| Mercury - A Dangerous Toxin | | | | DNA. Damaged DNA can lead to cancer and |
| Mercury is a very dangerous | | | | degenerative brain disease. Changes, or |
| poison. Basically, there are three forms | | | | damage, to DNA can be passed on to |
| of mercury: metallic, inorganic and | | | | subsequent generations, so any children |
| organic. Although there is considerable | | | | you have after the damage can inherit |
| debate as to which form is the most | | | | the problem or risk it produces.The |
| harmful, there is abundant evidence that | | | | heart is especially sensitive to mercury |
| indicates the inorganic form (also | | | | toxicity. One study of people with an |
| called ionic mercury) is the most | | | | often fatal disorder called idiopathic |
| dangerous. Ionic mercury is also the | | | | cardiomyopathy found that their heart |
| most difficult to remove from the body | | | | muscle contained a level of mercury that |
| and in particular from the brain. | | | | was 22,000 times higher than that seen |
| Fortunately, few people are exposed to | | | | in hearts of other people the same age. |
| ionic mercury directly - most exposure | | | | This disorder causes heart failure and |
| is indirect. Unfortunately, a number of | | | | people with the problem can require a |
| studies have shown that the other two | | | | heart transplant. The elderly with |
| forms are converted into ionic mercury | | | | pre-existing heart disease, who receive |
| within the tissues, especially in the | | | | yearly flu vaccines, are particularly at |
| brain. Therefore, any and all mercury | | | | risk as the flu vaccines still contain |
| exposure should be regarded as basically | | | | mercury.The brain is another organ that |
| having the same potential.Many people | | | | is particularly sensitive to the |
| have suffered and died from mercury | | | | accumulation of mercury. Most of us have |
| poisoning. The following are two | | | | heard the old saying mad as a hatter. |
| incidents of mercury poisoning that | | | | This saying originated from the felt hat |
| gained the attention of the media: * | | | | industry during the 17th through the |
| Mercury was dumped into Minamata bay in | | | | 19th centuries. It was commonly observed |
| Japan from 1932-1968. Over 5,000 people | | | | that people who worked in the industry |
| suffered from mercury poisoning and 456 | | | | walked as if they were drunk. They were |
| died. Children were born severely | | | | also quite irritable and exhibited |
| deformed and mentally retarded. * In | | | | bizarre behavior. It was discovered that |
| 1971 50,000 people in Iraq were poisoned | | | | a form of mercury used in the |
| and 5,000 died after they ate bread | | | | manufacture of felt hats was to |
| contaminated with mercury. Although | | | | blame.Mercury can alter how the brain |
| these were dramatic and tragic events | | | | functions, particularly the memory, |
| the largest sources of mercury poisoning | | | | concentration, motor control and |
| are: * Dental fillings * | | | | behavior. Depression, memory loss, |
| Contaminated fish * Vaccines * | | | | moodiness, irritability, a lack of |
| House paint Almost 50% of dental | | | | interest in events, a desire to be |
| fillings are the metallic form of | | | | alone, shyness and outbursts of anger |
| mercury. The American Dental Society, | | | | are all signs of mercury poisoning. Low |
| until just recently, covered up the | | | | doses of mercury, even for short |
| evidence that the mercury was released | | | | periods, can cause changes to brainwaves |
| in vapor form and that 80% of that | | | | observed on an electrocortigram.High |
| mercury vapor was absorbed into the | | | | mercury levels in the brain, blood or |
| body. Several studies have shown that | | | | spinal fluid has been found in people |
| blood levels of mercury rise several | | | | with neurodegenerative diseases such as |
| times when people with amalgam fillings | | | | Alzheimer s and Parkinson s disease and |
| chew or drink hot liquids. This is | | | | Lou Gehrig s disease. Studies have found |
| significant. Consider that in 1990, the | | | | that people with Alzheimer s disease |
| EPA outlawed the use of mercury-filled | | | | have blood mercury levels twice as high |
| interior latex paint because studies | | | | as those who were free of the disease. |
| found that people living in houses | | | | This would also explain the 10-times |
| covered in this paint had dangerously | | | | increase in Alzheimer s disease observed |
| high mercury levels in their bodies. The | | | | in elderly people who get annual flu |
