Mercury is a real mouthful
By Pamela J. Anderson

Let me begin by expressing my gratitude to Maine
Senate President Michael Michaud, Sen. John Martin and Reps. Steve Stanley
and Roger Sherman for their courage and leadership in sponsoring LD 1409,
understanding the importance of addressing the health effects of mercury
fillings.  In this day and age it is still hard to fathom the injustice and
negligence of the population and environment because of the fact that most
people in our state and nation are still being exposed to mercury
unknowingly through their mercury dental fillings. The position that most
dentists still using mercury fillings will take is that the same elemental
mercury that we are banning in fever thermometers and fluorescent light
bulbs is somehow safe when placed in the mouth.  The Legislature's Natural
Re-sources Committee has worked hard to protect Maine's natural resources,
but I ask them to contemplate the value of human beings as a natural
resource. If we are to consider the elemental mercury in fever thermometers
to be poisonous enough to ban them, is it not the same elemental mercury
that makes up 50 percent of the mercury filling?  In amending the law to
address the health effects of mercury fillings it is important to
understand that most vulnerable are our children and pregnant women. The
brain of a child is undergoing rapid growth and development and since
dentistry admits that mercury vapor leaks from mercury fillings, all
children, and pregnant women in the state should be protected from this
toxic exposure.  The health of the environment is affected greatly by the
continuous leakage of mercury into wastewater treatment facilities through
dental offices, and by the mercury content of the feces and urine of
individuals with these so-called silver fillings. There is also concern
over the cremation of bodies with mercury fillings and their impact on
health and the environment.  With evidence mounting and new studies
connecting mercury fillings to various health problems it is time to
implement the "precautionary principle" when it comes to this issue. The
precautionary principle has been defined as "when an activity raises
threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures
should be taken even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not fully
established scientifically."  This principle includes taking action in the
face of uncertainty, shifting burdens of proof to those who create risks,
analysis of alternatives to potentially harmful activities and
participatory decision-making methods.  I am serving on the committee that
is working with dentists to design a pollution prevention plan and to
implement source reduction for use of mercury in dentistry. The main focus
of the group is to prepare a report due July 15, 2002.  I urge the members
of the Natural Resources Committee to help our cause for source reduction
by amending the law and address the health effects of the most toxic poison
known to human health and the environment. By listing mercury dental
fillings as mercury-added product, by fully educating the public of the
content of the mercury in the filling and by phasing out the use of this
material due to the potential health and environmental concerns, they will
be greatly aiding our cause.  I am asking the committee not to lose
precious time by waiting for the report, but to consider an immediate ban
of the use of mercury fillings in pregnant women and children.  With its
amending of the laws to address the health effects of mercury fillings, the
committee will aid in erasing a dark legacy for this controversial,
unsightly and highly toxic material used for filling teeth.  Dentistry's
acceptance of the fact that it is time and that it is willing to address
this issue is our best chance to protect the health of humans and our
environment, and to promote a bright and healthy future.  Pamela J.
Anderson lives in Houlton.
**************************************************************

Home Editorials
Rising mercury
Despite protests from the American Dental Association, any country that
seriously discusses doing away with mercury thermometers because of their
potential impact on health cannot be long from restricting the use of
mercury dental fillings. Congress will soon work on the question while
Maine reviews LD 1409, a concept bill that seeks to examine the long-term
effects of these fillings and the steps the state should take to protect
residents and the environment.  For one expert who testified last week,
the answers are clear. Dr. Boyd Haley, chairman of the Department of
Chemistry at the University of Kentucky, concludes that normal body loads of
mercury in older {*filter*}s produce two diagnostic hallmarks for Alzheimer's
disease.
Further, he says, in a test for mercury in the {*filter*} and urine of more
than 1,000 U.S. soldiers, the vast majority, more than 87 percent, was
traced
to dental amalgams. Further still, the primary source of mercury in
wastewater treatment plants came through feces and urine of people with
these
fillings. That is, he and other reputable scientists are identifying
dental amalgams as a major source of this toxin in humans and in the
environment.
The ADA will have none of this. It says 150 years of dentistry show that
the amalgams are not a problem, as evidenced by the dentists themselves
who spend a career around these products. Individual dentists in Maine,
however, sometimes tell a different story. They note that the
alternatives to the mercury amalgams are more expensive but that they are
safer for
their patients, themselves and their staff, and for the environment. The
Legislature's job in this case is not to start an argument among dentists
but to look at the relative risk of mercury to the public and the level
of importance of dental amalgams in contributing to that risk.  Mercury can
be toxic to the nervous system. U.S. dentists, according to the U.S.
Geological Survey, annually use a total of be-tween 40 and 60 metric tons
of mercury in their practices but other sources have attracted the
attention of regulators. Bills in Congress would more tightly regulate
mercury emissions from power plants and incinerators, would reduce
mercury in light bulbs and eliminate it in thermometers, switches and other
household products. Rep. Tom Allen, who has followed the mercury issue
closely, will reintroduce a mercury-reduction bill after the
congressional break that for the first time encourages states, communities,
dentists
and dental associations to work toward eliminating the mercury filling.  The
potential for environmental damage alone would make mercury from dental
offices endangered. A fair review of the studies of its human health
effects by the Bureau of Health would take only several months. If the
work by the bureau turns out as scientists like Dr. Haley suspect it will,
lawmakers should begin a reduction and phase-out of this type of dental
fillings.  

