From Teresa Binstock
 
"In the UK dental amalgam and mercury from laboratory and medical devices,
account for about 53 percent of total mercury emissions and annually 7.41
tonnes of mercury from amalgam are discharged to the sewer, atmosphere or
land."

Comment: the original mercury/autism paper delineated the *many*
pathologies associated with mercury. The ongoing insistence upon the use
of amalgams suggests avarice - not merely from production of amalgam but
more importantly from sales of pharmaceuticals needed for amalgam-induced
illnesses.

Teresa

- - - -

EU faces pressure to ban mercury from dentistry

Last Updated: 2007-07-25 10:23:03 -0400 (Reuters Health)

By Anna Stablum
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2007/07/25/eline/links/20070725elin008.
html

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Mercury is a known toxin that can damage the
nervous system, so why is it still being used to fill cavities in peoples'
teeth?

The European Union is grappling with this issue as it faces pressure to
ban mercury-bearing "amalgams" that some patients' organisations say are
dangerous, and counter arguments from dentists and some governments, who
say the material is safer and more durable than alternatives.

The EU has commissioned two working groups to report back by year's end,
one on mercury's effects on the environment and the other on the link
between amalgams and human health.

The debate gives rise to strong emotions, particularly from anyone who has
suffered from mercury poisoning.

"I was off work for 18 months and had a telephone directory of symptoms,"
said UK coordinator Michele Payne of the worldwide organisation D.A.M.S.
(Dental Amalgam Mercury Syndrome).

Mercury, which accounts for 50 percent of an amalgam filling, cannot be
degraded and persists in soil, water and living organisms and while high
doses can be fatal, relatively low doses have been linked to adverse
neuro-development impacts.

Most countries advise against use of amalgam for children and pregnant
women due to its negative effects on brain development, but patient
organisations believe the rest of the population, carrying an average of
2.5 grams in their mouths, is also at risk.

The amount may seem small, but it works out to 1,225 tonnes of mercury in
the mouths of the population of Europe.

"At least one percent of those who have dental amalgam could be affected
by mercury," university teacher Servando Perez Dominguez of the Spanish
patient organisation Mercuriados said.

One percent account for some 4.9 million Europeans.

"There are other alternatives that are safer ... we try to tell people and
even politicians as in the end it will be a political decision," Perez
Dominguez said.

The list of effects from mercury poisoning goes from mild tremors due to
neurological damage and kidney problems to autism and even Alzheimer's
disease, according to advocates for a European ban.

EVIDENCE QUESTIONED

Others say studies pointing to these symptoms are flawed.

"There is no evidence that amalgam fillings cause anybody any sort of
illness or unwellness, unless you are truly allergic to the materials in
the amalgam fillings in which case removal of the fillings will cure the
symptoms," said Susie Sanderson, chairperson of the British Dental
Association.

Together with the Brussels-based Council of European Dentists, the
association opposes a phase out or ban of amalgam.

"It is important we have different materials for patients with different
needs," Mark Beamish, the council's EU affairs officer, said, adding that
some people were allergic to alternative materials such as composites and
plastics.

The use of amalgam has declined in most European countries as more people
opt for aesthetic white composite fillings and in many countries dental
hygiene overall has improved, resulting in fewer cavities.

"But there are other countries like Poland, Hungary and the Baltic states,
where caries are comparatively high with a factor of three or four or even
higher," Professor Gottfried Schmalz at the German University of
Regensburg, said.

CHEAP FILLINGS

In many countries, such as the Netherlands, many patients opt for cheap
amalgam fillings, costing around two thirds of alternative fillings.
Similarly, where dentists work in a national health system, such as in the
United Kingdom, critics say amalgam is put in by default to save
government money.

"Restrictions on the use of amalgam would damage the financial stability
of health systems as well as impact on individual patients' ability to
afford dental care," a paper from the European Dental Association said in
May 2007.

In 1999 the Swedish Parliament decided no financial support should be
given for amalgam fillings via the national dental insurance system and by
2003, the share of amalgam was some 6 percent of all filling material at
around 100 kilogram.

"In Sweden we have said amalgam should not be used because of
environmental reasons," dentist Nils Rene at Sweden's National Board of
Health and Welfare said.

Amalgam waste is the biggest source of mercury in EU waste water and
dental use also leads to the widespread dispersal of mercury into the
atmosphere from cremation.

In the UK dental amalgam and mercury from laboratory and medical devices,
account for about 53 percent of total mercury emissions and annually 7.41
tonnes of mercury from amalgam are discharged to the sewer, atmosphere or
land.

Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.