Second-hand Exposure to Toxic Mercury Vapors Visiting your dentist's office may be more hazardous to your health than you realize! David C. Kennedy, D.D.S., in his article, "What the ADA Won't Say", made the statement that according to dental surveys 1 out of 7 dental offices exceeds the Environmental Protection Agency's standards for maximum exposure of mercury vapor by 100 times. If you happen to be in your dentist's office when he/she is drilling on a mercury filling of another patient and does not have the proper equipment to reduce the levels of mercury vapor, the level in the dental office (reception room included) can exceed the EPA standard by as much as 4,000 times the maximum level of 30 micrograms per cubic meter per day. It would behoove you to ask your dentist what precautions they have taken to reduce the ambient mercury vapor levels. If a puzzled look appears on their face or they try to allay your fears by telling you there is no problem, you know you are in the wrong place if you are trying to improve your quality of life. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that 30 micrograms per cubic meter per day is the maximum allowable intake from all sources that the average weight person can tolerate before clinical symptoms of mercury poisoning start to show up. The EPA estimates that the average person will ingest approximately 10 micrograms through the daily diet. At an air concentration of just 1 microgram per cubic meter, one will breath in 20 micrograms per 24 hours. One's exposure goes way over the limit when one realizes that the maximum limit has been calculated without factoring in the amount derived from your mercury fillings. The more fillings one has the more mercury comes off when chewing. It has been scientifically documented that the oral environment provides 4.7 times the allowable EPA level of 1 microgram per cubic meter. Within ten minutes after chewing the mercury level shoots up close to the maximum output and is on average 2.6 times the number of chewing surfaces that have mercury fillings. To calculate your total exposure, one just has to count the number of mercury fillings on the biting surfaces that come in contact with the opposing teeth and multiply by a factor of 2.6. For example, if a person had 12 mercury fillings their exposure would be 29 micrograms per cubic meter of mercury. The level will occur every time you eat a meal and the fillings will continue to give off mercury vapor for an hour and a half after the meal. Factors that influence the release of mercury from your fillings. The following factors will increase your exposure to mercury: Placement of new mercury filling: a new filling has as much as 50% mercury by weight. Presence of other metals in the mouth; the galvanic (electric) current between a gold crown and mercury filling will cause mercury to release 10 times faster than just the presence of mercury fillings alone. Presence of nickel, chromium and stainless steel will also cause mercury to release faster. Acid pH (7.0 and below): the greater the concentration of acid (lower pH) the greater the release of mercury. Eating protein, refined carbohydrates and fats will lower your pH level. An increase intake of hot liquids (coffee, tea, etc.) and spicy foods. Frequency and intensity of chewing will influence the release of mercury. Bruxism (grinding and clenching the jaws). Deep fillings in root canaled teeth; mercury will leach into the root canal and into the bone. Fillings that make direct contact with your cheek. The real tragedy of dental mercury poisoning is the real loss of normal function: psychological and physical. Sam Ziff, author of Silver Fillings: The Toxic Time Bomb (pp. 121-123), lists 56 major symptoms related to elemental mercury (kind present in your silver fillings). The diversity of symptoms is due to the fact that mercury has a broad systemic effect on the body rather than a singular or specific effect. Because we are chemically diverse physiologic beings we will respond differently to exposure. Elementary Mercury Exposure 1. Psychological disturbances: Irritability Nervousness Decline of intellect Depression or Anxiety Insomnia Shyness or timidity Loss of memory Lack of self-control Anxiety Lack of attention Loss of self-confidence Fits of anger Drowsiness 2. Oral Cavity Disorders: Bleeding gums Excessive salivation Stomatitis Tissue pigmentation Alveolar bone loss Metallic taste Ulceration of the gums, tongue, palate Loosening of the teeth Leukoplakia (white patches) Burning sensation in mouth or throat 3. Gastrointestinal Effects: Abdominal cramps Gastrointestinal problems, colitis Diarrhea 4. Systemic Effects: Cardiovascular Irregular heart beat Pain or pressure in chest Feeble and irregular pulse Alterations in blood pressure Neurologic Chronic or frequent headaches Fine tremors: hands, feet, eyelids, lips, tongue Dizziness Ringing or noise in the ear Respiratory Persistent cough Emphysema Shallow and irregular respiration Immunological Allergies Asthma Rhinitis Sinusitis Swollen glands, especially neck Endocrine Subnormal temperature Muscle weakness Edema Joint pain Cold, clammy skin, especially hands and feet Fatigue Loss of appetite (anorexia) Excessive perspiration Anemia Loss of weight Severe Cases Hallucinations Manic-depression