3/24    How many of you have mercury dental amalgams in your mouth?
        I still see a lot of conflicting information out there. Why is it
        it okay to have mercury vapor going into your body?
        \_ I do.  What evidence is there of mercury vapor going into your body?
           The amalgam isn't the same as free mercury.
            \_ How should I know what evidence there is for anything? That's
               what I'm saying, there's conflicting information. My dentist
               gave me a "facts" booklet when I asked about it, which says
               "research continues" and "a diversity of opinions exists".
               It's a fact that the 50% mercury component is emitted as
               vapor. It seems likely that different conditions affect just
               how much is emitted, and there are various compositions of
               amalgam that might be in your mouth. It's pretty much accepted
               that mercury vapor is absorbed in the body. If you spill some
               mercury on the ground you do not want to breathe that stuff.
               Anyway people seem worried about mercury in fish and I've seen
               claims that dental mercury accounts for more than any other
               source.
               \_ Well, if you think about it, the amount of lead you consume
                  when brushing your teeth is probably pretty bad too over
                  a lifetime, or the amount of ultraviolet radiation you
                  get from sun exposure, or the carcinogens you breath in
                  from all the emissions from cars, or the abestos that
                  still exists in many old buildings... Perhaps it's about
                  time you took a vacation and relaxed.
        \_ There was a study that showed correlation betw. birth defects
           and number of mercury fillings in the pregnant mother.
           \_ I saw this thing on TV about stuff!