A Bill Has Been Passed To Ban Mercury Amalgam
Fillings in California
Statement by Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles)
Mercury in Dental Filling Disclosure and Prohibition Act, Los Angeles,
California, November 5, 2001
In times like these,
there are toxins that we don't know much about - how to control them, their
source, and their impact. But there are toxins that we DO know about --
toxins that we know do not belong in our bodies, toxins that we can do
something about. My bill addresses that very problem.
Mercury is an acute neuro-toxin.
It is the most toxic non-radioactive element and the most volatile heavy
metal. In recent years, it has been, or is being, removed from all health
care uses, save one. Antibiotics have replaced oral doses of Mercury. The
disinfectant Mercurochrome is banned. Recently, the Centers for Disease
Control ordered Mercury preservatives removed from childhood vaccines.
Mercury preservatives are no longer used in contact lens solutions. This
year, legislatures in California and several other states banned Mercury
thermometers. When Governor Gray Davis signed bills addressing Mercury in
thermometers and in dental fillings, he said, "Mercury is a persistent and
toxic pollutant that bioaccumulates in the environment." In recent years,
the American Public Health Association, the California Medical Association,
and Health Care Without Harm have all called for the elimination of putting
any Mercury in the human body.
Today, I am announcing
legislation to disclose and phase-out the last major use of Mercury in the
human body. The fillings that organized dentistry wrongly calls "silver" are
mainly Mercury, not "silver."
Mercury is the major ingredient in each filling, about one-half gram per. In
the words of Professor Boyd Haley of the University of Kentucky, that is a
"colossal" amount of Mercury in scientific terms - as much, in fact, as is
in a thermometer. A teenager with six fillings has six Mercury thermometers
worth of Mercury in his or her mouth.
The Mercury in the
fillings is volatile, such that - as all authorities concede - poisonous
vapors are constantly being emitted from the fillings, more so when one
chews or passes hot liquid over the teeth. The Agency for Toxic Substances &
Disease Registry of the United States Public Health Service reports that
those poisonous vapors go first to the brain and kidneys. For the developing
brain - and by that I mean a child's brain - a major health risk exists.
It is in fact children
who are at greatest risk from these fillings. The government of Canada
recommended back in 1996 that dentists not place fillings in the mouths of
children or pregnant women. (The 1999 report on Mercury by the Agency for
Toxic Substances & Disease Registry says Mercury passes through the placenta
into the developing child's brain.) In 1997, a major manufacturer of dental
amalgam, Dentsply, said that amalgam is CONTRAINDICATED (translation: DO NOT
USE) for children and pregnant women, as well as for those with braces,
Mercury hypersensitivities, or kidney problems. Another manufacturer,
Vivadent, added a contraindication for nursing mothers. (That 1999
government report says the Mercury goes through the mother's breast milk
into the baby.)
Why don't consumers
already know this? The answer is a disappointing one. Organized dentistry is
extremely divided on this issue. My bill, in fact, is supported by the
American Academy of Biological Dentistry. But the American Dental
Association tells the public that the fillings are safe. The ADA does not
tell the public that it accepts payments from the amalgam manufacturers
while it pronounces their product safe. I wish to note that the American
Medical Association has a policy prohibiting the organization from taking
money for product endorsements. The ADA, by contrast, accepts money from the
manufacturers of the products it endorses, which certainly hurts its
credibility in my mind.
The public does not know
about the presence of Mercury and its risks for two reasons. First, the
fillings are falsely called "silver." This term is deceptive, because there
is much more Mercury than silver in the product. It's time to call it what
it is, and quit hiding the large presence of Mercury.
Second, the ADA has a rule that gags dentists from talking about the risks
of Mercury amalgam, a rule that some dental boards enforce against dentists
who call for the elimination of Mercury in dental fillings. I understand
that rule is being challenged by dentists in federal court in Maryland based
on the First Amendment.
Developments in this area
have been quite encouraging this year in my state. In 1992, as a state
Senator, I wrote a law that required the Dental Board of California to write
a "Fact Sheet" about the "risks and efficacies" of dental fillings. My goal
was to ensure the public could make informed choices about Mercury dental
amalgam. But the Dental Board continued to ignore the law and, in recent
years, defy the Davis Administration's insistence that it comply with this
law. After an impasse, including the Board refusing to show up for a hearing
in Los Angeles on this issue, the Legislature stepped in and shut down the
Board. I am told that never before has the California Legislature shut down
a board before its Sunset date expired. In January, a new Dental Board will
come into existence.
A major environmental
issue exists here. When removed from a patient's mouth, Mercury amalgam is a
hazardous waste, and it is often improperly disposed of. The more Mercury
that goes into people's teeth, the more of it that will end up in our water
supply. I am delighted, therefore, that San Francisco-based Clean Water
Action is supporting my bill, and I look forward to other environmental
groups joining us in this effort.
The occupational risk is
significant. Dental employees are constantly exposed to the vapors. Women in
dental offices have lower fecundity (pregnancy) rates, more miscarriages,
and more problem births; Mercury exposure is the likely reason. Dentists
have the highest suicide rate of any profession; depression leading to
suicide is consistent with a diagnosis of Mercury toxicity.
