Berglund F. 150 years of dental amalgam. Case reports spanning 150 years on the adverse effects of dental amalgam. Relarionship to poisoning by elemental mercury. Book published by Bio-Probe, Inc. Orlando, Florida 1995. (ISBN 0-9410011-14-3)

Abstract: "Case reports over 150 years on adverse effects of dental amalgam. Relationship to poisoning by elemental mercury. BACKGROUND. Dental amalgam consists of a 1:1 mixture of metallic mercury and an alloy powder consisting of silver, tin, copper and zinc. The amalgam continuosly releases mercury. This is absorbed mainly through the oral mucosa. METHODS. Case reports on 245 amalgam patients that were published in periodic scientific journals over 150 years, from 1844 to 1933, were analyzed. Exposure in terms of dental restorations with amalgam, various metal alloys, and electro-galvanism, was documented. Symptoms, immunological tests, dental treatment, and outcome were Analyzed. A summary table compares symptoms with those in Kussmaul's case reports on mirror workers in 1861. RESULTS. Almost all of the symptoms in amalgam patients were reported already in the 19th century and mostly agree with those in chronic poisoning by elemental mercury. Epicutaneous tests in patients with skin symptoms were positive to mercury or, in a few cases, to silver or copper. Removal of amalgam was the common measure that led to improvement or cure. CONCLUSIONS. Three pathogenic mechanisms prevail: 1) dose-related toxicity by elemental mercury; 2) immunological (immunosuppression, autoimmunity, hypersensitivity types 1-4); 3) electrogalvanic, inter alia for leukoplakia and oral lichen. Recovery after removal of amalgam is often incomplete. This is also the case after occupational mercury poisoning. The use of amalgam for dental restorations carries an unacceptable risk of chronic ill health and suffering."

Beusterien KM , Etzel RA, Agocs MM, Egeland GM, Socie EM, Rouse MA & Mortensen BK. Indoor air mercury concentrations following application of interior latex paint. Arch Env Cont Tox 21:62-64 (1991)

Abstract: "Mercury vapors are released from paint containing mercury compounds used to prolong the shelf-life of interior latex paint. To determine whether homes recently painted with paint containing mercury had elevated indoor-air mercury concentrations, we studied 37 Ohio homes. Twenty-one homes painted with mercury- containing paint a median of 86 days earlier were compared with 16 homes not recently painted with mercury-containing paint. Paint samples from the exposed homes contained a median of 210 mg Hg/l (range 120-610 mg/l). The median air mercury concentration was higher in the exposed homes (0.3 ug/m3; range nondetectable- 1.5 ug/m3) than in the unexposed homes (nondetectable; range nondetectable-0.3 ug/m3, P<0.0001). Among the exposed homes there were seven in which paint containing <200 mg/l had been applied. In these homes, the median air mercury concentration was 0.2 ug/m3 (range nondetectable-1 ug/m3). Six (33%) exposed homes had air mercury concentrations >0.5 ug/m3, the acceptable indoor concentration recommended by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Elemental mercury was the form of mercury released into the air. These data demonstrate that potentially hazardous mercury exposure may occur in homes recently painted with paint that contains mercury concentrations <200 mg/l."

Bjorkman L & Lind B. Factors influencing mercury evaporation rate from dental amalgam fillings. Scand J Dent Res 100(6):354-360 (1992)

Abstract: "Factors influencing mercury evaporation from dental amalgam fillings were studied in 11 volunteers. Air was drawn from the oral cavity for 1 min and continuously analyzed with a mercury detector. In six volunteers the median unstimulated evaporation rate was 0.1 ng Hg/s, range 0.09-1.3 ng Hg/s. After chewing gum for 5 min the highest evaporation rate was 2.7 ng Hg/s. Chewing paraffin wax gave only a small increase in evaporation rate. Changes in airflow rates between 1.5 and 2.5 1/min during the 1 min sampling did not change the amount of mercury drawn from the oral cavity. Sampling with different mouthpieces and closed mouth was compared to open mouth sampling with a thin plastic tube. It was found that the latter method could result in lower values for some volunteers due to simultaneous mouth breathing. After placing individual plastic teeth covers in the mouth, the intraoral evaporation of mercury decreased immediately by 89-100% of previous levels. This technique could be used to detect mercury evaporation from separate amalgam fillings or to reduce the intraoral mercury vapor concentration. Rinsing the mouth with heated water for 1 min increased the mean evaporation rate by a factor of 1.7 when the water temperature increased from 35 degrees C to 45 degrees C."

Buckell M, Hunter D, Milton R & Perry KMA. Chronic Mercury Poisoning. Br J Ind Med 3:55-63 (1946) Reprinted in Br J Ind Med 50:97-106 (1993)

Abstract: "The symptoms of chronic mercury poisonong are erethism, tremor and stomatitis. Seventy-two men in a thermometer workshop and 11 in a chemical works making pharmaceutical compounds of mercury were examined. Mass observation suggests that the thermometer workers suffered from mild chronic merciury poisoning, whereas little abnormality was seen in the older group of chemical workers. Athmosphere and urine estimations showed that the thermometer makers were excreting up to 10 times as much mercury in a day as could possibly be absorbed from the atmosphere. Washings from bundles of finished thermometers and from the workers' hands at the end of the day suggest that this is to be explained by absorption of metallic mercury through the skin, or ingestion through the alimentary tract"

Also make sure to read these books: Poison in Your Teeth: Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings...Hazardous to Your Health! and Mercury Detoxification by Tom McGuire