Unforeseen Side of Mercury
Op/Ed by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown
April 25, 2007

Philadelphia - Some things aren’t as they seem.

Silver fillings must be silver, right? Wrong. They are mainly mercury, a toxic material. But a Zogby poll says that over three-quarters of Americans don’t know that

The United States Food and Drug Administration makes sure that only safe products are on the market, right? Not in 2007. The FDA admits it doesn’t know if those mercury/silver fillings are safe or unsafe -- yet keeps them on the market without warnings! Exposure to mercury can permanently injure the developing brain of a child or fetus. FDA bans mercury in any medicine or lotion for horses or dogs, so for the FDA children are coming in last.

The dentist should decide on what kind of filling material to use, right? Yes and no. Health care decisions should be made by the patient, with proper advice. The EPA says for the sake of the baby a pregnant woman should try to avoid all mercury exposures – and “silver” fillings is one. She should tell the dentist she is pregnant, and ask about the alternative, such as the white-colored fillings, known as resin.

With these contradictions, it’s time to dig deeper. I’ve introduced a bill to require disclosure of this mercury to all patients, and put environmental requirements in place to stop this mercury from going from dental offices into Philadelphia’s wastewater. City Council is holding a hearing at City Hall on May 2 at 10:00, where the Council will work for solutions. With FDA taking a pass, we may have to solve this one ourselves.