Safe Amalgam Removal To Avoid Mercury Exposure
Silver fillings are also known as amalgams. It may be surprising to most people that the content is composed of more than 50% mercury. According to the World Health Organization, "Elemental and methylmercury are toxic to the central and peripheral nervous systems. The inhalation of mercury vapor can produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys. The inorganic salts of mercury are corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested. Neurological and behavioral disorders may be observed after inhalation, ingestion or dermal exposure of different mercury compounds. Symptoms include tremors, insomnia, memory loss, neuromuscular effects, headaches and cognitive and motor dysfunction. Mild, sub-clinical signs of central nervous system toxicity can be seen in workers exposed to an elemental mercury level in the air...".
Mercury is considered by WHO as one of the top ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern.
I personally do not offer amalgam fillings in my personal practice due to it's many associated risks. I do however (quite frequently) need to remove them when I work on patients. When these fillings are removed, they are reduced into small particles and some of the mercury vaporizes. The risk of ingesting and inhaling high levels of mercury goes up exponentially.