mercury toxicity

I have been ill all my adult life with headaches and feelings of unwellness. Over the years it got worse and worse until I became in a debilatated state for several years. I was diagnosed with high levels of mercury in my body which had leached out from my silver dental amalgams. I have sufferred such horrendous head pain. I have been doing naturopathic programs to remove the mercury for five years now. As the mercury levels go down in my body I am beginning to feel a little better. My body has been through hell. There is a lot of damage to my brain and to my digestive sysyem . It has cost a fortune to try to get the mercury out of my body. I strongly feel the the Canadian Dental Association should pay for almost ( NOT BETTER YET ) ruining my life and my poor husband's life. Do you think I would ever have a chance to get reimbursed for my costs and my suffering ? Do you know of any other similar cases which have been won by mercury toxicity sufferers.

AMALGAM CLASS ACTION SUIT IN CANADA

February 1997

The CFMR (Canadians For Mercury Relief) release opened with: "The silver dental fillings that you have been receiving are comprised of fifty percent mercury and have been exposing you to mercury vapor concentrations in your mouth, that in many cases exceeds the World Health Organization's Safe Occupational Exposure Limits by as much as 1200%." The release went on to cite the twenty year old study of Dr. Pierre Blais for Health Canada. A spokesperson for CFMR emphasized that the purpose of the lawsuit was to educate Canadians and dentists alike as to their options and also the importance of proper procedures for the removal of mercury amalgam fillings.

CFMR has retained the Toronto law firm of Paroian, Raphael, Courey, Cohen & Houston to take preliminary steps prior to the commencement of a class action lawsuit. The primary thrust of the potential legal action is based on the fact that Health Canada failed in its duty to inform the citizens of Canada of the results of its own internal studies questioning the safety of mercury exposure from dental amalgam fillings. The AFPA news release expressed full support for the CFMR action and stated: "We believe that it is imperative that their message be heard, as it affects so many Canadians. Citizens have a right to know the potential risks they are taking in using Mercury Amalgam." The two groups held a joint news conference at the law firm at 10:00 am on Thursday, 20 February 1997.

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Paroian, Raphael, Courey, Cohen & Houston
Address: Suite 1812
181 University Ave
Toronto, ON M5H 3M7, Canada
Phone: (416) 594-1812
Fax: (416) 594-0868
http://pview.findlaw.com/view/1201920_1

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NEWS RELEASE
Alliance For Public Accountability Supports CFMR
Monday, February 17, 1997

Ottawa -- The Alliance For Public Accountability is fully supporting "Canadians For Mercury Relief", the organization formed to seek remedy on behalf of Canadians who have received Amalgam Dental Fillings containing as much as fifty percent Mercury.

"We applaud the efforts of CFMR", states Michelle Brill Edwards M.D., formerly of the Health Protection Branch of Health Canada. "We have been working alongside the members of CFMR in recent months and believe that it is imperative that their message be heard, as it affects so many Canadians. Citizens have a right to know the potential risks they are taking in using Mercury Amalgam."

The Alliance's accountability expert, Henry McCandless states "The dental amalgam issue is yet another example of the need for those with regulating responsibilities to apply precautionary principle in decision making. The CFMR has assembled a team of extremely knowledgeable scientists and medical experts on mercury poisoning and they are all in accord, that putting a toxic substance in your mouth is not good for you."

American consumers sue over mercury fillings in teeth

Last Updated: Tuesday, June 12, 2001 | 5:31 PM ET
CBC News

Consumer groups are suing the American and California Dental Associations, claiming they have been misled about the dangers of mercury fillings.
Kids Against Pollution, Dental Amalgam Mercury Syndrome Inc., the American Academy of Biological Dentistry and a group of patients have collectively put their names on the lawsuit.

Critics say mercury fillings, often called silver amalgams, can leak vapours and poison the body. They say the fillings cause everything from headaches to Alzheimer's Disease.

The lawsuits allege the associations violated California's business and professions code and charge the ADA and CDA with preventing dentists from discussing the issue with their patients.

"The worst thing they are doing is hiding the presence of mercury in fillings," said lawyer Charles Brown. "These fillings are 50 percent mercury."

"We consider it to be safe and the science certainly indicates that it is," said Linda Seifert of the CDA.

"Dental amalgam (silver filling) is considered to be safe, affordable and durable material that has been used to restore the teeth of more than 100 million Americans," said a statement released by the ADA.

The plaintiffs are demanding the court stop the ADA and CDA from putting out what they call "misleading and inaccurate information" about the fillings and to stop referring to them as "silver."

The National Institutes of Health in the U.S. are conducting clinical trails on mercury fillings in children. Other studies have been inconclusive.

Several countries, including Germany and Sweden, have banned the use of mercury amalgams but not for scientific reasons. Government officials say they are doing so because of public perception and pressure.

In Canada, dental schools are telling students to offer their patients a choice. The Canadian Dental Association encourages its members to discuss the issue with their patients.

Both the CDA and Health Canada stand behind mercury fillings but some Canadians have banded together and launched their own interest group.

Canadians for Mercury Relief was started in 1996.

CFMR launched legal action in 1998 against Health Canada and Dentsply, which supplies dental materials. Their case has yet to go to court.

Please, does anyone know what the status of the suit against the cda re; amalgam is? I have been almost comatose for 10 yrs with amalgam illness, in wheelchair for the past 5 yrs, hadv teeth removed last dec. and am just starting to wake up...am mad as hell..my email if you have any info.. katson45@shaw.ca thanks , kathy