Reduced Levels of Mercury in First Baby Haircuts of Autistic Children

Categories: Mercury Toxicity, ResearchAuthor: kkraterman

The mothers in the autistic group had significantly higher levels of mercury exposure through Rho D immunoglobulin injections and amalgam fillings than control mothers. Within the autistic group, hair mercury levels varied significantly across mildly, moderately, and severely autistic children, with mean group levels of 0.79, 0.46, and 0.21 ppm, respectively. Hair mercury levels among controls were significantly correlated with the number of the mothers’ amalgam fillings and their fish consumption as well as exposure to mercury through childhood vaccines, correlations that were absent in the autistic group. Hair excretion patterns among autistic infants were significantly reduced relative to control. These data cast doubt on the efficacy of traditional hair analysis as a measure of total mercury exposure in a subset of the population. In light of the biological plausibility of mercury’s role in neurodevelopmental disorders, the present study provides further insight into one possible mechanism by which early mercury exposures could increase the risk of autism. (Indicates more mercury went in then went out in autistic children) http://www.healing-arts.org/children/metal-metabolism.htm  

Holmes AS, Blaxill MF, Haley BE. Int J Toxicol. 2003 Jul-Aug; 22(4):277-85. 12933322 PubMed.

The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry Makes Progress at the Mercury Treaty Negotiations

Categories: Articles, Dr. Marvin's Blog, encinitas dentist, Hot Topics, Mercury Amalgam Fillings Research, Mercury Toxicity, News, ResearchAuthor: Dr. Marvin

Below is a recent email from World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, Charlie Brown and World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry are making great strides and going to extreme lengths to help bring greater awareness to to mercury amalgam problem and the bring an end to it’s use in dentistry.

Please read the following article for information on their latest progress.

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Round two of the mercury treaty negotiations, held in Chiba Japan, was a success. Our umbrella coalition, the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry – “the voice of dental patients worldwide” – effectively countered the pro-mercury World Dental Federation (known under its French initials FDI), a lobby group funded by amalgam manufacturers. You can view photos from the negotiations online.*

We could not have done it without our sensational team – a depth of talent from five continents, including Dominique Bally of Cote d’Ivoire, Dr. Lillian Lasaten-Ebuen of the Philippines, Dr. Naji Kodeih of Lebanon, Dr. Graeme Munro-Hall of Great Britain, Juliet Pratt of New Zealand, Dr. Dave Simone of the United States, Anita Vazquez Tibau of the United States, and yours truly. Each spoke publicly on your behalf during the negotiations; each educated delegates at our booth and at meetings; each worked with United Nations Environmental Programme officials to develop strategies for stopping mercury fillings. We reached out to government officials from around the world, armed with diverse backgrounds ranging from injured consumers to dentists to environmentalists and multilingual talents spanning from Spanish to Tagalog to Arabic to Portuguese to French (not counting my fractured French, which is amusing to all except those who really speak French). And we achieved several major milestones:

Our meeting kicked off with the announcement that the World Health Organization has withdrawn the biased paper that the American Dental Association so heavily cited as “reinforc[ing] dental amalgam as a safe and effective restorative material.”** The alleged WHO report had been passed off as the conclusions of the team of scientists, environmentalists, and dentists who met in November 2009 to discuss the future of amalgam. We exposed the paper as nothing more than a propaganda piece slapped together by a rogue dentist inside WHO who failed even to consult the other meeting participants before signing their names to his paper (needless to say they were furious; they did not remember ever declaring amalgam safe). Then, we organized the worldwide condemnation of this paper that led to its hurried retraction. You can learn how we accomplished this feat step-by-step by watching this video interview, courtesy of filmmaker Kelly Gallagher.***

Because of our work, the first draft of the treaty lists amalgam as one of only five mercury products to be phased out. While the war is not won, we did succeed in keeping it on the list for now.

Thanks to the efforts of our regional vice presidents Dr. Naji Kodeih and Dominique Bally, both the Arab League and the African region announced that they support the phase-out of amalgam and the promotion of alternatives.

We gained a valuable new ally dedicated to ending dental mercury: Health Care Without Harm. We congratulate Health Care Without Harm for convincing the Mexico City Health Secretariat to deauthorize the purchase of amalgam in the city’s hospitals and obtaining a discussion paper from Argentina calling for a phase down of amalgam and use of alternatives.

