The Mercury in Corn Syrup

#CocaColaMercury
#MercuryInCornSyrup
#MercuryInCocaCola
#MercuryCausticSoda

Mercury cell chlor-alkali products are used to produce thousands of products including food ingredients such as citric acid, sodium benzoate, and high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup is used in food products to enhance shelf life.  A pilot study was conducted to determine if high fructose corn syrup contains mercury, a toxic metal historically used as an anti-microbial. High fructose corn syrup samples were collected from three different manufacturers and analyzed for total mercury. The samples were found to contain levels of mercury ranging from below a detection limit of 0.005 to 0.570 micrograms mercury per gram of high fructose corn syrup. Average daily consumption of high fructose corn syrup is about 50 grams per person in the United States. With respect to total mercury exposure, it may be necessary to account for this source of mercury in the diet of children and sensitive populations.

Background

Chlorine and caustic soda are produced at chlor-alkali plants using mercury cells or the increasingly popular membrane technology that is mercury free and more energy-efficient. Worldwide there are approximately fifty mercury cell chlor-alkali plants in operation [1]. Of those there are eight in the United States (US) [2]. In 2003 the EPA reported in the Federal Register that on average approximately seven tons of mercury were missing from each plant in the year 2000 [3]. These chlor-alkali plants have an average of fifty-six cells, each containing as much as 8,000 pounds of mercury [4] and, every year the chlor-alkali industry reports unaccounted for mercury losses to the EPA [5]. Mercury is a danger to unborn children whose developing brains can be damaged if they are exposed to low dose microgram exposures in the womb [6]. Since mercury is a potent neurological toxin, these unaccounted for mercury losses from the chlor-alkali industry are of concern as they could be a source of exposure for humans, wildlife, and the environment. An Environmental Health Officer (EHO) at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted an investigation to find the missing mercury in the chlor-alkali industry [7].

The path of the investigation

An employee of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggested that the EHO contact the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for information on Vulcan Chemicals' mercury balance sheet. Vulcan Chemical was the only chemical company to find its missing mercury. Upon request, the Wisconsin DNR provided the EHO with Vulcan Chemical's annual mercury balance sheet that reported their mercury losses in their products for the year that the mercury balance was done. Vulcan Chemical submitted this mercury balance sheet to the Wisconsin DNR in 2003 with their wastewater discharge permit re-issuance application. This information led to the realization that mercury residue may be found in all products produced by the mercury cell chlor-alkali industry. A representative of the Chlorine Institute confirmed in a telephone interview that the amount of mercury residue in mercury cell chlor-alkali products varies, depending on the manufacturing process at each plant. It is found in mercury grade caustic soda according to product specification sheets [8].

According to an archived web page report initially produced by Vulcan Chemicals, mercury grade caustic soda and hydrochloric acid are primarily used by the high fructose corn syrup industry [9]. Following this lead, the EHO conducted an interview with an "organic" producer of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in 2004 and was told that the HFCS industry uses both mercury grade caustic soda and membrane grade caustic soda in their manufacturing process to enhance product shelf life. A review of the literature revealed that HFCS is indeed used as a sweetener by food manufacturers to stabilize food products and enhance product shelf life [10]. HFCS is the end product from a corn wet-milling process that involves a number of steps in a product line that yields corn oil, animal feed, starch products, and corn sweeteners. Several chemicals are required to make HFCS, including caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, alpha-amylase, gluco-amylase, isomerase, filter aid, powdered carbon, calcium chloride, and magnesium sulfate [11]. The caustic soda and hydrochloric acid are used throughout the milling process to adjust the pH of the product line. The product line starts with corn and the cornstarch molecule is then converted to different products by various methods that involve acids, bases, sodium hypochlorite and enzymes [12]. Should mercury grade caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, or sodium hypochlorite (derived from mercury grade chor-alkali chemicals) be used in the milling process, it seemed plausible to the EHO that mercury may well end up in the final product – HFCS. A limited screening of HFCS samples for mercury was initiated by the EHO and researchers at NIST found low levels of total mercury. [13].

To determine the extent of total mercury in HFCS products, the EHO then used additional government resources to collect HFCS samples from different manufacturers and collaborate with individuals outside of the federal government to analyze the samples for total mercury content. It should be noted that these activities occurred before the EHO retired in January 2008.