| Occupational Safety and Health | | | | vaccines for five years. Several studies |
| Administration (OSHA) set the safety | | | | have shown improvement in MS patients |
| limit of mercury in the air at 50 ug per | | | | who had their amalgam fillings removed |
| cubic meter (50 ug/m3). Measurements of | | | | and subsequently went through chelation |
| the air in the mouths of people with | | | | to purge them of mercury.What You Can Do |
| numerous amalgam fillings have exceeded | | | | * Try to avoid mercury as much as you |
| this level (reaching as high as150 ug | | | | are able, including in atmospheric |
| m3). This has particular implications | | | | pollution, dental fillings, contaminated |
| for pregnant and breast feeding | | | | seafood and avoid vaccines that contain |
| women.Fish and other seafood are | | | | mercury. * If you have concerns you |
| contaminated by waste from coal burning | | | | can have your urine, hair and stool |
| furnaces and pesticides and herbicides | | | | checked for mercury levels. If the |
| containing mercury. The sea floor also | | | | levels are high (above 10 ug/g of |
| produces natural sources of mercury. As | | | | creatine) you can use a chelation agent |
| a result, a large number of previously | | | | to remove the mercury. * Perspiration |
| safe seafood are contaminated with | | | | removes mercury. Exercising will |
| mercury. The mercury enters all sea | | | | increase the perspiration, but a new |
| creatures, but some are more toxic than | | | | study found that exercise redistributes |
| others. Fish that eat other fish have | | | | the mercury and this concentrates the |
| the highest levels and in general the | | | | mercury in the brain and heart muscle. |
| larger the fish, the higher the | | | | * Garlic extract neutralizes much of |
| concentration. Certain fish should never | | | | the toxicity and removes a great deal of |
| be eaten, because of their extremely | | | | the mercury from the brain over time. |
| high methylmercury levels. These | | | | The advantage of this natural substance |
| include: * shark, * swordfish, | | | | over drugs is that it can be taken all |
| * king mackerel and * tilefish. | | | | the time. * A purified extract of the |
| Select fish and other seafood that are | | | | Chlorella plant have been shown to |
| low in mercury, such as salmon (from the | | | | chelate mercury, and they can be taken |
| Pacific) or pollock, or shrimp. However, | | | | daily. * Vitamin and mineral |
| Gulf shrimp is contaminated with a | | | | supplements are useful. In particular, |
| number of industrial chemicals as well | | | | vitamin E protects DNA against mercury |
| as mercury, especially since Hurricane | | | | damage. Also alpha-lipoic acid, zinc and |
| Katrina. Although most vaccines had | | | | selenium have proven roles. Zinc and |
| their mercury removed as of 2001, the | | | | selenium play a major role in protecting |
| flu vaccines and the Rho immune globulin | | | | the brain against mercury toxicity. It |
| vaccine still contain mercury. Vaccines | | | | is thought that selenium protects fish |
| contain a special form of mercury called | | | | from the damage caused by mercury. * |
| ethylmercury, which is found within the | | | | You need cleanse your body of toxic |
| preservative and antiseptic thimerosal. | | | | material, including mercury, so that |
| Recent studies have examined | | | | everything is able to work |
| ethylmercury and found that in fact it | | | | effectively.Conclusion Mercury is a |
| is much more toxic than methylmercury | | | | dangerous toxin that should be avoided |
| (the form found in fish). In the brain | | | | as much as possible. Avoidance is not |
| it is readily converted to the more | | | | impossible but does require attention to |
| toxic mercury ion. Vaccines containing | | | | the sources of mercury discussed above. |
| mercury are strongly link to | | | | If you believe you may be suffering from |
| autism.Toxic Effects of MercuryMercury | | | | mercury toxicity, possibly because you |
| is fat soluble and it accumulates in fat | | | | realize that you have had significant |
| containing tissues such as the brain, | | | | exposure and recognize that you have |
| heart, kidneys and liver. It reacts with | | | | several relevant symptoms, I recommend |
| a number of important structures and | | | | you consult a naturopathic doctor who |
| chemicals in the organs. Mercury | | | | will be able to assess your condition |
| concentrates in cell nucleus, and in | | | | and if necessary, order some tests and |
| even low doses it can cause damage to | | | | recommend appropriate treatment. |