Mercury: (Part 1)

Well well. Heavy metals toxicity. How much do you know and realize about it? Do you have heavy metals toxicity in your body? Has any of you did heavy metals detox before? Today, I will write about one of the most poisonous naturally occurring substances on the earth. 

Because of its tremendous toxicity, it is carefully regulated by the EPA, OSHA as well as other regulatory bodies. Many of us are being exposed to levels of mercury that have been demonstrated to significantly affect the nervous and immune systems and other biological structures. For instance, children and adults are being exposed to mercury in a multitude of ways, through vaccines, medications, broken thermometers, antiseptics, industrial usage, contaminated fish and dental amalgams.  

Mercury use is so widespread in certain industries that many workers are occupationally exposed every day to this toxic metal. Although mercury exposure can damage many bodily systems, the nervous, immune, and cardiovascular systems suffer the most adverse effects of such chronic exposure, and there is growing evidence that mercury toxicity plays a vital role in significant number of cases of Alzheimer's disease as well as other neurodegenerative diseases. 

Now, let us explore the history of mercury toxicity. First of all, we have to find out and realize, where does mercury comes from? Mercury occurs naturally across the earth due to degassing of the earth's crust. This constant release of of the earth's supply of mercury into lakes, streams, and oceans releases thousands and thousands of tons per year. However, most human contact with this deadly toxin comes from man-made sources such as dental amalgam, beauty creams, mirrors, medications, vaccinations, coal-burning, and other industrial uses. Fossil fuels such as coal may contain as much 1ppm of mercury. It has been estimated that as much as 5000 tons of mercury are released into the atmosphere every year from burning coal and natural gas and refining petroleum products.

A very dense element with many unusual physical properties, mercury is the only common metal that exists as a liquid at ordinary temperatures. Due to its high surface tension, it beads easily when spilled and its high density led to its use in barometers.

Mercury can occur in three forms, in its elemental form as pure metal, or combined with other elements to form organic and inorganic compounds. Rarely found uncombined in nature, mercury is usually encountered as mercuric sulfide ore. For commercial use, the metal is seperated by roasting the ore in air. It is then purified by repeated vacuum distillation, and combined with other metals to form compounds and organic salts that are applied in a wide range of industrial uses. Mercury, when combined with other metals, also forms a special kind of alloy called amalgam, which is widely used in dentistry for filling teeth.

Human methylmetal mercury exposure mainly comes from eating contaminated fish, unlike metal mercury. The methylmercury compound is highly absorbable from the gastrointestinal tract. Consumption of toxic fish and of mammals that feed on fish is main risk to humans.

Large sea animals, such as sharks, swordfish, and large tuna have some of the highest mercury levels of any edible seafood. And, the highest levels of all are found in whales. Canned tuna is taken from smaller species and has considerably less mercury than larger tuna. Periodically, high mercury levels are also found in various fresh water species.

Now, let's talk abit about the STD syphilis. Does any of you heard of this disease before? For whoever is familiar with this sexually transmitted disease, it is most widespread use of mercury in medications to treat this disease. These medications were combined in creative ways and used in both children and adults. Mercury was combined with chalk and honey of rose and made into plasters and ointments. Intravenous injections of mercury, as well as specially designed inhalations of mercury vapor, were given for syphilis treatment. Other compound called 'blue ointment' was rubbed along the inner thighs, chest, back or abdomen as a daily treatment of syphilis.

The use of mercurial medications to treat syphilis became so common throughout the industrialized world that millions of people already tormented by the debilitating effects of syphilis were also forced to endure acute mercury poisoning. The use of mercury to treat syphilis was one of the greatest medical disasters of all time, since it had done little effect on syphilis itself.

Next, dentists have been using a special mixture or amalgam, consisting of mercury, tin, zinc and other metals for filing teeth for over approximately 150 years. This so called 'silver filling' composed of approximately 50% mercury, constantly releases vapor that is highly absorbed by the tissues of the mouth and nose.

Acute poisoning with with massive doses of mercury is clinical obvious, with such symptoms as abdominal cramps, kidney failure, tremor, hallucinations, muscular weakness, and numbness in the hands and feet. Lower mercury levels frequently cause unusual irritability, timidity and suicidal tendecies. Even lower levels may produce symptoms that most physicians would not even connect to mercury toxicity. Symptoms such as frequent colds, joint pains, autoimmune disorders, and subtle neurological dsyfunctions such as inability to think clearly, poor memory, headaches, and emotional disorders.

So, we see that mercury poisoning has been a problem throughout the history of industrialized nations. Unfortunately, the problem is not getting better, only worse. I will discuss about American Dental Association cover up of mercury in amalgam, and dentistry world as well in next post. Stay tuned.