2004

TESTIMONY BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS & WELLNESS

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 8, 2004

Dental amalgam (silver mercury) fillings contain 50% mercury, which is more toxic than lead, cadmium, or even arsenic. These dental fillings contribute more mercury to the body burden in humans than all other sources (e.g. dietary, air, water and vaccines) combined (1,2,3). In fact the amount of mercury contained in one average filling exceeds the U.S. EPA standard for human exposure for over 100 years.

Mercury vapor which escapes from these fillings is readily absorbed into the body, accumulates within all body tissues, and has been shown to cause pathophysiology. In the case of pregnant women with mercury fillings, the mercury readily passes from her fillings into her lungs, through her blood stream, through the placental barrier and into the developing child, whose central nervous system and immune system are especially vulnerable to this…