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Robert Gammal's
response
to the Australian Dental Association in 1999
Things have changed little since!
Statement "The Truth About Mercury"
3rd March 1999 http://www.ada.org.au/brochures2/mercury.htm
This document is intended to give the reader a quick overview of the flaws in the statements made by the Australian Dental Association about dental amalgam. Italicized text is the statement made by the Australian Dental Association in their publication called THE TRUTH ABOUT MERCURY. (internet web site: http://www.ada.org.au/brochures2/mercury.htm) It is hoped that the Australian Dental Association will correct the inaccuracies in its statement.
Australian Dental Association write:
What are amalgam fillings made of?
Dental amalgam is an alloy of a number of metals, mainly silver, tin and mercury.
Robert Gammal's Response:
The word 'amalgam' means a mixture of a metal with mercury.
Dental amalgam is NOT an alloy. It is a MIXTURE of an alloy with mercury. The alloy is usually composed of silver, tin, zinc and copper. The alloy is powdered and then mixed in the dental surgery with an equal amount of mercury.
Mercury constitutes about 50% of set amalgam.
Australian Dental Association write:
Is it true that mercury leaks out of fillings?
Advances in testing equipment over the past few years have enabled us to detect very small amounts of mercury released from fillings, especially when fillings are polished or removed.
Robert Gammal's Response:
The World Health Organisation in 1991 (Criteria 118), determined that dental amalgam was the greatest source of mercury to the general population - up to ten times greater than all other sources combined. They also determined that there is NO lower level of mercury vapour at which health effects do not occur.
Although small amounts of mercury are released from amalgam, it is misleading to suggest that this is only at times of polishing and removal of amalgam. Mercury is released all of the time. Most mercury is released from amalgam at the time of insertion of the amalgam into the tooth when it is still soft and unset.
Mercury release is increased by increasing friction (eg chewing gum & grinding teeth), temperature (hot food and drinks) and increased electrical currents (combining amalgam and other metals such as gold in the same mouth creates a battery)
This increased elevation in the release of mercury after stimulation will remain elevated for about 90 minutes.
The use of the term "small amounts", implies no danger. This is quite deceptive as the toxicity of the material determines the danger level. According the US Govt. (ATSDR), mercury is the third most toxic substance known to mankind after arsenic and lead.
Mercury, although released in small amounts, is in fact stored in the tissues and is a known cumulative poison. Mercury from dental amalgam can be found throughout the body and is principally stored in the Brain, Kidney and Liver.
Australian Dental Association write:
Is this mercury harmful?
Medical research organizations including the American Food and Drug Administration, the Swedish Medical Research Council and our own National Health and Medical Research Council say that there is no scientific evidence that these tiny amounts of mercury released from dental fillings are a danger to health, apart from those rare cases where some individuals are unusually sensitive to this material. A number of overseas studies indicate there is no increased health risk or shortening of life between groups of people with amalgam fillings and those with none.
Robert Gammal's Response:
This statement is misleading and inaccurate.
1. The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council on the 22nd March 1999 advised that " it would be prudent to avoid placement and replacement of dental amalgam fillings in certain population sub-groups such as pregnant women, children and people with kidney disease." One must now ask, if certain groups are in danger of serious health effects from the mercury from amalgam, than who is it safe for?
2. Again the reference to tiny amounts of mercury are deceptive.
3. Although these organizations may have said that there is no scientific evidence of danger to health all one need do is search Medline to find that mercury in any concentration is a danger to health. It is Neurotoxic, embryotoxic, mutagenic, and cytotoxic in minute amounts. Research now demonstrates that minute amounts of mercury in the brain will cause neurofibrilar tangles which are identical to those found in the brains of Alzheimer's Disease patients. A faster search is to look at what the manufacturers say about their own material.
4. The study which the Australian Dental Association quote to demonstrate similar morbidity and mortality figures, have in the past been dubbed as "statistically insignificant" by Prof. Lars Frieberg, who at the time was the head of toxicology for the World Health Organisation.
5. The statement "rare cases where some individuals are unusually sensitive to this material" is again misleading and inaccurate. See below
Australian Dental Association write:
Is it true that mercury is in our diet?
Yes. A normal balanced diet contains amount of mercury and we also come into contact with it in our environment and in a number of other products. Sources of mercury in the environment include: industrial processes, batteries, deodorants, nasal sprays and even some vaccines such as flu vaccine.
Robert Gammal's Response:
SO WHAT! Just because there is mercury in the diet does not make the mercury safe nor does it justify a health care profession implanting the stuff into people's heads every day of the year. Just because it is found in 'nature' also does not make it safe. Fluoride, uranium, cadmium and many other materials are also found in nature and also are not safe.
