Mercury, The Ubiquitous Toxin
Noel Peterson, ND
Quicksilver, better known as mercury, has been used for hundreds of years in medicine, dentistry, and industry. Only recently has its dark side been exposed. A recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine reports on a tragic case of mercury poisoning in the U.S. and raises new warnings about the potential danger of mercury exposure for all segments of the population.
In August of 1996, a chemistry professor from New Hampshire spilled a few drops of dimethyl mercury onto her hand, which was protected by a standard latex glove used in most laboratories. Five months later, the woman was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of loss of coordination, nausea, diarrhea, and severe speech problems. Despite aggressive medical treatment soon after symptoms appeared, the chemist's neurological status quickly and steadily deteriorated. Hair analysis revealed levels of mercury that were more than 4000 times higher than normal. Blood and urine tests used to monitor mercury levels during chelation therapy also showed staggeringly high levels. Tragically, the 48-year-old professor died within a year of her initial exposure.
Writing about this case in the Journal (June 4, 1998;338(23), medical experts sound the alarm about the deadly, super toxic nature of various forms of mercury. A strongly worded editorial notes that everyone is exposed to mercury from a diverse range of sources, including mercury amalgam dental fillings, industrial waste products, preservatives used in prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and fish from contaminated lakes, rivers, and oceans (where mercury enters the food chain through bacteria). The developing fetal brain is particularly vulnerable to toxins in the mother's body. What's more, because we are all exposed to mercury, and because symptoms of exposure (such as personality changes) are often difficult to diagnose, a "toxicological consultation" may be advisable for many patients.
Mercury is not the only heavy metal to be concerned about. The Oregon Department of Health's Communicable Disease Report identified homes in Multnomah County as having one of the highest risks of lead toxicity in the nation. The Centers For Disease Control recommended that all children between the age of six months to six years be screened for lead toxicity. At the clinic, we use hair and/or blood screening for young children. Furthermore, lead exposure is implicated in learning disorders, including ADD and ADHD. It is a frequent cause of anemia, stomachaches, anorexia, constipation, fatigue and pallor.
One of my recent cases illustrates the importance of heavy metal screening. A 56 year-old registered nurse had a year long history of diminished resistance to infection. She contracted bacterial pneumonia and viral flu like syndromes one after another. When her illnesses kept recurring, I decided to look at the possibility of heavy metal toxicity. Her only risk factor was extensive amalgam restorations in all of her molars. We tested her using a state-of-the-art method for diagnosing and treating mercury, lead and other toxic heavy metals. The procedure involves the intravenous injection of a chelating compound, DMPS, which binds to mercury and other heavy metals, carrying it out of tissue and into the urine, where it can be harmlessly eliminated from the body. The patient's urine is then sent to an analytical laboratory for quantitative testing.
Her levels exceeded safe standards by a factor of ten, and she was placed on an oral chelating compound called Captomer. Initial results have shown a remarkable improvement in her well being after only 10 weeks of chelation. At the end of twelve weeks, the patient will be retested for heavy metals. The treatment will be repeated in six-week courses until all heavy metal levels are cleared from the body.
Heavy metal toxicity is no longer believed to be rare. It is estimated that less than one in twenty people with heavy metal toxicity will be correctly diagnosed and treated. With new screening techniques and greater awareness, perhaps more people will find answers to their health problems.