Causes of Scleroderma: Mercury Exposure (Dental Amalgam)

Causes of Scleroderma (MAIN MENU)

This page was written by Shelley Ensz and has not yet been medically edited.

Overview of Mercury Exposure
Dental Amalgam

Overview

Here is some research related to mercury exposure as a possible risk factor for autoimmune disease, such as scleroderma.

Mercury and autoimmunity: Implications for occupational and environmental health. These results suggest a new model for Hg immunotoxicity, as a co-factor in autoimmune disease, increasing the risks and severity of clinical disease in the presence of other triggering events, either genetic or acquired. PubMed. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2005 Jul 13.

ToxFAQs for Mercury Exposure to mercury occurs from breathing contaminated air, ingesting contaminated water and food, and having dental and medical treatments. Mercury, at high levels, may damage the brain, kidneys, and developing fetus. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Is there a medical test to show whether I have been exposed to mercury? Tests are available to measure mercury levels in the body. Blood or urine samples are used to test for exposure to metallic mercury and to inorganic forms of mercury. Mercury in whole blood or in scalp hair is measured to determine exposure to methylmercury. Your doctor can take samples and send them to a testing laboratory. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Dental Amalgam

Mercury teeth fillings may harm some: U.S. FDA. Silver-colored metal dental fillings contain mercury that may cause health problems in pregnant women, children and fetuses. Reuters. 06/04/08. (Also see: FDA Warnings )

Dental amalgam as one of the risk factors in autoimmune diseases. Results imply that, in some patients with thyroiditis, mercury from dental amalgam can stimulate the production of antinuclear antibodies. Dental amalgam may be a risk factor in some patients with autoimmune disease. PubMed. Neuroendocrinol Lett 2003 Feb-Apr;24(1/2):65-67. (Also see: Thyroiditis, Dental Involvement, and Antibodies)

Increased Prevalence of Scleroderma in Southwestern Ontario: A Cluster Analysis The cluster in Woodstock seems statistically validated. Associations with alcohol and dental fillings require further study. The Journal of Rheumatology VOLUME 29: NO. 9 SEPTEMBER 2002.

Exposing Ourselves to Art. It's not just professional artists at risk, either–it's any hobbyist, art teacher, student, or summer camper. Although the old masters were exposed to an impressive array of potentially debilitating substances, trends in modern art have put contemporary artists in contact with a much wider assortment of materials. Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP).

Media Articles

Art saves Lives. (But what are your art supplies doing to you?). Paul Rubens, Auguste Renoir, Raoul Dufy, and Paul Klee all had autoimmune disorders caused by mercury, cadmium, arsenic, lead, antimony, tin, cobalt, manganese, and chromium, as well as chronic lead and manganese poisoning. (Expired article) Vickie Enkoff.

Mad About Mercury. Concern over toxic mercury levels in the general population is growing, and it may be an even bigger health problem than most people anticipate. "People are having symptoms just like the hatters," says Dr. Jane Hightower alluding to the 19th and early 20th century "mad hatters" who were exposed to mercury nitrate used to process fur pelts. "They have weakness, headache, stomach upsets, hair loss, allergy symptoms, and there's a question of autoimmune disease." AlterNet. EnviroHealth 09/15/04.