HFCS sample collection and analytical method

The EHO working under the Office of the FDA Commissioner instructed an investigator in a FDA regional office to collect HFCS samples from different manufacturers. During the week of February 17–24, 2005, the FDA field investigator successfully conducted three separate sampling events, one at each manufacturer. Prior to each sampling event, the FDA field investigator soaked the 20-milliliter (mL) sample vials overnight in a 50 percent (%) nitric acid solution and then rinsed them with distilled water before allowing them to air dry. Per directed assignment from the FDA researcher, the FDA field investigator collected five samples of 42% HFCS and five samples of 55% HFCS from Manufacturer A, five samples of 42% HFCS from Manufacturer B, and five samples of 55% HFCS from Manufacturer C. Each 20 mL sample vial contained approximately 10 mL of HFCS at the end of each of the sampling events. Each sample vial was appropriately labeled with the manufacturers name, % HFCS, date, and the initials of the field investigator. All samples were kept under lock and key prior to being shipped via FEDEX overnight to a laboratory for analyses.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville received the samples from a federal employee with chain-of-custody intact and sub-sampled them for total mercury analysis using NIST Oyster Tissue 1566 b as the standard reference material. The NIST Certificate of Analysis for the Oyster Tissue 1566 b stated that as a standard, it could validate the accuracy of the methods and instruments used to analyze twenty-two different elements including total mercury. All samples, blanks (water and acid matrix), and NIST standard reference material Oyster Tissue 1566 b were analyzed by the following method using Optima Grade Fisher Scientific hydrochloric and nitric acids that were certified to contain less than 0.0001 microgram (μg) mercury per gram (g) reagent. Approximately 1.0 g (to nearest 0.1 milligram) of a HFCS sample, blank, or reference material was accurately weighed into a clean 50 mL XP1500 Plus microwave cell. Approximately 5 mL of nitric acid (Optima Grade Fisher Scientific) was added to the cell. The cell was sealed, and the contents were digested in a high-pressure microwave oven (CEM Mars 5). The resulting solution was allowed to cool before gravimetrically diluting the sample to 50.0 grams (to nearest 0.1 milligram) with 2 Molar (M) hydrochloric acid (Optima Grade Fisher Scientific; 18 MÙ-cm water). Each sample was analyzed within three hours to minimize mercury loss.

A Leeman Labs Hydra AA cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometer (CVAAS) was used for the total mercury analysis. A calibration curve ranging from 10 to 200 picograms mercury/g was constructed using gravimetric dilutions (2 M hydrochloric acid described above) of a primary standard mercury solution (GFS Chemicals). Samples, blanks, and reference materials were introduced along with stannous chloride (GFS Chemicals) reductant at a rate of 5 mL/minute. Each sample and reference material was analyzed in triplicate.

Results of analyses

Inter-sample blanks displayed no mercury signal above the method detection limit of 0.005 μg mercury/g sample. Mercury recovery of spiked reference materials (GFS Chemicals) averaged 98.8 ± 0.3 %. The results from the total mercury analysis of NIST reference material Oyster Tissue 1566 b (0.036 ± 0.006 μg/g mercury) exhibited good agreement with certified values (0.037 ± 0.001 μg/g mercury). The NIST Oyster Tissue 1566 b analyses were performed prior to samples, between samples, and post-samples with no significant difference (p < 0.05) in the total mercury content between these analyses.

Mercury was detected in nine of the twenty samples analyzed (Table 1). Often samples from manufacturer "A", nine were below the 0.005 μg mercury/g sample detection limit with the sole exception being a sample that was 0.012 μg mercury/g HFCS. Of the remaining ten samples from two other manufacturers, two were below the detection limit and the mercury content of the other eight samples ranged from 0.065 μg to 0.570 μg mercury/g HFCS (Table 1).

Table 1. total mercury (Hg) in high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) samples

Implications

Mercury was not detected in eleven out of twenty HFCS samples analyzed (detection limit 0.005 μg mercury/g). A single manufacturer produced nine of these eleven samples. These samples were likely manufactured using caustic soda produced by a membrane chlor-alkali plant which does not use mercury in its manufacturing process. Eight of the nine HFCS samples exhibiting mercury levels between 0.065 μg to 0.570 μg mercury/g HFCS were produced by the other two manufacturers. This could indicate the use of mercury grade caustic soda or hydrochloric acid in the manufacturing processes used by these two manufacturers. Such use would account for the mercury in these HFCS products. With key aspects of the HFCS manufacturing process considered proprietary information, we could not confirm the composition of the raw materials used by the individual HFCS manufacturers and the subsequent source of the mercury. While more sophisticated methods produce lower detection limits, the CVAAS method used in these analyses was sufficient as it clearly and reliably demonstrated significant levels of mercury in 45% of the HFCS samples analyzed. Clearly the sample size of this preliminary trial is too small but there was no support to collect additional samples for analyses. When university researchers outside of the government attempted to obtain additional HFCS samples direct from the manufacturer they were unable to get them. However, with 45% of the HFCS samples containing mercury in this small study, it would be prudent and perhaps essential for public health that additional research be conducted by the FDA or some other public health agency to determine if products containing HFCS also contain mercury. In 2004, several member states of the European Union reported finding mercury concentrations in beverages, cereals and bakery ware, and sweeteners [14] – all of which may contain HFCS. FDA does not currently have a mercury surveillance program for food ingredients such as added sugars or preservatives manufactured with mercury grade chlor-alkali products.