The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry welcomes Dr. Lillian Lasaten-Ebuen as our new Vice President for East Asia. She joins Anita, Dominique, Juliet, Naji, and Marie Grosman of France as a regional leader at the treaty negotiations. Servando Perez of Spain remains our First Vice President, Elisabet Carlsson of Sweden is our senior advisor, and Francesca Romana Orlando of Italy is our director of development.
But the bottom line: The delegates made no major decisions in this early round, not on amalgam, not on anything. Thus how amalgam will ultimately be addressed in this treaty will not be determined until the third negotiating session, to be held in an African city in October. Until all the nations re-convene for negotiations, our World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry will be active in each region of the world. I will provide details as they emerge.

– Charlie

Charles G. Brown
President, World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry
National Counsel, Consumers for Dental Choice
15 February 2011

* links also available at http://toxicteeth.org/World-Mercury-Treaty-Gallery-2/

** link also available at http://www.ada.org/news/5082.aspx

*** link also available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGwHUSap5tg

ADA Does Support Mercury-Safe Dentistry

Categories: Mercury Amalgam Fillings Research, ResearchAuthor: admin

The ADA actually supports Mercury-Safe Dentistry, it just uses a different name. The ADA calls it The ADA’s ‘Dental Mercury Hygiene Recommendations’. The ADA lists a number of sources of mercury exposure at the dental office, including polishing and removing amalgam. It also recommends that all personnel involved in the handling of mercury and dental amalgam be trained in the potential hazards of mercury vapor and the necessity of observing good mercury hygiene. Although limited in scope, the ADA does promote mercury safe dentistry. So while it still may vehemently defend the use of amalgam, it encourages dentists to be mercury-safe. Not only does the ADA encourage dentists to be mercury-safe, it also shows that the ADA does not believe that the elemental mercury used in amalgams is somehow safer than elemental mercury used in other products and equipment.

The ADA’s Dental Mercury Hygiene Recommendations were published in: J AM Dent Assoc, Vol 134, No.11, 1498-1499; © 2003, American Dental Association. You can access the article online at http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/full/134/11/1498.

Charlie Brown speaks out against dental mercury in California

Categories: Articles, Dr. Marvin's Blog, encinitas dentist, General Dentistry, Hot Topics, Mercury Toxicity, NewsAuthor: Dr. Marvin

Let The FDA Know How Your Feel About Mercury!

Categories: Dr. Marvin's Blog, encinitas dentist, Holistic Dentistry, Hot Topics, Mercury Toxicity, NewsAuthor: admin

Back in June of this year, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made an historic decision regarding the classification of Mercury Amalgam fillings when it effectively put on hold its rule declaring mercury-containing dental fillings to be safe for the entire population. In response to several “petitions to reconsider,” including one filed by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), the FDA agreed to grant said petitions and reconsider the classification.

A spokesman for the FDA, noting that it is exceedingly rare for such petitions to be granted, made it clear why the FDA is taking this action:  “You confronted us based on the science,” he said, particularly on issues of risk assessment for mercury exposure from dental amalgam. The meaning? Evidence that was not originally taken into consideration has swayed the FDA enough to believe that a reconsideration is in order. Now, we need to take the next step.

Now We Need Your Help!

The FDA is holding hearings to review the safety of dental amalgam on December 14-15, 2010.  Currently, the FDA rule on dental amalgam acknowledges that “The developing neurological systems in fetuses and young children may be more sensitive to the neurotoxic effects of mercury vapor,” but inexplicably still says that it is safe to expose even these vulnerable populations to mercury – a know neurotoxin and reproductive toxin.

The FDA is now accepting comments from the public in preparation for the hearings, but the December 3 deadline is fast approaching.  With the American Dental Association telling the FDA that amalgam is both safe and necessary, it is more important than ever that every concerned citizen speak up now, while we have the chance.

Please, help us overturn the decision by the FDA and properly classify mercury-amalgam fillings. Your opinion and comments WILL be heard by the FDA!

Here’s how you can make a difference:

1. Post a comment on this blog post and we will submit your comments to the FDA before the December 3rd deadline.
2. Or, BETTER, tell the FDA directly by going to http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment?R=0900006480b04c4f to submit a written comment.

What should you say? Explain how you were injured by amalgam, the dangers of mercury in the workplace, how you do not want your children exposed to mercury, how you did not know that your “silver fillings” contained mercury, and how you benefited from mercury-free dentistry… anything that you feel about mercury in fillings and in dentistry based on your knowledge and/or personal experiences.

This is an historic hour… one in which we can help rewrite our future. Don’t let it pass you by….

Thanks.
Dr. Marvin