The Australian Dental Association's statement is blatantly mischievous and must surely be a poor advertisement for vaccination! Dental amalgam is the greatest source of mercury to the general population. (WHO Criteria 118). The figures speak for themselves. Criteria 118 states that the general population ingest mercury from the following sources on an average daily intake;
- Air and Water 0mcg/day
- Other Foods 0.3mcg/day
- Fish and Sea food 2.3mcg/day
- Dental Amalgam 3 - 17mcg/day
- The figure for dental amalgam was revised in 2003 and raised to 27mcg/day
All over-the-counter medicaments, which contain far less than 50% mercury, have now been taken off the United States market by instruction from the FDA. This does not include some vaccines.
There is absolutely NO health benefit from mercury in our diet. To approach this topic with such a blasé attitude is both unethical, unscientific and dangerous. Perhaps the Australian Dental Association suggests that we are safe to eat fish which is contaminated with mercury.
Australian Dental Association write:
Can you be allergic to the mercury in amalgam?
This is extremely rare. Only 46 cases have been reported throughout the world since 1905. If you are worried, ask your doctor to refer you to a specialist for tests to check if you are allergic. If so, your dentist can use another type of filling for you. Alternatives exist but some can be rather expensive.
Robert Gammal's Response:
In the past the Australian Dental Association have said that less than 1% of the population are allergic to mercury. After being unable to produce a single scientific paper to support this claim, they are now saying "those rare cases where some individuals are unusually sensitive to this material".
Unfortunately the scientific research does not agree. The latest research found that 13% of the population show true allergy to mercury and dental amalgam. Assuming that in Australia only half of the population has amalgam in their mouths, this equates to 700,000 people who are sick as a direct influence of an allergic reaction to amalgam. This does not include the other devastating effects on the immune system, or effects on health, which are independent of the immune system. This number of people who are effected by mercury from amalgam is NOT an insignificant number. Their comment that the alternatives are expensive is an insult to your choice of health or dollars. The alternatives are a bargain compared to the disease states caused by the mercury from amalgam.
Australian Dental Association write:
Is it true that Sweden has banned amalgam?
The Swedish Medical Research Council has confirmed the safety of dental amalgam fillings. Sweden has not "banned" amalgam but, because of concerns about a number of chemicals, including mercury, in the environment from a number of sources - not just fillings, they have recommended the phasing out of amalgam over the next few years, provided suitable alternatives can be used.
Robert Gammal's Response:
This statement is again inaccurate and misleading.
1. Although Sweden has not 'banned' the use of amalgam the Swedish government have taken other steps to stop amalgam being placed in their citizens. In their proposition to Parliament on Reformed dental compensation, of 12th March 1998, however, the Government (Social Department) proposes better general compensation for the patients, and also states: " No financial compensation will be given for the placement of amalgam fillings. The compensation for amalgam fillings is abolished. The aim is a total ban of the use of dental amalgam in approximately two years." The changes came into force 1st January 1999. Sweden has now banned the use of amalgam as have many other countries
2. It is incredible that the Australian Dental Association continue to separate the environment out side of the body to that inside the body. How can mercury from amalgam be dangerous to the external environment and be harmless inside the body. It is important to understand that a filling is really an implant into living tissue. Perhaps the ADA lives in a world that no one else shares.
Australian Dental Association write:
Should I have my dental amalgam fillings removed?
Unless you are one of those rare individuals who is particularly sensitive to dental amalgam, you will not improve your dental health by having these fillings replaced. Australia's specialist doctors and Health authorities have warned the public that there is no justification for believing that this will cure a range of serious illnesses.
Robert Gammal's Response:
Have you ever heard of any dentist who does and amalgam allergy test before placing the toxic waste into a mouth? How else can we detect if a person is allergic?
Although claiming that amalgam is safe they have not yet been able to present one peer reviewed scientific paper to support their position.
There are also many specialists, doctors, dentists, medical researchers, scientists and international cncer clinics who state that mercury form amalgam is one of the greatest causes of disease in our society.
Solid peer reviewed scientific papers have demonstrated that the removal of amalgam leads to a significant reduction in the body's mercury burden. This position is supported by a risk assesment conducted for the working party of NHMRC. Removal of amalgam is like turning off the taps. All that is happening is that the greatest source of mercury is being removed from the person's body. The reduction in the mercury burden, which follows, may or may not allow improvements to health. No claims have ever been made that mercury from amalgam causes a specific disease. In fact it causes mercury poisoning which presents with many different clinical symptoms. One need only to refer to the Caulk Co.'s Material Safety Data Sheet supplied with its product Dispersalloy, to see the variety of these symptoms.
______________________________________________________________________________
- Never enter a dental surgery where amalgam is used. Mercury levels may be high
- Never allow root therapy on your teeth.
- Never allow fluoride to be placed in your body.