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Mercury exposure from mercury dental fillings, also known as "silver" fillings and "amalgams", is a life long threat. When a person chews, drinks, swallows and breathes, mercury released from dental fillings is absorbed by the lungs and the linings of the digestive system into the bloodstream. As they corrode, mercury fillings release ionized mercury into the saliva, tooth pulp, and gum tissues leading to the digestive system and bloodstream.

Measurements of momentary mercury levels in breath have been scientifically collected in multiple studies. There has been much debate about the potential safety hazard because mercury vapor levels measured in the mouth are not always above the standards set for exposure in the workplace.

Overlooked has been the amount of mercury in feces, which demonstrates both exposure and excretion from the blood and tissues by the liver. The levels measured by Osterblad et. al. in the article "Antimicrobial and mercury resistance in aerobic gram-negative bacilli in fecal flora among persons with and without dental amalgam fillings" published in Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy, 39(11):2499-502 1995 Nov; are disturbing, and clearly demonstrate that human mercury exposure is dominated by the presence of mercury dental fillings.

Osterblad found that on average people with mercury dental fillings had 17 times more mercury in their feces than did people who had never had mercury dental fillings, and had 11 times more mercury in feces than did people who had all of their mercury dental fillings removed. The group with mercury dental fillings had more than 1 part per million mercury in their feces.

At the first standard deviation, the difference between these populations becomes more dramatic. People with mercury dental fillings had nearly 4 parts per million mercury in feces, 39 times more mercury than did people who never had the fillings.

Osterblad's data indicates that 1 person in 1000 with mercury dental fillings will have 10 parts per million mercury in their daily feces, 170 times more mercury than the average person who has never had such a filling.

The safe limit of mercury allowed by the EPA in drinking water is 2 parts per billion (see ASTDR ToxFAQ CAS# 7439-97-6) . What Osterblad found in the feces of people with mercury dental fillings was an average concentration 500 times higher than would be allowed in minimally safe drinking water.

The graph below compares the amount of mercury found in feces by Osterblad et. al.. The group represented by the yellow bar had never had mercury dental fillings. The group represented by the red bar once had mercury dental fillings, but had them removed before the study. The blue bar represents the population that still had mercury dental fillings in their teeth at the time of the study.

This next graph plots the normal distribution curve for mercury found in feces of the mercury dental filling group. The mean is 1.044 parts per million, the concentration at the first standard deviation is 3.897 parts per million. For 1 person in 1000, the feces concentration is 10 parts per million.

Also overlooked has been the lifetime exposure to mercury provided by these dental fillings. Below you will find more graphs projecting life time mercury uptake for the average middle aged Swedish person, and the worst case person in the study "Human exposure to mercury and silver released from dental amalgam" by Skare et. al, published in the "Archives of Environmental Health" 49(5):384-94 1994 Sept-Oct.

Skare et. al. calculated systemic mercury uptake from measurements of vapor released into the oral cavity, ions in saliva, urinary, and fecal excretion rates, and compared them to controls who had never had mercury dental fillings. Based on these observations, the average middle aged Swedish person was conservatively estimated to have 32 micrograms (millionths of a gram) of mercury in feces daily. With an uptake of 12 micrograms of mercury into their bloodstream and tissues every 24 hours. The worst case individual in this study was measured at 190 micrograms per day of mercury in feces, with an estimated bloodstream and tissue uptake of 70 micrograms per day.

We compare Skares findings to the EPA limit of 2 parts per billion for safe drinking water. We find the average person with mercury dental fillings in their teeth must drink 77 pounds or 37 quarts of minimally acceptable drinking water daily, to match the quantity of mercury found in their feces every 24 hours. For the worst case person in the study, 209 pounds or 100 quarts of such water would have to be swallowed to ingest the quantity of mercury found in that persons feces every 24 hours.

At 25 years of exposure, ages 30-35, the average Swedish person is estimated by us to have absorbed over 100 milligrams of mercury from their dental fillings into their bloodstream and tissues. At the rates of the worst case individual in this study, the 25 year systemic mercury uptake estimated by us would be over 600 milligrams.

The American Dental Association (ADA) estimates that 100 million mercury dental fillings are placed within the mouths of people in the USA every year. Others have estimated that 180 million people in the USA bear mercury dental fillings. Mercury is an important toxin source to consider in health conditions with "no known cause, and no known cure".

Mercury exposure stresses the immune system of every person who has them. Both a properly functioning immune system and the body's method for excreting mercury consume the antioxidant enzyme Glutathione. When mercury depletes the body of Glutathione, it has a direct negative effect on the immune system's ability to respond properly to infections and cancer.

We believe mercury from dental fillings to be an important toxin contributing to people with CFIDS and other immune system disorders. Documented symptoms of mercury poisoning cover nearly every documented symptom of CFIDS.

Recent science indicates that at least 14% of the human population develops a T-cell mediated immune response specific to mercury compounds and mercury ions. This is the same kind of immune response the body places against viruses, bacteria and other foreign proteins. A sustained, systemic immune response to toxic metal ions that goes on for years, is a very likely description of some people's immune disorders.

For more information on this compelling science, visit MELISA® Test for Metal Allergy.

To gain an insightful view of how metal targeting immune cells can cause chronic, systemic illness, visit Proposed Immune-Metal Pathology.

A perpetual immune response against a relentless stream of metal flowing from the teeth will consume many essential nutrients, and eventually cause the immune system to "burn out", leaving immunities chronically depressed. This is a description many people with immune disorders would attribute to themselves and their immune system.

Glutathione is extremely important for a competent immune system. The body uses glutathione to detoxify and excrete mercury, other heavy metals, and numerous toxins. Adequate Glutathione levels are essential for the body's energy processes to function properly.

Glutathione from the diet requires that proteins be eaten, digested, absorbed, then "deconjugated" to create free form amino acids which are then made available to form Glutathione and other essential compounds in the cells. Mercury interferes with sulfur bearing compounds throughout the body, and can block the ability of the body to synthesize Glutathione.

When you supplement amino acids that form Glutathione, you are jumping to the last step. On an empty, or near empty stomach, free form amino acids absorb rapidly without the need for digestion, and disseminate throughout the body via the blood stream. Supplementing free form amino acids that form Glutathione is the most reliable way to boost body Glutathione levels.

Nutritional status is only half the story if you are being actively depleted of Glutathione. Eliminate all the Glutathione depleting pollutants you can identify and control. Safely remove mercury dental fillings with a mercury savvy dentist who uses a properly installed rubber dam, air respirator for you, and air scavenging system to protect everyone else in his dental office. Discontinue the use of acetaminophen, and aspartame which also consume Glutathione and stress the liver. Stay away from smokers and alcohol. Consider getting an activated charcoal filter for your drinking and cooking water, and metal-free glass cookware.

To boost Glutathione and supporting antioxidant nutrient levels, we propose our Defense & Replenish, and Glutathione Precursors products as Glutathione boosting nutritional strateges.

We are confident that for people with dental mercury caused illness -- a more normal health and energy can be restored over time, if all of the root issues are properly addressed.

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