Mercury amalgam is dangerous before it is put in the mouth - any dental
journal will tell you that - and it is considered hazardous waste after it
has been removed. Who can conclusively say it's safe in between, when it is
in our bodies?
A major social justice,
or environmental justice, issue exists here. While the public lacks informed
choice, low- and moderate-income people have it worse: they have no choice
at all! For families on Medi-Cal, the children get Mercury - or nothing. It
is outrageous that low-income Americans are forced to have such a toxic
material put in their mouths. I understand that the Rhode Island legislature
adopted a law this year to provide choice in insurance plans, and that the
state of Maine permits Medicaid children to get alternatives to amalgam -
so, yes, we can do it differently.
Mercury, and all other
poisons in the body, hurt the body's immune system - its ability to
withstand diseases and biologically harmful agents. If at any time in our
nation's history we need strong immune systems, it is now. The stronger our
bodies, the more able we are to fend off biological agents that have so
tragically been placed in our midst.
My bill will protect
children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers immediately - regardless of
their income. Henceforth, amalgam will bear warnings that they not be placed
in these most vulnerable people. And there will be health warnings for all
consumers of amalgam, also immediately. Then, there is a five-year phase out
of Mercury amalgam. That will give dentistry plenty of time to shift to
alternatives that exist in today's market - resin, porcelain, and gold - or
to develop new materials.
Dentistry says amalgam is
fine because it has been in use for 150 years. This statement makes no
scientific sense. We have abandoned other remnants of pre-Civil War
medicine, and we have abandoned all other uses of Mercury. It is no longer a
question of if, but when, Mercury dental fillings will be history. I say
five more years is time enough.
http://www.amalgam.org/
A Copy of the Bill To Ban Mercury
Amalgam Fillings in California
http://www.bioprobe.com/ReadNews.asp?article=47
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! On April 10, 2002 Representative Diane Watson of
California (for herself and Representative Dan Burton) introduced H.R. 4163,
A Bill that will ban Mercury Dental Amalgam (A copy of the Bill follows). It
is extremely important that you contact your elected representatives and
request that they Co-Sponsor H.R. 4163.
107th CONGRESS
2nd Session
H. R. 4163
To prohibit after 2006 the introduction into interstate commerce of mercury
intended for use in a dental filling, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 10, 2002
Ms. WATSON of California (for herself and Mr. BURTON of Indiana) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
A BILL To prohibit after 2006 the introduction into interstate commerce of mercury
intended for use in a dental filling, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Mercury in Dental Filling Disclosure and
Prohibition Act'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Mercury is a highly toxic element.
(2) A dental amalgam, commonly referred to as a ‘silver filling’, consists
of 43 to 54 percent mercury.
(3) Consumers may be deceived by the use of the term `silver' to describe a
dental amalgam, which contains substantially more mercury than silver.
(4) Dental amalgam may contain about 1/2 to 3/4 of a gram of mercury,
depending on the size of the filling.
(5) The mercury in a dental amalgam continually emits mercury vapors.
(6) Mercury toxicity is a retention toxicity that builds up over years of
exposure.
(7) According to certain scientific studies, Health Canada, and the Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of the Public Health Service of
the Department of Health and Human Services, children and pregnant women are
at particular risk for exposure to mercury contained in dental amalgam.
(8) According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the
mercury from amalgam goes through the placenta of pregnant women and through
the breast milk of lactating women, giving rise to health risks to an unborn
child or a baby.
(9) The Environmental Protection Agency considers removed amalgam filling
and extracted teeth containing amalgam material to be hazardous waste.
(10) The use of mercury in any product being put into the body is opposed by
many health groups, such as the American Public Health Association, the
California Medical Association, and Health Care Without Harm.
(11) Consumers and parents have a right to know, in advance, the risks of
placing a product containing a substantial amount of mercury in their mouths
or the mouths of their children.
(12) Alternatives to mercury-based dental fillings exist, but many publicly
and privately financed health plans do not allow consumers to choose
alternatives to mercury amalgam.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON INTRODUCTION OF DENTAL AMALGAM INTO INTERSTATE
COMMERCE.
(a) PROHIBITION- Section 501 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21
U.S.C. 351) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(j) Effective January 1, 2007, if it contains mercury intended for use in a
dental filling.'.
(b) TRANSITIONAL PROVISION- For purposes of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), effective July 1, 2002, and subject to
subsection (a), a device that contains mercury intended for use in a dental
filling shall be considered to be misbranded, unless it bears a label that
provides as follows: `Dental amalgam contains approximately 50 percent
mercury, a highly toxic element. Such product should not be administered to
children less than 18 years of age, pregnant women, or lactating women. Such
product should not be administered to any consumer without a warning that
the product contains mercury, which is a highly toxic element, and therefore
poses health risks.'.
Mercury: the Malevolent Messenger
BEST ONLINE RESOURCES
PERTINENT
QUOTES & DATA
DETOXIFICATION
Potential Everyday Sources of Mercury
Proof of Burden
Mercury Fillings - the Hidden Cause of
Chronic Fatigue
|