The FDA does analyze some foods for mercury through the ongoing surveillance program known as the Total Diet Study (TDS). The TDS, however, does not test all foods for mercury. Mercury is routinely detected by the TDS in fish, liver, and poultry because farmers routinely use fishmeal and/or fish oil as feed for certain livestock to include chickens, swine, dairy cows, and farmed fish. Animals that are fed fishmeal can bioconcentrate monomethyl mercury in protein matrices that are then passed on to the consumer in the fat components of derived foods [15]. A list of the foods that were recently tested for total mercury along with the results of the analyses may be found at the FDA website [16]. In 2003, FDA tested 48 foods for mercury during the TDS and of those only three may have contained HFCS. Average daily US consumption of HFCS for the year 2007 was approximately 49.8 g per person according to the US Department of Agriculture website [17]. High-end consumers of beverages sweetened with HFCS could easily be ingesting more HFCS than the average person. Results of a recent study of dietary fructose consumption among US children and adults indicate that fructose consumption by Americans represents ten percent (10%) of calories consumed in a 24-hour period [18]. Seventy four percent (74%) of this fructose came from foods and beverages other than fruits and vegetables.

With respect to product labeling, FDA requires food manufacturers to list on the food product label ingredients in descending order of weight from most to least [19]. For example, HFCS is commonly listed as the first ingredient in chocolate syrup on the product label, therefore all that can be known is that of all the ingredients in chocolate syrup, there is more HFCS in the product than any other ingredient. Product labels listing HFCS as a first or second ingredient may contain detectable levels of mercury if the HFCS was manufactured with mercury grade chlor-alkali chemicals. As part of the review process for this article, the authors contacted manufacturers for more information on the % concentration of HFCS in their products and the common response back from manufacturers was that this information is proprietary. With the reported average daily consumption of 49.8 g HFCS per person, however, and our finding of mercury in the range of 0.00 to 0.570 μg mercury/g HFCS, we can estimate that the potential average daily total mercury exposure from HFCS could range from zero to 28.4 μg mercury. This range can be compared to the range of total mercury exposure from dental amalgam in children reported by Health Canada [20]. In the report issued by Canada, daily estimates of total mercury exposure from dental amalgam in children ages 3–19 ranged on average from 0.79 to 1.91 μg mercury. Canada and other countries do not recommend the use of mercury amalgam in pregnant women or children.

Current international food processing standards allow 1.0 μg mercury/g caustic soda [21,22] and there is no standard for mercury in food grade hydrochloric acid. Both of these chemicals may be used to make HFCS. The FDA has approved HFCS for use as an added sugar in food products but a review of food product labels reveals that it is often added to a product in addition to sugar presumably to enhance product shelf life. Regardless of its intended use, it is imperative that public health officials evaluate this potential source of mercury exposure, as HFCS is presently ubiquitous in processed foods and therefore significantly consumed by people all over the world.

Mercury in any form – either as water-soluble inorganic salt, a lipid-soluble organic mercury compound, or as metallic mercury- is an extremely potent neurological toxin [23]. Organic mercury compounds such as methylmercury that are fat-soluble and readily cross the blood brain barrier are especially damaging to developing nervous tissues [24,25]. For example, prenatal exposure as low as 10 mg/kg methylmercury, as measured in maternal hair growing during pregnancy, may adversely affect the development of the fetal brain [25,26]. Confounding associations and concerns with various stages of brain development related to cumulative early life exposure to mercury include the following sources of mercury: maternal fish consumption during pregnancy, the thimerosal (sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate, approximately 49% mercury weight) content of certain vaccines and dental amalgam [27].

Mercury regulation varies from country to country. While the US government only regulates methylmercury in fish, several other governments regulate all forms of mercury in all foodstuffs. In the US, the current action level of 1 μg methylmercury/g fish or seafood was set in 1977 during court proceedings of the United States of American v. Anderson Seafoods, Inc. [28]. The data used to determine the action level in fish came from a poisoning incident that occurred in Iraq under Saddam Hussein's regime in 1971–1972. There was not a chain of custody for the specimens taken from the victims of that poisoning that were tested by World Health Organization or American researchers, and an appropriate epidemiological study was not undertaken [29]. Further risk assessment for methylmercury has been conducted using human data from the massive episodes of mercury poisoning in the tragic Minimata Bay incident in Japan, as well as from large scale epidemiological studies concerning childhood neurodevelopment and neurotoxicity in relation to fetal exposure in various fish eating communities around the world [24,25]. There has never been a blinded, placebo, controlled study published giving humans mercury or methylmercury, nor would this kind of study be ethically considerable. Quantitative information on long-term effects of inorganic mercury compounds on humans does not exist [30]. Inorganic mercury compounds react with DNA and are clastogenic [30]. Because the mechanisms of these reactions remain unknown, it is currently impossible to establish a no adverse-effect-level for mercury in humans.  Sensitive populations such as neonates lacking the ability to efficiently excrete mercury or individuals that retain mercury in their body due to impairments in detoxification pathways may not be protected by any exposure limit. The implications for mercury in ingested HFCS are not known and clearly more epidemiological and neurotoxicological studies are required.

