Regarding mercury in breastmilk:
Judy Ritchie
> Immediately below is the resolution addressing mercury amalgams
> adopted by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators in Atlanta
> last week.
>
> Following the resolution is an explanatory note from Attorney Charlie
> Brown, of Swankin and Turner, representing Consumers for Dental
> Choice.
>
>
> RESOLUTION - National Black Caucus of State Legislators
>
> WHEREAS:
>
> 1) The major ingredient of dental amalgam (43 to 54%) is mercury;
>
> 2) Mercury is an acute neuro-toxin;
>
> 3) Each mercury amalgam filling contains about one-half to
> three-fourths gram of mercury, the same amount of mercury as is in a
> mercury thermometer;
>
> 4) The mercury in dental amalgam continually emits poisonous vapors
> while in the dental filling;
>
> 5) The term "silver" to describe a product that has substantially
> more mercury than silver does not accurately convey needed
> information to consumers;
>
> 6) Mercury is being removed from all other health care uses, such as
> vaccines, disinfectants, and contact lenses. Many health
> organizations, such as the American Public Health Association, the
> California Medical Association, and Health Care Without Harm,
> recommend removing mercury from all health products.
>
> 7) Children under 18, pregnant women, and nursing mothers may be at
> particular risk to mercury exposure, because the mercury goes to the
> developing brain, through the placenta, and through the breast milk,
> according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of
> the United States Public Health Service. Several authorities,
> including manufacturers who have issued contraindications and the
> Government of Canada, warn that children and pregnant women are at
> particularized risk for exposure to mercury amalgam;
>
> 8) Consumers and parents have a right to know, in advance, that, in
> the words of the California Dental Board: "There exists a diversity
> of various scientific opinions regarding the safety of mercury dental
> amalgam";
>
> 9) Alternatives to mercury-based dental fillings exist, such as resin
> composite and porcelain;
>
> 10) Medicaid and many third-party payment health plans do not allow
> consumers to choose alternatives to mercury amalgam, so poor
> children's only options are mercury fillings or no fillings at all;
> and
>
> 11) The states of Arizona, California, and Maine have passed laws
> providing warnings to consumers about the risks of "silver" (mercury)
> dental amalgam, and Rhode Island has passed a law giving consumers on
> insurance plans full choice on the type of fillings they may have.
>
> THEREFORE, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators recommends:
>
> 1. States enacts laws providing warnings to all consumers that
> (a) Silver fillings are about 50% mercury, a neuro-toxin and
> environmental hazard;
> (b) There exists a diversity of various scientific opinions regarding
> the safety of mercury dental amalgam;
> (c) Particularized concern has been expressed regarding the health
> effects on children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers;
>
> 2. States enact laws to provide choices to all consumers, so that
> Medicaid families and moderate-income consumers on insurance plans
> will be able to choose alternatives to mercury amalgam.
>
> ***************
>
>
>
> * The resolution calls for state laws addressing three issues:
> -- health warnings to all consumers, stating that "silver fillings are
> about 50% mercury, a neuro-toxin and environmental hazard";
> -- “particularized concern … regarding the health effects on children,
> pregnant women, and nursing mothers”; and
> -- changes in state-funded and private insurance plans so that poor
aand moderate-income consumers may choose alternatives to amalgam.
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