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