Conclusion

An EHO at the FDA conducted an investigation of the chlor-alkali industry in 2004 and found mercury residue in all of the mercury cell chlor-alkali products including caustic soda, chlorine, potassium hydroxide, and hydrochloric acid. Mercury is widely accepted to be a neurotoxic heavy metal [23]. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that minimizing any form of mercury exposure is essential for optimal child health and nervous system development [6]. Current international food processing standards allow 1.0 μg mercury/g caustic soda [21,22] and there is no standard for mercury in food grade hydrochloric acid. Both of these chemicals may be used to make HFCS. Mercury contamination of food products as a result of the use of mercury contaminated HFCS seems like a very real possibility. With daily per capita consumption of HFCS in the US averaging about 50 grams and daily mercury intakes from HFCS ranging up to 28 μg, this potential source of mercury may exceed other major sources of mercury especially in high-end consumers of beverages sweetened with HFCS. Food products that contain a significant amount of HFCS should be tested for mercury contamination in the end product and the public should be informed of any detections. Clearly, more research is needed to determine the extent of mercury exposure in children from mercury contaminated HFCS in food products.

Abbreviations

AA: Atomic Absorption; CEM: Corporation that makes microwave accelerated reaction systems; CVAAS: Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometer; DNR: Department of Natural Resources; EHO: Environmental Health Officer; EPA: Environmental Protection Agency; FDA: Food and Drug Administration; GFS: Grade Fisher Scientific; HFCS: High Fructose Corn Syrup; M: Molar; MARS: Microwave Accelerated Reaction System; NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology; TDS: Total Diet Study; US: United States; XPI: Cross Polar Isolation

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

RD carried out the environmental investigation, conceived the study, acquired the samples for analyses, and was involved in drafting the manuscript. BL provided assistance in the study design and was involved in drafting the manuscript. CC and LS analyzed the samples, acquired the data and were involved in drafting the manuscript. RS, LP, JH, DW and WJL were all instrumental in drafting the manuscript and revising it critically for intellectual content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

This research article is based on the views of the authors and does not represent an official FDA position. Thanks to Dr. Isaac Pessah and Dr. Howard Hu for their helpful reviews and feedback on the way to present this information to the public. Thanks to Dr. Barry Lai for providing assistance with sample transportation.

References

1. Oceana [http:/ / www.oceana.org/ north-america/ what-we-do/ stop-seafood-contamination/ chlorine-plant-campaign] webcite
2. Environmental Protection Agency [http://www.epa.gov/regulations/documents/regagendabook-spring08.pdf] webcite
3. National Archives and Records Administration [http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/pdf/03-22926.pdf] webcite
4. Natural Resource Defense Council [http://www.nrdc.org/media/pressreleases/030904.asp] webcite
5. United States Environmental Protection Agency [http://www.epa.gov/ord/NRMRL/pubs/600r02104/600r02104chap3.pdf] webcite
6. Goldman L, Shannon M: American academy of pediatrics technical report: mercury in the environment: implications for pediatricians.

Pediatrics 2001, 108:197-205. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

1. Cox Newspaper [http:/ / www.coxwashington.com/ hp/ content/ reporters/ stories/ 2007/ 01/ 14/ BC_MERCURY_ADV14_COX.html] webcite
2. K A Steel Chemical Company [http:/ / www.kasteelchemicals.com/ tinymce/ filemanager/ files/ spec_sheets/ mccsa.pdf] webcite
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4. Corn Refiners Association [http://www.corn.org/HFCSBrochure.pdf] webcite
5. Lurgi Life Science GmbH: High Fructose Syrup Production-Process and Economics. In Proceedings of International Conference on Value-Added Products for the Sugar Industry. Baton Rouge; 1999.
6. Emerson Process Management [http://www.emersonprocess.com/raihome/documents/Liq_AppData_2000-84.pdf] webcite
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9. Dorea J: Fish meal in animal feed and human exposure to persistent bioaccumulative and toxic substances.

J Food Protec 69:2777-2785. PubMed Abstract

1. Food and Drug Administration [http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~comm/tds-food.html] webcite
2. United States Department of Agriculture [http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/sugar/data/table52.xls] webcite
3. Vos M, Kimmons J, Gillespie C, Welsh J, Blanck H: Dietary Fructose Consumption Among US Children and Adults: The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Medscape J Med 2008, 10:160. PubMed Abstract | PubMed Central Full Text

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6. Langford N, Ferner R: Toxicity of mercury.

J Hum Hypertens 1999, 13:651-656. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

1. Castoldi A, Johansson C, Onishchenko N, Coccini T, Roda E, Vahter M, Ceccatelli S, Manzo L: Human developmental neurotoxicity of methylmercury: impact of variables and risk modifiers.

Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2008, 51:201-214. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

1. Myers G, Davidson P: Does methylmercury have a role in causing developmental disabilities in children?

Environ Health Perspec 2000, 3:413-420. Publisher Full Text

1. Oken E, Bellinger D: Fish consumption, methylmercury and child neurodevelopment.

Curr Opin Pediatr 2008, 20:178-183. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

1. State of California [http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65/law/pdf_zip/andersonseafood.pdf] webcite
2. Hightower J: Diagnosis Mercury: Money, Politics, and Poison. Washington DC: Island Press; 2008.
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OPTIMAL HEALTH
I recommend products that are natural to our well-being, and only ones that can be found in the grocery or health food store.  Everything I recommend I do myself.  Everything I do is on my website, and everyone can use my site to get back to good health, naturally.  However, some people can be very deep in the woods, allergic to just about everything, while suffering from chronic pain and inflammation.  Many times their intestines are a wreck, and their body is putting on weight to protect itself from toxins.  Getting people back to a state of well being, naturally, takes time, patience, attention to detail, and experience.
Albert Wilking is a Health Coach and Teacher. 
 

This is the Facebook Page for The Wilking Protocol. 
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These links contain the basics of The Wilking Protocol. 

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FDA Cover Up

Excerpt from Dan Burtons speech in congress dated May 5, 20003

Mercury is one of the most toxic minerals found in nature, second only to radioactive materials. Dental amalgam consists of a mixture of powdered metals (alloy) and liquid mercury, with mercury constituting 50 percent or slightly more of the amalgam by weight. After the ingredients are mixed and inserted into a cavity, the mixture quickly hardens. For many years it was thought that after amalgamation, the mercury was permanently bound to the other ingredients and was rendered inert. However, during the last 30 plus years, scientists have come to realize that small amounts of mercury continuously leach from amalgams, and that the leaching may go on for many years.

It should be noted that mercury is an element. It cannot be broken down or changed into a different substance. Whether in its vapor, liquid, or solid form, mercury is still mercury.

The human body does not have an effective filter or elimination system for mercury, since it is a substance that humans were not designed to ingest. Moreover, mercury in the human body accumulates over time.

http://mercuryconspiracy.blogspot.com/2015/04/dan-burton-speech-to-congress.html

Here is a link to congressional hearings in 2002 regarding the dangers of mercury in dental fillings.  How on earth are we still placing deadly mercury in peoples mouths?

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-107hhrg84699/html/CHRG-107hhrg84699.htm

Here is the Watson Burton bill introduced again:
http://iaomt.org/watson-burton-bill-introduced/

Mercury Poisoned Kittens

 Thank you from the veterinarian Dr Jordan.





Excerpt from Dr Jordan's webpages:

The FDA approves professional poisoning from vaccines, especially the mercury laden rabies vaccinations that veterinarians are forced to take in my state in North Carolina and from the lethal substance being used inside the oral cavity as amalgam fillings. All of this poisoning, is done professionally, by medical doctors and by ADA dentists, all of the poisoning is FDA approved!


http://dr-jordan.com/2013/04/30/a-little-piece-of-my-mercury-story/

FDA, Dentists and Criminal Lies

A 2006 testimonial on FDA hearings:
http://www.mercurypoisoned.com/FDA_hearings/advisory_panel_rejects_amalgam_safety.html

An excerpt:
"Dr. Mackert from the ADA told her it would take 265 to 312 amalgam fillings to reach toxic levels of mercury exposure. Another dentist from the ADA said it would take 500 fillings, all in the mouth at one time, to cause a person to be poisoned."

I think someone should have handed him a jar of 200 fillings and asked him to put them in his mouth for what do you think, 5 minutes?


This testimony written by Kathleen Nelson appears on the FDA web site.  It's long, but worth the read.
http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/06n0352/06n-0352-emc0217-02.pdf 




WHY USE “SILVER” MERCURY (TOXIC) DENTAL FILLINGS?

Written by: Kathleen Nelson (mercury survivor)

 FDA Hearings 9/6 & 7th/2006 Gaithersburg, MD

Hello, my name is Kathleen Nelson and I have traveled from Austin,

Texas. I am 54 years old, a mother of 2 sons, a grandmother of 4

beautiful grandsons and a 26 year federal civil servant. I am a

survivor of mercury amalgam poisoning. But before I share my

personal experience with mercury poisoning, I would like to sincerely

thank the FDA for having the courage to hold these hearings. But I

must say I am terribly saddened that these hearings are even a

reality.

This question to use mercury or not to use mercury in dental products

is simply absurd to me. The question defies simple common sense. It

does not take a doctorate in chemistry or toxicology to understand

that mercury is a known neurotoxin and degrades our health. It does

not take a panel of “experts” to argue with dueling, biased medical

studies to determine whether or not mercury should be placed in our

bodies. The scientific evidence about the hazards of mercury is not

new. History has documented that fact for us over and over. The

basic, underlying scientific & medical characteristics of mercury

toxicity is indisputable. This notion to prove this or that nuance is only

designed to cloud the issue thus distorting the truth.

