Why the concern about mercury in amalgam?
Mercury is a metal that occurs naturally in the environment. Mercury can exist as a liquid — as is seen in many thermometers — or, when heated, as a gas. It also can be combined with many other materials. Everyone is exposed to mercury through air, drinking water, soil and food. Concerns have been raised, for instance, about the amount of mercury accumulating in fish as a result of pollution. Mercury enters the air from industries that burn mercury-containing fuels. Mercury from all sources can accumulate in body organs. As with most substances, the degree of harm caused by mercury in the body is related to the amount. Very low levels don’t cause any ill effects. At higher levels — for instance, when workers are exposed to mercury through their jobs — mercury can cause a number of symptoms including anxiety, irritability, memory loss, headaches and fatigue. The controversy over mercury in amalgam centers on how much mercury is released from fillings and absorbed into the body. In the p
