Tandvardsskadeforbundet. (Swedish Association of Dental Mercury Patients). Den nya tandvarden - materialval och teknik. Information om dentala material och dess biverkningar fran Tandvardsskadeforbundet. 1994 (Booklet, in Swedish)

No abstract available

Taskinen H, Kinnunen E & Riihimäki V. A possible case of mercury-related toxicity resulting from the grinding of amalgam restorations. Scand J Work Environ Health 15:302-304 (1989)

Abstract: "The potential hazards of metallic mercury in dentistry are well recognized. The present report concerns a patient who experienced an uncommonly high mercury exposure and, possibly, mercury-related toxicity from vapor released during extensive grinding of old amalgam fillings."

Weiner JA & Nylander M. The relationship between mercury concentration in human organs and different predictor variables. Sci Total Environ 138(1-3):101-115 (1993)

Abstract: "Samples from different tissues were collected from autopsies of individuals of the general population of the Stockholm area, Sweden. The samples were analysed for total mercury content using radiochemical neutron activation analysis. Average concentrations of mercury in occipital cortex, abdominal muscle, pituitary gland and kidney cortex were, 10.6 (2.4-28.7), 3. (0.9-5.4), 25.0 (6.3-77) and 229 (21.1-810) micrograms/kg wet weight, respectively. Possible predictor variables for mercury concentrations were tested in multiple linear regression models. An effect of a number of tooth surfaces with amalgam was seen in occipital lobe cortex, abdominal muscle and pituitary gland, but not in kidney cortex. In occipital lobe cortex and abdominal muscle, concentrations of mercury increased with age. Explanations discussed include: that a significant fraction of the mercury retained from amalgam fillings has a very long biological half-life; a decreasing capacity of mercury excretion with age; or higher fish consumption in the older individuals. In kidney cortex mercury concentrations decreased with age. The reason for this remains unclear, but it might indicate a decreasing capacity of mercury excretion with age. Chronic alcohol abuse was associated with decreased concentrations of mercury in occipital cortex."

WHO Environmental Health Criteria 118. Inorganic Mercury. WHO Geneva 1991 ISBN 92 4 157118 7

No abstract available. Instead citations from the text follows: "In the 1940s, "pink disease" (acrodynia) was reported in children below 5 years of age as a result of the use of mercurous chloride in teething powder and oinments. Affected children became irritable and generally miserable and had difficulty in sleeping. Profuse sweating, photophobia, and generalized rash followed. The extremities became cold, painful, red, and swollen, and the skin desquamated. NEITHER the occurrence of this disease nor its severity was DOSE RELATED... After the withdrawal of teething powder preparations by the main United Kingdom manufacturers in 1953, there was a dramatic decline in the occurrence of pink disease... "

Vimy MJ, Takahashi Y & Lorscheider FL. Maternal-fetal distribution of mercury (203Hg) released from dental amalgam fillings. Am J Physiol 258:R939-R945 (1990)

Abstract: "In humans, the contiuous release of Hg vapor from dental amalgam tooth restorations is markedly increased for prolonged periods after chewing. The present study establishes a time-course distribution for amalgam Hg in body tissues of adult and fetal sheep. Under general anesthesia, five pregnant ewes had twelwe occlusal amalgam fillings containing radioactive 203 Hg placed in teeth at 112 days gestation. Blood, amniotic fluid, feces, and urine specimens were collected at 1- to 3-days intervals for 16 days. From days 16-140 after amalgam placement (16-41 days for fetal lambs), tissue were analyzed for radioactivity, and total Hg concentrations were calculated. Results demonstrate that Hg from dental amalgam will appear in maternal and fetal blood and amniotic fluid within 2 days after placement of amalgam tooth restorations. Excretion of some of this Hg will also commence within 2 days. All tissues examined displayed Hg accumulation. Highest concentrations of Hg from amalgam in the adult occurred in kidney and liver, whereas in the fetus the highest amalgam Hg concentrations appeared in liver and pituitary gland. The placenta progressively concentrated Hg as gestation advanced to term, and milk concentration of amalgam Hg postpartum provides a potential source of Hg exposure to the newborn. It is concluded that accunulation of amalgam Hg progresses in maternal and fetal tissues to a steady state with advancing gestation and is maintained. Dental amalgam usage as a tooth restorative material in women and children should be reconsidered."

von Mühlendahl KE. Intoxication from mercury spilled on carpets. Lancet p1578 (1990)

No abstract available. Quotes from the text follows: "... I describe chronic mercury intoxication in three children caused by a broken thermometer. A 33-month-old girl was admitted in May , 1988, for anorexia, weight loss, light sensitivity, and eczema, starting 4 months previously. She had widespread severely itching eczema and pink, sweating, and scaling palms. She was ill-tempered and preferred to lie in bed or be taken around in a small buggy. She was sensetive to light. Acrodynia was suspected, and raised mercury concentration was found in the urine. After 2 weeks of chelation therapy with DMPS (2,3-dimercaptopropan-1-sulphonate; "Dimaval" 30 mg twice daily ) the child's eczema and mood began to improve. After 4 months of therapy all symptoms had disappeared and mercury excretion was normal. The girl's 20-month-old sister had papulovesicular eczema with superinfections and severe prurigo which had started 6 weeks earlier; she had lately become anorexic. Her basal urine Hg excretion was low, but it increased after administration of DMPS. Symptoms started to disappear 2 weeks after the start of therapy, she was clinically normal 4 months later. The brother, aged 6 years 10 months, was the least severely affected of the three sibs. He had an itching exanthema and was thought to have been more nervous than usual. He had raised concentrations of mercury in urine after DMPS administration and improved with chelation therapy...Subsequently we learned that in the preceding autumn (ie, about 8 months earlier) a thermometer had been broken in the children's room which was small and had floor heating. The mercury had been spilled onto the carpet and was not retrievable. In the room air 9 months after the accident no mercury was detectable...Case 2 shows that the basal urinary excretion of mercury can be normal even in overt acrodynia, and the data presented here may be an important contribution to the debate on the safety of mercury amalgam dental fillings."

Also make sure to read these books: Poison in Your Teeth: Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings...Hazardous to Your Health! and Mercury Detoxification by Tom McGuire