We can not see the forest through the trees unless we are truly willing

to attack this problem from a different angle, a paradigm shift of

thinking, thus a dramatic change of heart. There is no doubt that

every single one of us here today acknowledges mercury is a

neurotoxin and harmful to our health. This ultimate truth is our

common ground. Where we disagree is why we keep using

mercury in amalgam fillings.

So, I ask this question, why are mercury fillings still being used in

America knowing full well the hazards to our health & to our

environment? There is no denying that not one single scientific or

medical case can be made to ethically support the intentional use of

toxic materials over the ethical, economical, and safer non heavy

metal alternatives available today. Not one medical case.

 2

All Americans would like to believe that the FDA will use its tax

dollars in an ethical & responsible manner. The FDA, like all

Government agencies, has a mission statement to uphold.

The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health.

Unlike the mission of the FDA to protect the public health, the mission

statement of multi million dollar mining companies is to make the

most profit possible for all stakeholders up and down the mercury

food chain. I have read that for every $400.00 of raw mercury, over

$40,000 of product is gained at the expense of the health of millions

of Americans.



Profits from these products are coveted by the corporate spin doctors

and corporate media, hired to perpetuate the veil of ignorance in our

country. Thus, for decades, Americans have been deliberately

deceived by the best media spin money can buy. The truth is that

simple.

The FDA mission is clear, to protect public health. The mercury

industry’s mission is equally as clear. Make more money. Follow the

money trail and you will understand why corporate profiteers continue

to pour mega bucks into keeping Americans in the dark or at best

confused. This is a profit versus health issue and nothing, absolutely

nothing more than that. The worse part is this unethical behavior

seemingly governed by greed makes Americans sick. The truth is

that simple.

The truth is: mercury is a neurotoxin & causes harm to our lives; our

immune systems, to our human embryos, to our babies, to their

brains, to our children, to our mothers & fathers and to our very

existence here on earth. The frequency of exposure one has to

mercury, the more mercury burden the body carries. Mercury

crosses the blood/brain barrier putting in motion all kinds of

neurological disorders and diseases. This is an indisputable scientific

& medical truth.



 3

I applaud the FDA for warning pregnant women and young children of

the harmful effects of eating fish tainted with mercury. But yet, the

FDA stays silent when asked to warn the same pregnant women and

young children of the toxic effects of mercury amalgam fillings placed

in their heads.



On one hand, the FDA warns mercury is not healthy, be careful about

eating mercury tainted fish. But on the other hand, the FDA

continues to support the use of mercury amalgam fillings by not

warning Americans about the toxic effects. It’s bad for your health to

eat mercury in fish but somehow it’s ok to directly put mercury fillings

in your living teeth. This is nonsensical and insulting.



FDA, you can not have it both ways. Mercury is either toxic or it isn’t

no matter how it’s delivered, be it fish, in vaccinations, coal plant

emissions or amalgam fillings. The answer is scientifically

indisputable. The truth is that simple.

In 1989, seventeen long years ago, the EPA declared mercury to be

a hazardous, toxic waste material. In 1991 Sweden banned mercury

fillings from being used in the teeth of pregnant women. The

Swedish Government even paid for the removal of mercury fillings for

any & all of its citizens. Here it is 2006 and still no warning from the

FDA concerning the ill effects of “silver” mercury fillings. This inaction

provokes questions.

All health physicians take the Hippocratic Oath; “do no harm.” It

appears this oath doesn’t apply to the American Dental Association.

Why does the American Dental Assoc. continue to condone this 150

year old barbaric practice of putting a neurotoxin into our heads?

There are other economic, non heavy metal, non toxic materials

being used today in lieu of mercury amalgam. The truth is simple.



They may tell you mercury fillings are cheaper and/or more durable

than the non toxic material. The truth is they make hefty profits off

mercury dental products and mercury mining. (Mercury, as you may

or may not know, is a by product of gold mining and is poisoning

untold numbers of humans around the world.)

 4

 Even if mercury is cheaper and more durable, this absurd reason to

use it does not address the ethical question of placing a known

neurotoxin into our children’s heads. This practice is simply

outrageous and it’s akin to slow generational genocide.



I sincerely welcome the cosmetic dentist practices in America today.

Cosmetic dentists have intentionally side stepped the ADA gag rule

on mercury amalgam fillings by dedicating their practice to cosmetic

dentistry. And if mercury amalgam becomes a thing of the past

because they are “ugly”, then so be it. Good rid dens I say.

But of course, poor people would not be given this same luxury would

they. Are poor children somehow not worthy of not being poisoned

by mercury fillings? What about the soldiers in our military? They too

are being poisoned by free mercury fillings funded by our

Government directly paid for by our tax dollars. The money being

made by this long time business arrangement is staggering. In turn

the money being made by our health system due to the poisoning

effects of mercury fillings is equally as staggering as is the personal

cost of misdiagnosis.

