Chicago Sun-Times
By Jim Ritter, Health Reporter
May 2, 2006
Convinced her multiple sclerosis was caused by the mercury in 16 silver-colored fillings, Linda Brocato asked her dentist to remove them.
Although she still is unable to walk, Brocato said her symptoms improved dramatically after she got a new set of mercury-free fillings.
Now the Prospect Heights resident is a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit demanding that the Food and Drug Administration either ban mercury fillings or show they are safe.
"The FDA is supposed to protect us, and they have not done so in this instance," Brocato said.
FDA spokeswoman Susan Cruzan said the agency does not comment on lawsuits. However, she noted the FDA is holding a two-day meeting in September to review scientific evidence on mercury fillings. In the meantime, Cruzan said, "We currently believe that they are safe."
More than 100 million Americans have received metal fillings. Mercury, which composes about half the weight of these fillings, is used to bind powders of silver, copper, tin and other metals.
MS society: no evidence of link
Mercury is a toxic metal, and metal fillings continuously release small amounts of mercury vapor that patients inhale.
Nevertheless, the American Dental Association says metal fillings have been used safely for more than 100 years. And two government studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association last month found that metal fillings caused no ill effects in children.
The National MS Society says there is "no scientific evidence" to link metal fillings to MS or other neurological diseases.
Although mercury poisoning can damage the nervous system and cause tremors and weakness, such damage is inflicted in a different way than MS, the society said.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of four consumer groups; a member of the California dental board; an Arizona state senator; a mercury-free dentist; a woman who believes mercury fillings caused her asthma, and Brocato.
More dentists using non-metals
Two congressmen, Dan Burton (R.-Ind.) and Diane Watson (D.-Calif.), also are demanding the FDA regulate mercury fillings.
"We fail to understand why the FDA has banned mercury in disinfectants (mercurochrome), warned against mercury in certain foods (fish), prohibited the use of mercury in all veterinary products, yet continues to allow its unregulated use inches from a child's brain," the congressmen wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt.
In recent years, more dentists have begun using tooth-colored composite fillings, which consist of materials such as glass and ceramic.
About 70 percent of fillings today are composites. But these mercury-free fillings generally cost more and don't last as long as metal fillings, a dental association spokesman said.
jritter@suntimes.com
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-mercury02.html