Scientific Facts about Mercury and Amalgam
see also the 'Fast Facts about Mercury'
The dangers are well known.
Even the manufacturers list the dangers of mercury from amalgam.
It is time to become informed.
for a detailed discussion and references
go to Robert Gammal's Home Page
A quick thought For Dentists & Dental Personnel
Is your dental association protecting you or poisoning you?
If you work in the dental profession this movie is critically important for you.
Not only will you understand
the ramifications of poisoning the patients but
you will be shocked
at the effects mercury has on dental personnel.
Why do you think we are all as mad as hatters?
Have you really been told the truth
about the dangers of working with mercury?
Do you know how much you inhale when an amalgam filling
is being cut?
'Mercury Hygiene' as taught in dental schools dramatically belittles the real dangers.
Dental amalgam constitutes the greatest source of mercury for the general population - up to ten times more than all other sources combined. - WHO 1991 Criteria 118 & 2003
Mercury is the component, which makes amalgam a 'toxic waste' everywhere, except in a living mouth
The safety margin that it was thought
existed in regard to mercury from amalgam
has been erased (Swedish
Govt Report 2003)
The No Observable Effects Level (NOEL) for Mercury is ZERO
Below is a 'condensed' list of effects caused by mercury from amalgam;
80% of inhaled mercury vapour is
absorbed through the lungs
and distributed throughout the body
Mercury from amalgam is absorbed
into the body
at a rate of 1 - 27 mcg per day
Mercury is the third most toxic substance known to man after lead and arsenic
Mercury constitutes about 50% of
amalgam fillings 
Mercury is released continuously form set amalgam for the life of the filling
Mercury causes single strand breaks in DNA
Mercury is Mutagenic
Mercury causes a reduction in immune function
Mercury binds to proteins in the body and begins a chain of autoimmune disease
Mercury from amalgam crosses the
placenta and breast milk 
Mercury enters the fetus and new born child from the mother's amalgam fillings
Mercury levels in the fetus are directly related to the number of amalgam fillings in the mother's mouth
Mercury from amalgam causes a reduction in Kidney filtration function
Mercury from amalgam causes kidney disease and other kidney dysfunction
Mercury from amalgam can have a devastating effect on cardiac function
Mercury from amalgam spreads to every cell in the body
Mercury from amalgam concentrates in the Central Nervous System
The brain accumulates about 10 times
more mercury after exposure to mercury vapour,
compared to equal amounts of mercuric ions being injected or ingested 
Mercury does bypass the blood brain barrier and enter motor neurons
Mercury from amalgam has been directly related to many neurologic disease including motor neurone disease, MS, Parkinson's and glioblastomas
Mercury has been definitively shown
to cause neurofibrilar tangles in nerve tissue
which is identical to Alzheimer's disease.
Lead, cadmium and Aluminium did not have this effect.
Mercury is transported along nerve fibres at a rate of about 10mm per day
Mercury is also absorbed into the peripheral nerves
Mercury causes deficits in both cognitive and motor function tasks
Small amounts of Mercury from amalgam
can cause changes in the brain
that are identical to those
observed in Alzheimer's Disease Patients
Mercury is bound to haemoglobin in
the red blood cells and blocks
oxygen carrying capacity of the blood
Mercury causes changes in the numbers of white blood cells
Mercury is related to increased blood cholesterol levels
Mercury interferes with female and male reproduction
Mercury can cause infertility, miscarriage and still birth
Mercury in utero causes learning
deficits in children 
Mercury is converted to Methylmercury in the human body - this is the form of mercury we are warned about when eating fish
Mercury causes photophobia - bright light sensitivity
Mercury causes Acrodynia - Pink Disease
Mercury toxicity increases substantially when combined with other metals such as lead or Cadmium
Mercury has been associated with a range of respiratory problems including asthma
Mercury poisoning is associated with development of Autism
Mercury damages blood vessel walls
Mercury is strongly related to heart attacks
Mercury from amalgam causes an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the human gut
Mercury causes a change in the normal bacterial inhabitants in the gut
Micro-mercurialism means poisoning
from long term, low level mercury exposure
- precisely the type
of exposure to mercury that amalgam fillings provide.
Early
symptoms are usually sub-clinical (meaning that you would normally
not yet
show symptoms that you would consult a doctor about) and
neurological
(affecting the nervous system). These early
symptoms include;
Fatigue - physical and mental
Lack of initiative
Loss of short term memory
Lack of concentration
Poor to no decision making ability
Irrational obsession Compulsions
Timidity & lack of self confidence
Grave depression
Rapid mood changes,
Sudden anger
Unexplainable fear of death
Hallucinations
Shyness and timidity
Tendency to isolation
Suicidal
Dental Amalgam is treated as Toxic Waste everywhere,
except in a living human mouth.