My own personal experience with misdiagnosis & mercury

amalgam fillings came to a head a couple years ago. For years prior

to this point, I suffered with chronic sinus and ear problems,

hypothyroidism, allergy symptoms, dry itchy, burning skin, severe

headaches, dizziness, extreme fatigue and flu like symptoms. I took

drugs prescribed by my doctors to manage my symptoms, but never

knew their cause until recently. After years of symptoms that became

increasingly worse with time, I became very ill, to the point of

seriously thinking about having to take disability retirement. The

doctors checked for brain tumors, aneurysms, MS, West Nile, Lymes,

lupus, Meniere’s and other disorders and diseases. Per the doctors,

the cause of my illness was most likely an unknown virus.

Trusting the advice of these reputable doctors, I waited for over a

year for this mysterious virus to pass. I barely functioned from day to

day. I ended up having to take much leave from work as I just

couldn’t move out of bed.

 5

And when I was at work, I could not perform the analytical tasks my

job required, let alone speak full sentence or recall what I had just

said a couple hours before. I would literally fall asleep at my desk by

10a.m. each morning. While driving home on my 25 minute commute,

I would nod off, and fall asleep at the wheel momentarily, damn lucky

not to have caused an accident. When I arrived at home, I flopped

onto the couch unable to muster the energy to make supper for

myself. Living day to day was hell.



A year later, word of mouth information by the grace of God came to

me through my manager at work who had gone to church with a lady

who had experienced similar health problems. She encouraged me to

see Dr Kendal Stewart in Austin, Texas. I thank God everyday I was

able see this man. The truth is my mercury poisoning by “silver”

mercury amalgam fillings has been scientifically & medically

documented. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas covered my medical

expenses caused by mercury amalgam poisoning.



My peak illness symptoms were: Vertigo, vomiting, nausea,

dizziness, peripheral & nervous system disorders, ear aches &

tinnitus, burning & itchy skin and burning brain sensations,

imbalance, severe fatigue, severe muscle aches, over sensitive

nervous system, inability to focus, drooping eye and mouth,

sensitivity to light & sound, difficulty speaking, anger, lack of focus,

forgetfulness, metal taste in mouth, sensitive teeth and gums, sinus

problems, severe headaches, rashes, hypothyroidism, weight gain

and gastric digestive problems.



With additional neurological tests, blood tests and a urine challenge

test for heavy metals and other toxins, Dr Stewart confirmed

medically & scientifically that I had high levels of mercury in my body.



Dr. Stewart recommended immediate removal of all of my mercury

fillings. The 7 mercury fillings in my mouth were 36 years old placed

in my teeth as a teenager. I had them immediately removed.





 6

Dr. Stewart placed me on oral chelation & support protocol for about

10 months after the removal of all 7 toxic fillings. Little by little, the

mercury was being excreted out of my body, out of my brain.

Chelation was very difficult but thank God, I recovered from this

mercury amalgam poisoning. I am healthy now and I have no

mercury amalgam fillings. This is not a coincidence. I am now

working with full vigor. My health was returned to me simply by

removing the toxic source, the 7 mercury amalgam fillings, and

chelating the toxic mercury out of my body. The truth is this simple.



I experienced 36 years of mercury exposure directly from 7 mercury

amalgam fillings. Now that my mercury fillings are gone, my current

mercury levels are now low. More importantly, I feel healthy. I have

no allergies. I have no fatigue. The symptoms mentioned above

virtually gone. My body’s need for thyroid medication supplement

has been reduced by 33% since the removal of my 7 mercury fillings

and chelation. My prescription for my lenses has twice been reduced

within a year of treatment. All of this and more is scientifically and

medically documented. More importantly, I don’t have to take

disability retirement.



I am one of the lucky ones. Many hundreds of thousands of

Americans are not so lucky and are in fact misdiagnosed just as I had

been. Did you know that the brain of a person diagnosed with

Alzheimer’s has 4 times as much mercury than a person’s brain

without the disease? This too is not a coincidence. The truth is

simple.

Mercury poisoning by mercury amalgam fillings is an epidemic

created by the unwillingness of the industry to stop the madness.

They purport that short term studies prove mercury fillings are safe

ignoring studies that prove the longer you are exposed to mercury,

the higher the body burden, thus more prone to illness and disease.

They purport certain levels of mercury are somehow tolerable and

normal. They purport since people don’t generally die immediately

after receiving toxic mercury fillings that their subsequent health

problems must be caused by something other than mercury

poisoning.

 7



In fact, the later statement is what the opposition is counting on to

diffuse this issue, to convince Americans that since they didn’t

immediately get sick or die from mercury fillings, there is nothing

wrong with using a known neurotoxin to fill teeth. Nothing could

be further from the truth. We all remember the issues surrounding

the lead, tobacco and asbestos law suits. The same deceitful media

spin tactics were used to keep corporate profits flowing totally

disregarding catastrophic damage to human life. Undoubtedly, it

appears history has once again repeated itself. The truth about

mercury is simple. Mercury is harmful to our bodies. No amount of

mercury should ever be tolerated in dental products.

