Mercury Amalgam Bill Toughest In Nation

Augusta. On August 23, Maine’s Governor Angus King intends to sign an historic bill requiring disclosure of the risks of the most common dental filling, amalgam. The filling has become increasingly controversial because 50% of it is composed of the neuro-toxin mercury. Expected to attend the event, to be held at the State House in Augusta at 11 o’clock, will be doctors, dentists, and representatives of numerous consumer, environmental, and health groups.

Originally the bill called for a ban on mercury fillings for children under 8 and women of childbearing age [especially pregnant and nursing women] – a step consistent with recent studies, the position of Health Canada, and even contraindication warnings from amalgam manufacturers themselves. After a great deal of opposition from the American Dental Association (ADA), the legislature failed to protect the most sensitive population, and the environment, with a ban. The ADA is the sole health group still supporting the use of mercury in health products – and is the only health professional society that takes money from the manufacturers of mercury products.

As a compromise, the Legislature adopted informed consent. Maine thus joins California and Arizona in requiring disclosure – but the informed consent provisions mark Maine’s law as the toughest in the country to date.

“While this is an excellent first step toward protecting citizens and the environment from the hazards of mercury amalgams, we need a more comprehensive approach,” claimed Pam Anderson of Houlton (Maine), a proponent of the original bill requiring elimination of mercury amalgams for the sensitive population. “We can’t keep taking chances with our children’s minds.”

Mercury has long been known to cause a great many health problems among them neurological [acute and chronic and reproductive. It may also affect the immune system. According to many doctors and dentists, the release of mercury vapor in the mouth creates high enough levels of mercury in the body to be of health concern, especially to a fetus. Mercury vapor crosses the placenta and, due to the vulnerability of the developing fetus, can cause a multitude of health problems for the child.

Just last year the National Academy of Sciences [NAS] determined that mercury is far more detrimental than previously thought. The NAS determined that over 60,000 babies born every year could be negatively affected by mercury.

This year a survey was released by the Center for Disease Control [CDC] that stated that 10% of the population, and possibly higher, have blood levels of mercury that are dangerous. These findings amount to an estimated 375,000 babies a year at-risk for neurological and possibly other damage.

Mercury has been implicated in Alzheimer’s as well. In a recent study from Canada, blood mercury levels in Alzheimer patients were found to be 2 fold higher and as much as 3 fold higher in those with early onset of the disease.

Furthermore, mercury polluting our waters contaminates fish to the levels that No Fish Consumption advisories for the sensitive population [pregnant and nursing women, women soon to be pregnant and children under 8] are now in effect for virtually all fish caught in Maine’s waters.

“We’re playing roulette with everyone from our youngest citizens to our oldest,” stated Kathleen McGee, Director of the Maine Toxics Action Coalition, “This first step will help educate consumers, but it is our duty to protect public health when we know of these kinds of hazards. The state needs to be more proactive to protect especially our children.”

Of the over 200 tons of mercury released by industry into our environment each year, 40-60 tons is from the dental industry. Much of that is discharged directly into sewers from dental offices; even more is discharged through the excretion of urine and feces from individuals. This ends up in our waters and sediments. Many sewage treatment plants cannot meet EPA guidelines for mercury due to individual excretion of mercury alone. This is augmented further by cremation when amalgam fillings are present.

“There are a number of countries which apply the Precautionary Principle when it comes to mercury amalgam fillings by banning their use in the sensitive population, ,” stated Michael Bender of the Mercury Policy Project, “We should be erring on the side of safety by protecting women and children and the environment and eliminate the use of mercury amalgams in this country as well.”

The average amalgam filling [which is 50% mercury] contains more than ½ gram of mercury. Because of the extreme toxicity of mercury, it only takes ½ gram to contaminate a 10-acre lake to the extent that fish consumption advisories would have to be issued. Multiply that by more than 100 million fillings a year [in U.S. alone] and that gives you an idea of the magnitude of the problem.

Dentists will be required to publicly post a sign stating the hazards of mercury in teeth as well as hand out a brochure to every patient requiring fillings. As instructed by the legislature, the brochure and poster will be developed by the Bureau of Health [who opposed the bill] along with other interested parties. The brochure is meant to carry warnings concerning mercury exposure to human health and the environment.

A 1992 California law required the dental board to formulate a fact sheet on the risks of mercury amalgam and other fillings. The Board – dominated by dentists – continued to ignore the law, until a petition by consumer groups and insistence by the Davis Administration led to Board promises of action. But the Board again balked, missing a legislative deadline to complete its work by June 30, 2001. The Legislature appears primed to shut down the Board. The Assembly voted 66 to 8 to do just that, and the Senate takes up the issue when it returns from recess on August 20.

The American Dental Association continues to threaten dentists who inform their patients of the possible dangers of mercury fillings. Indeed, the ADA has a “gag rule” aimed at limiting dentists from issuing warnings about the adverse health effects of mercury amalgam. Consumers and “mercury-free” dentists filed a federal lawsuit in Maryland on May 8 trying to stop ADA-dominated state dental boards from enforcing the gag rule.

“Consumers have a right to know how dangerous mercury amalgams are,” said Charlie Brown of Consumers for Dental Choice, “While informed consent is a good start, we would be derelict in our duties if we did not continue to keep fighting for the health of our kids [and the environment] by requiring a ban on future use of this toxic substance.”

Lydia Bronte, Ph.D., author of THE MERCURY IN YOUR MOUTH: The Truth About "Silver" Dental Fillings," will give an overview of the risks of mercury amalgam to patients, focusing on the vulnerable categories of children, pregnant women, and people with kidney problems, braces, or genetic sensitivities.

--30--