After dissolving into tears of frustration, pain, and perplexity, I went to a local emergency room (ER) in March 2002. Approximately six months prior to my ER visit, I had begun feeling slowly progressing lower leg pain and discomfort that grew to searing pain on standing still for more than a few minutes. At first, I had self-diagnosed this pain as Achilles tendonitis and accepted it as an inevitable fact of life that accompanies an active lifestyle in an aging body. As it progressed and was joined by other symptoms, I became concerned and frightened.

My primary complaints upon ER admission included bilateral lower leg pain, exacerbating arthritis, fatigue, and a feeling that I can only describe as my legs feeling unstable under me. I was greeted with the same perplexity I had been receiving over recent months from various physicians across the medical discipline spectrum. These opinions varied from a rheumatologist’s demoralizing diagnosis of depression-induced fibromyalgia to an ER physician questioning me about the use of hard street drugs. One kind ER physician recommended that I be evaluated by the hospital’s chief of neurology. I again felt a swell of frustration building as I had recently been evaluated by a neurologist whose treatment plan was to give me a prescription for Darvocet, along with a pat on the back. As she was leaving the room, I mentioned to the ER physician, “For what it’s worth, I’m also having strange bodily twitching.” An inquisitive look came over her face, and she stated that she wanted to test my mercury level. I did not think much of it and was released on advice to rest, medicate for pain as needed, and follow up with a neurologist. Three days later, an ER nurse phoned me and stated that my serum mercury level was elevated. I called poison control and was met with a response that if I had consumed seafood within 72 hours prior to testing, the result was meaningless. My general practitioner (GP) also assumed lab error or recent ingestion of seafood and had the test repeated. This time, I had been seafood-free for ten days, but again, the results were an elevated level of mercury. My life, knowledge, and perspective on many issues ranging from medicine to the environment would never be the same.

Mercury: The Toxic Metal

Mercury (Hg) is an extremely toxic metal, second only to cadmium as the most poisonous on earth.1 This toxin has an affinity for the human nervous system, with deleterious neurological effects extremely well documented in medical history. Mercury’s multiple physiological capabilities include, but are far from limited to,

* altering and damaging the cardiac, renal, and immune systems
* elevating oxidative stress and depleting/disrupting antioxidant protection
* peripheral nerve damage
* altering calcium homeostasis
* interfering with enzyme functions

How Does One Become Mercury-Toxic?

Coal-burning power plants dump approximately forty tons of mercury into the atmosphere per year. This vaporized Hg eventually finds its way into lakes, rivers, and oceans. Bacteria in water and soil convert mercury to its most toxic methylated form. Contaminated food sources are then ingested by aqueous creatures, thus increasing their bodily mercury levels in accordance with their place on the food chain. This modern biological fact has recently prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to advise the general public to limit their intake of specific species of fish. In addition, pregnant women have been advised not only to limit, but avoid consuming fish high on the food chain. The species of fish included in this warning are swordfish, shark, mackerel, and tuna.

A controversial source of mercury is from dental amalgams. Amalgam is a generic term for so-called silver dental fillings, which contain up to 50 percent liquid metallic mercury. The scientific research is clear that the more amalgam fillings one has in his or her mouth, the higher the person’s level of systemic mercury. In fact, mercury amalgams are the primary source of systemic mercury in the human population.

Actions and habits such as chewing, brushing, and inordinate mouth breathing increase both the vapor release of mercury from amalgam and subsequent inhalation. Scientific research supports the connection between amalgam placement and pathological alterations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a safe limit of 0.1 micrograms of methylmercury per kilograms per day. Other toxicology authorities maintain that there is no threshold level of mercury exposure that can be considered totally harmless.

The Road to Detoxification

My options were multiple, but my goal was clear—detoxification. My GP, who is, for the most part, conventional in his medical approach surprised me by saying that he felt that my twenty-two amalgams should be removed. Along with removal of my amalgam fillings, a seafood-free diet, and an array of self-researched nutrition supplements, I was treated with chelation therapy for systemic mercury removal.
Initially, I was treated by my GP with 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), or Chemet, a prescription medication commonly used for lead poisoning in children. After three weeks and slight clinical improvement, I consulted with an integrative physician, whose approach was 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS) intravenously, followed by a vitamin and glutathione drip. He tested my mercury body burden with what is called a DMPS challenge test. The results had me excreting urinary mercury at a level five times the upper range of normal. This was after three weeks of the first-line treatment with DMSA!

Mercury is a tenacious poison, thus making the process of detoxification long and arduous—one that I can only analogize as a roller-coaster of good and bad days. I knew this would be the case prior to initiation, through my own research and from the health care practitioners treating me. Although expected, it was nonetheless challenging and frustrating.

Today

As of this writing, I have been symptom-free for over two months. I am very active, alternating between biking ten miles, walking three miles on the beach, ocean kayaking, and playing beach volleyball. I have had days where I’ve done all four in one day! This is an unimaginable progression from being unable to stand for three minutes without burning pain.

One of my primary concerns is the deleterious effect that Hg poisoning has had on my cardiovascular health. With my subpar genetic history in this area, I make a special effort at strictly controlling my cholesterol and blood pressure. I have chosen a diet that is virtually seafood-free, supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids, rather than the generally advised intake of two to three servings of fish per week. Recent research is citing that not only is Hg toxicity deleterious to cardiovascular health, but the mercury content of many species of fish may negate the natural cardioprotective components contained therein. In addition, I take broad-spectrum antioxidants to aid in the healing and maintenance of systems that were likely altered by mercury toxicity.

Conclusion

As for those reading this, I would recommend that you take caution in your seafood intake—both amount and species. In addition, ask your dental practitioner why the second most toxic metal on the planet has been implanted into the bodies of most reading this article. Don’t gently succumb to intimidating responses such as that the mercury is rendered harmless when amalgamated with other materials. After reviewing the American Dental Association’s (ADA) position statement on the safety of amalgam, and scouring the (global) research on the subject, it is my opinion that the ADA has been far from unbiased, balanced, and forthcoming in their position on this issue. This stance has put both the professionals within this organization and the public whom they serve at risk of ill health. At the very least, it should be mandatory that patients be informed about the content of the material being implanted in their mouths. Dental professionals are strongly mandated to carefully discard of unused or removed amalgam as to protect the environment. Intriguing that according to regulations, amalgam is safe when placed in the mouth, but not into ordinary garbage.

On the political and environmental fronts, I would advise self-education and activism on this issue. Much legislation is presently under way and needed to protect the general public from both environmental and medically induced risks of mercury poisoning.2

** This article is one of 101 great articles that were published in 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Health. To get complete details on “101 Great Ways to Improve Your Health”, visit http://selfgrowth.com/healthbook3.html

Author's Bio: 

Chuck Balzer, MSc, BSc, is a nutritionist and nutra/pharmaceutical consultant with over ten years of experience as a clinical registered dietitian and college instructor. He has had multiple published commentaries in medical journals, in addition to having presented internationally on the subject of vitamins and minerals in health and disease. He can be reached at ChuckMSRD@aol.com. More of his commentaries and articles can be accessed at http://EverettLabs.com.