I know many people who have experienced very similar symptoms

with long term exposure to mercury amalgam fillings. The worse part

is that deliberate misinformation continues to distract Americans and

many medical practitioners from the truth. Why is autism on the rise?

Why is MS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, peripheral and nervous system

disorders, chronic fatigue and Meniere like symptoms on the rise?

The truth is simple. We are being poisoned!



An undisputable fact is that a healthy immune system protects us

from diseases and disorders. A weakened immune system makes us

vulnerable to viruses & bacteria that cause illness. Our bodies are

capable of miraculous feats when the immune system functions

properly. This intentional degrading of our immune system through

mercury exposure sets us up for all kinds diseases and disorders.

You can not have health and have a compromised immune system.

The truth is that simple.

FDA, you must protect public health. That is your responsibility.

It’s your soul. The mercury industry’s special interest groups do not

lobby for the hundreds of millions of Americans already toxic with

mercury. They do not lobby for the thousands of poor children unable

to function normally because of mercury poisoning, and they do not

lobby for the untold numbers of elderly who have been misdiagnosed

and sentenced to needlessly live out their lives in utter misery.

 8



There is no sane, ethical, medical, or scientific reason to use

mercury fillings anymore than there is a sane, ethical, medical or

scientific reason to use mercury in knee or hip replacements. There

are scientific & medical reasons why the medical establishment does

not use mercury for knee and hip replacements. But yet, somehow

it’s medically acceptable to put mercury fillings in our heads.

Amazing! Just because a dentist placed the mercury filling in the

tooth does not make it non toxic. On the other hand, a neurosurgeon

would never ever place mercury in the head of her patient would she?

Absolutely not! Why, because mercury is a neurotoxin. The truth is

that simple.



So I ask the question again; why in God’s name do we still use

mercury in amalgam fillings? There is only one driver for this

unethical behavior. Sadly, it is money. No one here can dispute that

if minimal profits were involved with mercury dental products &

mercury mining, we would not be having this hearing today. The truth

is that simple.

I urge the FDA leadership to carry out its mission statement to warn

all Americans of the toxic danger. “Silver” mercury fillings have no

place in a progressive society. Ask those countries that have

banned them or are in process of doing so. Ask Sweden why it pays

for the removal of all “silver” mercury amaIgam fillings from the teeth

of all its citizens. Are Swedish lives somehow more worthy than

Americans? Do they know something about mercury fillings that we

don’t? Of course not, however unlike our American Government, the

Swedish Government appears to take their role in protecting public

health seriously and advocates for the people, not the special

interests. That, pure & simple is the difference. It is simply

unconscionable to allow this toxic epidemic to continue. Granted, the

truth of it all is very painful and unsettling but the consequences of

continuing this falsehood is a human tragedy equal to any epidemic

or war in our history. This apparent indifference and disconnect to

the future health of human life is abhorrent. I know first hand what it

feels like to be poisoned by mercury fillings.

 9



I know what it feels like to be healthy after the removal of mercury

fillings. My health is not a coincidence nor is it an anomaly.



There are hundreds of thousands of people who have gone through

this very same nightmare. For those of us who have been poisoned

by mercury, and lucky enough to know the truth, the answer is crystal

clear. Therefore, I invite every naysayer to walk a mile in our shoes.

The good news is every one of us has the power to change the

outcome of mercury poisoning. This ethical legacy is in our hands

right now. FDA, be pro health and give Americans a choice by

empowering them with the truth. That is your mission, your civil

responsibility.



Finally, this question to use or not to use mercury in dental products

is indeed absurd and mocks our intelligence. To argue at what point

mercury becomes more harmful is immaterial. This argument at best

is simply a diversion, thus insuring that the mercury gravy train

continues.

The fact is, there is no medical or ethical reason to take the risk

yet cruel studies funded by the mercury industry and their alter

egos, brag of using innocent, trusting children as lab rats to

further promote the consumption of mercury products. This

behavior is simply heinous and should be condemned.

The fact is, we don’t have to poison our children. We don’t have

to poison our earth. We don’t have to poison our future. The

awful truth is however, we simply choose to.

FDA Approves Fake Silver Dental Amalgams with 50% Mercury

Ask yourself this question, does the FDA state what level of Mercury Poisoning is safe in this article?

Here is a quote from their introduction.

FDA Issues Final Regulation on Dental Amalgam

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued a final regulation classifying dental amalgam and its component parts – elemental mercury and a powder alloy—used in dental fillings. While elemental mercury has been associated with adverse health effects at high exposures, the levels released by dental amalgam fillings are not high enough to cause harm in patients.


http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm173992.htm