oral cavity].[Article in
Russian]Motorkina AV, Barer GM, Volozhin AI.

Seventy-five subjects aged 20 to 57 with 1 to 15 fillings of silver amalgam
were examined. The level of mercury vapors in the oral cavity was assessedusing
an AGP-01 device and the method developed by the authors. Emission of mercury
vapors in the oral cavity increased with the number of fillings. The
concentration of mercury in the oral cavity depends largely on the number
ofsilver amalgam fillings and less so on these fillings' length of service.Adv
Dent Res 1992 Sep;6:110-3

Related Articles, Books, LinkOut Side-effects: mercury contribution to body
burden from dental amalgam.Reinhardt JW.Department of Operative Dentistry,
University of Iowa College of Dentistry,Iowa City 52242.

The purpose of this paper is to examine and report on studies that relate
mercury levels in human tissues to the presence of dental amalgams, giving
special attention to autopsy studies. Until recently, there have been few
published studies examining the relationship between dental amalgams and tissue
mercury levels. Improved and highly sensitive tissue analysis techniques have
made it possible to measure elements in the concentration range of parts per
billion. The fact that mercury can be absorbed and reach toxic levels in
humantissues makes any and all exposure to that element of scientific interest.

Dental amalgams have long been believed to be of little significance as
contributors to the overall body burden of mercury, because the elemental form
of mercury is rapidly consumed in the setting reaction of the
restoration.Studies showing measurable elemental mercury vapor release from
dental amalgams have raised renewed concern about amalgam safety.

Mercury vapor absorption occurs through the lungs, with about 80% of the
inhaled vapor being absorbed by the lungs and rapidly entering the bloodstream.
Following distribution by blood circulation, mercury can enter and remain in
certain tissues for longer periods of time, since the half-life of excretion is
prolonged. Two of the primary arget organs of concern are the central nervous
system and kidneys.

Publication Types: Review Review, Tutorial PMID: 1292449 [PubMed - indexed for
MEDLINE] 1: FASEB J 1990 Nov;4(14):3256-60 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut

Comment in: FASEB J. 1991 Feb;5(2):236.

Whole-body imaging of the distribution of mercury released from dental fillings
into monkey tissues.Hahn LJ, Kloiber R, Leininger RW, Vimy MJ, Lorscheider
FL.Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine,
Alberta,Canada.

The fate of mercury (Hg) released from dental "silver" amalgam tooth fillings
into human mouth air is uncertain. A previous report about sheep revealed
uptake routes and distribution of amalgam Hg among body tissues. The present
investigation demonstrates the bodily distribution of amalgam Hg in a monkey
whose dentition, diet, feeding regimen, and chewing pattern closely resemble
those of humans.

When amalgam fillings, which normally contain 50% Hg, are made with a tracer of
radioactive 203Hg and then placed into monkey teeth, the isotope appears in
high concentration in various organs and tissues within 4wk. Whole-body images
of the monkey revealed that the highest levels of Hg werel ocated in the
kidney, gastrointestinal tract, and jaw.

****The dental profession's advocacy of silver amalgam as a stable tooth
restorative material is not supported by these findings.****PMID:

2227216 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Neurotoxicology 1983 Fall;4(3):201-4 Related Articles, Books,LinkOut

Mercury toxicity and dental amalgam.Wolff M, Osborne JW, Hanson AL.There is
adequate evidence that dental amalgam restorations, during and after placement,
results in the release of Hg into the patient's body. Whether the Hg released
from amalgam is due to placement procedures, surface abrasion, orl ater
corrosion breakdown, there is evidence that a low level Hg release continues
for years.

****It is generally agreed that if amalgam was introduced today as a
restorative material, they would never pass F.D.A. approval.****

With new and more accurate techniques of measuring Hg levels, especially in
tissue and blood, additional studies are necessary to relate blood-Hg levels
with dental amalgam restorations. Studies must relate existing restorations as
well as the placement of new restorations to body-Hg levels.

It is possible that we have accepted a potentially dangerous material as being
safe.

Publication Types: Historical Article PMID: 6361623

http://www.yourhealthbase.com/amalgams.html

http://www.altcorp.com/DentalInformation/amalgampage.htm

http://www.lichtenberg.dk/mercury_vapour_in_the_oral_cavit.htm