If we ceased all mercury emissions tomorrow, fish would still not be safe to eat for decades. A whopping 40-60 metric tons a year of mercury is used by the dental industry. No less than eight tons a year are discharged into our waters through excretion of urine and feces from individuals.

The average amalgam filling has more than one-half gram of mercury. Because mercury is extremely toxic, it only takes one-half gram to contaminate a 10-acre lake to the extent that fish consumption advisories would be issued. Multiply that by more than 100 million fillings a year (in the U.S. alone), you get an idea of the magnitude of the problem.

Mercury vapor, caused by chewing action and-or hot liquids in the mouth with mercury amalgams, quickly and easily crosses the brain barrier and the placenta causing problems for both an adult and for a developing fetus. Dyslexia, ADHD, ADD, retardation, autism and other neurological disorders have been implicated.

Oddly, the American Dental Association, like alchemists of old who tried to turn lead (also toxic) into gold, claims that even though mercury is treated as a hazardous substance going into the dental office, and treated as hazardous waste leaving the dental office, it is magically safe in your mouth – how can this be? It can’t. Mercury is toxic. Period.

This is not just a health or environmental issue, but economic as well. Dentists use amalgam fillings because they are “cheap.” However, mercury use in any application is never cheap. The cost of negative health effects from mercury exposure is huge. The cost to our environment is unimaginably high.

A bill before the legislature, LD 637, eliminates the use of mercury amalgams. There are safer alternatives. Maine should pass this law to protect our kids and environment from toxic mercury exposure.

Kathleen McGee

Bowdoinham