Maine Toxics Action Coalition
From: Jan (jdrew63929_at_aol.com)
Date: 02/27/05
- Next message: W_B: "Re: Partial Bans of Amalgams in US States"
- Previous message: StovePipe: "http://www.usenetabuse.com/manageabuse.cgi"
- Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ]
Date: 26 Feb 2005 16:15:27 -0800
http://www.meepi.org/files/mtac082301.htm
Maine Toxics Action Coalition
Press Release For Immediate Release
Contact: Pam Anderson, leader of consumer lobbying coalition, (207)
532-3336
Kathleen McGee, Maine Toxics Action Coalition, (207) 666-3598
Charles G. Brown, Consumers for Dental Choice, (202) 462-8800
Mercury Amalgam Bill Toughest In Nation
Augusta. On August 23, Maine's Governor Angus King intends to sign an
historic bill requiring disclosure of the risks of the most common
dental filling, amalgam. The filling has become increasingly
controversial because 50% of it is composed of the neuro-toxin mercury.
Expected to attend the event, to be held at the State House in Augusta
at 11 o'clock, will be doctors, dentists, and representatives of
numerous consumer, environmental, and health groups.
Originally the bill called for a ban on mercury fillings for children
under 8 and women of childbearing age [especially pregnant and nursing
women] - a step consistent with recent studies, the position of
Health Canada, and even contraindication warnings from amalgam
manufacturers themselves. After a great deal of opposition from the
American Dental Association (ADA), the legislature failed to protect
the most sensitive population, and the environment, with a ban. The ADA
is the sole health group still supporting the use of mercury in health
products - and is the only health professional society that takes
money from the manufacturers of mercury products.
As a compromise, the Legislature adopted informed consent. Maine thus
joins California and Arizona in requiring disclosure - but the
informed consent provisions mark Maine's law as the toughest in the
country to date.
"While this is an excellent first step toward protecting citizens and
the environment from the hazards of mercury amalgams, we need a more
comprehensive approach," claimed Pam Anderson of Houlton (Maine), a
proponent of the original bill requiring elimination of mercury
amalgams for the sensitive population. "We can't keep taking
chances with our children's minds."
Mercury has long been known to cause a great many health problems among
them neurological [acute and chronic and reproductive. It may also
affect the immune system. According to many doctors and dentists, the
release of mercury vapor in the mouth creates high enough levels of
mercury in the body to be of health concern, especially to a fetus.
Mercury vapor crosses the placenta and, due to the vulnerability of the
developing fetus, can cause a multitude of health problems for the
child.
Just last year the National Academy of Sciences [NAS] determined that
mercury is far more detrimental than previously thought. The NAS
determined that over 60,000 babies born every year could be negatively
affected by mercury.
This year a survey was released by the Center for Disease Control [CDC]
that stated that 10% of the population, and possibly higher, have blood
levels of mercury that are dangerous. These findings amount to an
estimated 375,000 babies a year at-risk for neurological and possibly
other damage.
Mercury has been implicated in Alzheimer's as well. In a recent study
from Canada, blood mercury levels in Alzheimer patients were found to
be 2 fold higher and as much as 3 fold higher in those with early onset
of the disease.
Furthermore, mercury polluting our waters contaminates fish to the
levels that No Fish Consumption advisories for the sensitive population
[pregnant and nursing women, women soon to be pregnant and children
under 8] are now in effect for virtually all fish caught in Maine's
waters.
"We're playing roulette with everyone from our youngest citizens to
our oldest," stated Kathleen McGee, Director of the Maine Toxics
Action Coalition, "This first step will help educate consumers, but
it is our duty to protect public health when we know of these kinds of
hazards. The state needs to be more proactive to protect especially our
children."
Of the over 200 tons of mercury released by industry into our
environment each year, 40-60 tons is from the dental industry. Much of
that is discharged directly into sewers from dental offices; even more
is discharged through the excretion of urine and feces from
individuals. This ends up in our waters and sediments. Many sewage
treatment plants cannot meet EPA guidelines for mercury due to
individual excretion of mercury alone. This is augmented further by
cremation when amalgam fillings are present.
"There are a number of countries which apply the Precautionary
Principle when it comes to mercury amalgam fillings by banning their
use in the sensitive population, ," stated Michael Bender of the
Mercury Policy Project, "We should be erring on the side of safety by
protecting women and children and the environment and eliminate the use
of mercury amalgams in this country as well."
The average amalgam filling [which is 50% mercury] contains more than
˝ gram of mercury. Because of the extreme toxicity of mercury, it only
takes ˝ gram to contaminate a 10-acre lake to the extent that fish
consumption advisories would have to be issued. Multiply that by more
than 100 million fillings a year [in U.S. alone] and that gives you an
idea of the magnitude of the problem.
Dentists will be required to publicly post a sign stating the hazards
of mercury in teeth as well as hand out a brochure to every patient
requiring fillings. As instructed by the legislature, the brochure and
poster will be developed by the Bureau of Health [who opposed the bill]
along with other interested parties. The brochure is meant to carry
warnings concerning mercury exposure to human health and the
environment.
A 1992 California law required the dental board to formulate a fact
sheet on the risks of mercury amalgam and other fillings. The Board -
dominated by dentists - continued to ignore the law, until a petition
by consumer groups and insistence by the Davis Administration led to
Board promises of action. But the Board again balked, missing a
legislative deadline to complete its work by June 30, 2001. The
Legislature appears primed to shut down the Board. The Assembly voted
66 to 8 to do just that, and the Senate takes up the issue when it
returns from recess on August 20.
The American Dental Association continues to threaten dentists who
inform their patients of the possible dangers of mercury fillings.
Indeed, the ADA has a "gag rule" aimed at limiting dentists from
issuing warnings about the adverse health effects of mercury amalgam.
Consumers and "mercury-free" dentists filed a federal lawsuit in
Maryland on May 8 trying to stop ADA-dominated state dental boards from
enforcing the gag rule.
"Consumers have a right to know how dangerous mercury amalgams
are," said Charlie Brown of Consumers for Dental Choice, "While
informed consent is a good start, we would be derelict in our duties if
we did not continue to keep fighting for the health of our kids [and
the environment] by requiring a ban on future use of this toxic
substance."
Lydia Bronte, Ph.D., author of THE MERCURY IN YOUR MOUTH: The Truth
About "Silver" Dental Fillings," will give an overview of the risks of
mercury amalgam to patients, focusing on the vulnerable categories of
children, pregnant women, and people with kidney problems, braces, or
genetic sensitivities.
- Next message: W_B: "Re: Partial Bans of Amalgams in US States"
- Previous message: StovePipe: "http://www.usenetabuse.com/manageabuse.cgi"
- Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ]
Relevant Pages
|