No Steve sorry I don't. I am on a mercury fillings list and did receive an
e-mail from one who was at the meeting yesterday. She didn't get home until
2:00 AM, and said to stay tuned. She is swamped with e-mails just now, but I
will see if I can find out.

Jan

 dateret 25 Apr, forfattede Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS:

This is as close as it gets, afaik:

http://www.***.com/

[Please trim your follow-ups, there are still people out there paying
for their dial-up connections]

--
Alex Bach Andersen, {*filter*} conductor UIN: 8285066
NodeSats/MusicTypesetting - Acorn RISC PC 600 - StrongARMed
Copenhagen, Denmark http://www.***.com/ ~alexbach/
... Let's organize this thing and take all the fun out of it.

Thanks, Alex!

Steve

the mercury bill which had hearings this afternoon (not sure what the result
is) is based on environmental issues and not on dental health issues.  Maine is
very strict on clean water and the bill is designed to ban or reduce mercury in
fillings as a way to reduce mercury contamination of waste water.

what a joke!  Maine has not raised in any meaningful way Medicaid reimbur{*filter*}t
rates but once in 20 years.  They still reimburse at less than 50% of usual and
customary and they are complaining all the time that poor people can't get
dental services.  if they severely restrict mercury amalgam, they will see
dental services for the poor go from hard to find to "fa get about it".

Maine like many government institutions will think that reducing mercury is a
great idea but won't want to fund the replacement materials.  In other words,
they don't want to put their money where their mouths are.

we don't have anywhere near enough dentists in Maine and this is going to make
it tougher for the poor to gain access to care.

before you come down too {*filter*} me about the poor and mercury amalgams, one of
my general dental colleagues just returned from Germany where he attended the
Collogne International Dental Convention (sic).  He was asking about the use of
amalgam in Germany.  was it still in use, etc.  he was told that if you were on
a state card, you received mercury amalgam fillings and everyone else who paid
privately could upgrade to something else id they wanted to pay the difference.

Charlie Ruff, DMD
Specialist in Orthodontics
Diplomate American Board of Orthodontics

Where did you get this information? The hearing was working for banning of
mercury amalgams.

Here is the News Release:

NEWS RELEASE

Brockovitch Attorney Announces Massive Class Action Lawsuit Against Dentists

Maine Decides Today Whether To Ban the Use of "Silver Fillings"

April 25, 2001
For Immediate Release

One day after a News Conference in Washington D.C., where a massive class
action lawsuit against dentists in the U.S. was announced, hearings are taking
place in Maine to decide as to whether or not to ban the use of mercury dental
fillings in that state.

States Alan Sigel, the attorney who gained national notoriety for his role in
the 'Erin Brockovitch case, " Our lawsuit could change the face of dentistry in
America. There is absolutely no reason that this poison should be used in
peoples mouths. I applaud the efforts in Maine to ban the use of mercury.
Mercury is poisoning our environment and our citizens."

A news article in the April 20 edition of the Globe and Mail, Canada's national
newspaper,  stated that,  "dentists could be responsible for as much as 80% of
the mercury in sewage."

Two individual recent scientific studies conducted by the University of
Kentucky and the University of Calgary tied mercury poisoning to Alzheimer's
Disease.

The Class Action lawsuit announced by Mr. Sigel, will have far reaching impact.
Many more suits are expected to follow.

-30-

Media Inquiries:
Wayne Obie
Media & Public Relations
Talk International
for American against Mercury
1 (800) 540-0192

Oh but if mercury amalgams are banned it will force insurance companys to cover
composites. Don't make this a money issue. The issue is that mercury is highly
toxic and should not be used in the mouth.

Jan

I received my info from the dental associations legislative coordinator.  he
said it was not to ban amalgams by any means but to limit them in certain
people and the limitations will be that we need to provide informed consent to
preggies, and those immunocompromised and to kids before we do them.  we have
to place signs in our offices saying the merucry something or other.

those of you who think this is about banning amalgams are out of luck.  Maine
can't afford to ban amalgams.  we have the highest combined personal, property
and local taxes in the country.  and we still can't afford to provide for the
poor.  ban amalgams and NH better be ready to treat out medicaid cases

Charlie Ruff, DMD
Specialist in Orthodontics
Diplomate American Board of Orthodontics

immunocompromised and to kids before we do them.  we have

I believe he is wrong, maybe that is what he wishes it were. From all I have
read it is to complete ban maalgams. I don't think this will pass the first
time, but in the future. I predict this bill will have a partial band.

Something or other? Couldn't bring yourself to say it? It will say there is a
risk to use mercury amalgams in the mouth.

Jan

 dateret 27 Apr, forfattede Orthodmd:

[snip]

Does this mean that fillings are free in the US? Overhere we pay
partially for dentalwork after leaving school. Unfortunately I had all
my 19 amalgams as a kid, and now I pay huge ammounts to get rid of them
again.

--
Alex Bach Andersen, {*filter*} conductor UIN: 8285066
NodeSats/MusicTypesetting - Acorn RISC PC 600 - StrongARMed
Copenhagen, Denmark http://www.***.com/ ~alexbach/
... File not found. I'll load something *I* think is interesting.

I may be wrong, after all I only live in the state, receive mailings and phone
calls from the dental scoiety asking me to contact my legislator, am a very
active member in dental politics. Need I go on?

Charlie Ruff, DMD
Specialist in Orthodontics
Diplomate American Board of Orthodontics