Mercury — one of the most poisonous substances known to bioaccumulate in our bodies.
Mercury demonstrates, more than any other toxicant, the diversity of effects from its ingestion or absorption. Our exposure occurs as a result of many sources. The escape of mercury vapour from the earth’s crust into the atmosphere, allows it to disperse globally. Its subsequent conversion to the water-soluble form allows it to return to the earth in rainwater, when some of it enters the oceans where it is methylated by micro-organisms and is taken into the food chain. Fish is a source of mercury, particularly the larger fish, which are higher in the food chain. Mercury is an occupational hazard for some, but a large proportion of the population is exposed to mercury in the form of amalgam fillings.
How much can amalgam fillings damage our health?
All amalgams emit mercury vapour, and the rate at which this occurs can be multiplied a hundredfold in cases of chewing – gum in particular, and hot food and drinks. Abrasion, such as teeth cleaning, or grinding can release further vapour or particles of amalgam powder.
It is probably obvious that some of this is swallowed, although absorption from the gut is not the primary route into the body. There are two other ways in which the amalgam can enter to body. The first is via the nose and olfactory nerve to the brain, and happens almost instantaneously. Otherwise, the vapour enters the lungs, from where it enters the bloodstream to be distributed round the body. Mercury has the potential to disrupt almost any enzymatic pathway in the body, which explains the diversity of symptoms that can accompany mercury poisoning. It certainly collects in the liver and the kidney, as well as the central and peripheral nervous systems. In addition to this, depending on vulnerable organs, and failure to excrete efficiently, mercury can target, and poison any system.
Although mercury is incredibly toxic, one of its organic forms, dimethyl mercury, is many times more poisonous. For anyone who is not familiar with the Karen Wetterhahn story, you may like to read about this unfortunate tragedy. http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/dimethylmercury/dmmh.htm.
Although mercury is not well absorbed by the large intestine, the hazard in the gut is the presence of micro-organisms (some species of bacteria and candida) which convert the less toxic form to the organic form. The increase in toxicity is huge, and therefore low absorption rates become much more critical.
Thimerosal is a mercury-containing additive used in some vaccines as a preservative. It is degraded to ethyl mercury (another form of organic mercury) in the body, and is also extremely toxic.
Mercury vapour and, in particular, the organic forms of mercury are all extremely poisonous. All three forms cross the placenta and are found in breast milk. They are all potent neurotoxins, and not only cross the blood-brain barrier, but also increase its permeability to other toxicants. Secondary cardiovascular effects are also well-documented.
FCT finds mercury almost universally in patients. Most patients have been born to amalgam mothers, and many have their own dental amalgams. Testing repeatedly shows that it is very often the primary causative factor in disease, and FCT shows time and again that when the mercury residues have been removed from the body, health improves.
Mercury is a major immunosuppressant, and its presence in the body compromises health on every level.
As part of overall FCT treatment, dental amalgams ought to be removed at the appropriate time, and with the appropriate care. FCT remedies are given at the time of removal to help the body to excrete the residues.
Click on the links for information on Safe dental amalgam removal and Candida
Academic references: