“Mercury accumulation in brain, kidney, liver and heart following insertion of amalgam in the teeth of guinea-pigs has been studied. During the accelerated wear of the amalgam in these gnawing animals, a significant mercury accumulation in the above tissues was demonstrated. Finely diffused and abraded amalgam must not be ignored as a source of absorbable mercury.”
“Samples from the central nervous system (occipital lobe cortex, cerebellar cortex and ganglia semilunare) and kidney cortex were collected from autopsies and analysed for total mercury content using neutron activation analyses. Results from 34 individuals showed a statistically significant regression between the number of tooth surfaces containing amalgam and concentration of mercury in the occipital lobe cortex (mean 10.9, range 2.4-28.7 ng Hg/g wet weight). The regression equation y = 7.2 + 0.24x has a 95% confidence interval for the regression coefficient of 0.11-0.37. In 9 cases with suspected alcohol abuse mercury levels in the occipital lobe were, in most cases, somewhat lower than expected based on the regression line. The observations may be explained by an inhibition of oxidation of mercury vapour. The regression between amalgams and mercury levels remained after exclusion of these cases. The kidney cortex from 7 amalgam carriers (mean 433, range 48-810 ng Hg/g wet weight) showed on average a significantly higher mercury level than those of 5 amalgam-free individuals (mean 49, range 21-105 ng Hg/g wet weight). In 6 cases analysis of both inorganic and total mercury was carried out. A high proportion (mean 77% SD 17%) of inorganic mercury was found. It is concluded that the cause of the association between amalgam load and accumulation of mercury in tissues is the release of mercury vapour from amalgam fillings.”
“In 52 patients with oral lichen planus topographically related to amalgam restorations, the fillings were replaced by other materials in 18, 16 of whom experienced complete remission of the lesions within 1-12 months. These results are discussed in relation to the results of epicutaneous patch tests for possible allergy to a number of mercury compounds. The term ‘oral lichenoid reaction’, is suggested to describe these lesions.”
“The occurrence of multiple sclerosis in clustered groups of cases that are often related to others in time and place has been observed on several occasions in the last 50 years. Selected clusters are here reviewed in relation to suspected sources of heavy metal (mercury, lead) poisoning as background for the analysis of the 1983-1985 ‘outbreak’ of 30-40 cases of multiple sclerosis in Key West, Florida. Evidence is presented that the time-place clustering resulted from environmental pollution stemming from a nearby dump pile of rocky debris. The probable mechanism is discussed.”
“Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been used to determine the concentrations of 16 elements in selected brain regions and separated gray- and white-matter specimens from histologically verified Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and age-matched control patients. Significantly different (p less than 0.05) mean concentrations of Br, Cl, Cs, Hg, N, Na, P, and Rb were observed in AD bulk brain samples compared to controls, while no significant differences were observed for Ag, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Sb, Sc, and Se. The differences that are most persistent and largest in magnitude for the pooled bulk samples, males and females, left and right hemispheres, and separated gray and white matter are the elevation of Br and Hg and the depletion of Rb in AD compared to controls. Significant interelement correlations for the latter elements in both AD and control brains are also documented. Based on these studies, the possibility of an etiological role for trace elements in AD clearly deserves further investigation.”
“An evaluation of the data on the exposure of individuals with amalgam restorations results in the current conclusion that these levels are within the limiting values for mercury and should not present health hazard except to those individuals who have an allergic response to mercury.”
“It is generally accepted that Selenium (Se) is necessary for optimum performance of the immune system. Selenium deficiency results in immune suppression but little is known concerning the effect of excess Se on immune function. Recent evidence suggests that oral Se supplementation may impede oncongenesis, but the mechanism of this action is currently unknown. Conversely, under certain conditions, Se is suspected of promoting neoplasia.”
“In conclusion, we think it unlikely that the sources of error mentioned above or factors known to be related to glioblastoma explain the observed excess risk. Most probably the origin is some occupational factor common to dentists and dental nurses–for example, amalgam, chloroform, or radiography.”
“We all have Candida albicans in our intestinal tracts, yet only some of us develop an illness associated with it. The illness has been termed candidiasis, candidosis, Candida albicans hypersensitivity, yeast hypersensitivity, yeast hypersensitivity syndrome, etc., etc., The illness could also be termed immunological/biochemical dysper-ception, since the yeast itself is not the problem any more than ragweed is the problem in hayfever. The patient immunologically and biochemically views both substances in a distorted manner and reacts inappropriately. “Yeast hypersensitivity” should be viewed as a symptom of immune/biochemical dysfunction, not as a disease.”
“Estimated release rates of Hg vapor from dental amalgams permitted calculation of the potential Hg body burden by employing a four-compartment model for inorganic and elemental Hg distribution. A computer program, compatible with most personal computers, simulated the cumulative and incremental distribution in each compartment and total body accumulation between 1 and 10,000 days for different daily Hg dosages. For a given Hg dose of 30 micrograms/day, metabolic compartments R1-R3 were close to equilibrium at 5, 100, and 300 days, respectively; whereas by 10,000 days, R4 closely approximated total body burden and had not yet attained equilibrium. Projected values obtained with the computer model were consistent with results obtained by another method using a standard tissue burden equation, which employed experimentally determined tissue half-lives for blood and CNS. The model predicted that continuous exposure to elemental Hg vapor, at 30 micrograms/day for 10 years, would result in a total Hg body burden of 5.9 mg, of which 4.8 mg could be contained in R4. Assuming that the Hg in R4 displayed uniform distribution throughout the body, then the brain concentration was estimated to be 68 ng/g wet weight. In contrast, if Hg in R4 reflected long-term preferential accumulation in brain and other neural tissue, then concentrations as high as 4.0 micrograms/g could be attained. However, predictions of Hg concentrations in blood and urine were well within established ranges, and were unlikely to be of utility in assessing effects of chronic low-dose Hg exposure.”(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)