Flint Lead Poisoning Effect Multiplied by Mercury Amalgam Fillings
Flint residents who have "silver" amalgam dental fillings are at a greater risk for harmful effects of the combined toxicity of lead and mercury. TALKInternational.com urges health professionals to assess an individual's mercury exposure in addition to lead.
PASO ROBLES, Calif., May 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In a recent article on TALKInternational.com, a free consumer resource for mercury toxicity, important comments were explained on the importance of alerting Flint health professionals and residents to the significantly harmful effect of the combination of lead and mercury exposure. As President Obama visits the City of Flint this week, he will see firsthand some of the enormous challenges that come with the dangerous levels of lead in the water supply.
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According to Mark Richardson, PhD, project leader in a study of combined heavy metal toxicity, found that when lead and mercury are both present, it creates a synergistic toxic effect. In a related study, doses of mercury sufficient to kill 1% of tested rats, when combined with a dose of lead sufficient to kill less than 1% of rats, resulted in killing 100% of rats tested. The math for lead and mercury toxicity levels is not 1 + 1 = 2. It is closer to 1 + 1 = 100.
Mercury dental fillings in the mouth have shown to emit enough mercury vapor on a daily basis to evacuate a building, according to OSHA limits. Lead, mercury vapor, and methylmercury all cross the blood-brain and placental barriers, are completely absorbed in the gut and lungs, and all cause neurological harm. Both mercury and lead are extremely neurotoxic and cytotoxic, meaning toxic to the nervous system and living cells.
Because the toxicity of dental mercury is not adequately acknowledged by the medical community, the physicians who will be examining the Flint population, especially children, for effects of lead poisoning will likely not be aware of the potential elevated toxicity. Health professionals also need to determine the amount of mercury burden each person carries. In part, this may be done by evaluating the amount and size of mercury amalgam fillings in each man, woman, and child. Low-income populations tend to have more mercury fillings because social programs involving dental care policy often require the placement of mercury in children and adults.
Symptoms of lead poisoning and mercury toxicity are similar, as they are both neurotoxic heavy metals. TALKInternational.com offers a free Heavy Metal Toxicity Questionnaire, which assists the user in determining possible related symptoms and level of concern.
For several decades, professional dental organizations, such as IABDM and IAOMT, have worked toward the global ban of mercury in dentistry and also educate dentists about the effects of dental mercury. Due to this exposure, it is important to find a dentist who does not place mercury fillings and also uses safety protocols developed by the IAOMT to safely remove mercury fillings. A directory of mercury-free dentists may also be found at TALKInternational.com.
About TALKInternational.com:
Since 1997, TALKInternational.com has been a free consumer resource for information regarding dental amalgams, mercury toxicity, and related health issues. TALKInternational.com also provides a mercury-free dentist directory. Dr. James Rota, a pioneer in holistic/biological dentistry and owner of TALKInternational.com has written a book, "Mirror of the Body – Your Mouth Reflects the Health of Your Whole Body," to increase consumer awareness and education for dental professionals.
Media Contact:
Dori Rota
888-708-2525
SOURCE TALKInternational.com
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