Dental Mercury Impairs Kidney Function

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This is part of a much larger article called 'The Dental Amalgam

Issue' at http://www.amalgam.org/

blessings

Shan

 

Dental Mercury Impairs Kidney Function

http://www.amalgam.org/#anchor45982

 

Boyd, N.D., H. Benediktsson, M.J. Vimy, D.E. Hooper, and F.L. Lorscheider,

" Mercury From Dental " Silver " Tooth Fillings Impairs Sheep Kidney Function " ,

Am.J. Physiol. 261, Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 30: R1010-R1014,

(1991).

 

ABSTRACT: In humans Hg vapor is released from " silver " amalgam fillings that

contain 50% Hg by weight. Previous studies show that when 12 such fillings are

placed in sheep teeth, the kidneys will concentrate amalgam Hg at levels

ranging from 5 to 10 ug Hg/g renal tissue 4 to 20 weeks after placement. In the

present study 12 occlusal fillings were placed in each of six adult female sheep

under general anesthesia, using standard dental procedures. Glass ionomer

occlusal fillings (12) were inserted in two control sheep. At several days

before

dental surgery, and at 30 and 60 days after placement of fillings, renal

function was evaluated by plasma clearance of inulin and by plasma and urine

electrolytes, urea, and proteins. An average plasma inulin clearance rate of

69.5

+/- 7.2 ml/min before amalgam placement was reduced to 32.3 +/- 8.1 ml/min by

30 days and remained low at 27.9 +/- 8.7 ml/min after 60 days. Inulin clearance

did not change in controls. After amalgam placement urine concentration of

albumin decreased from 93.0 +/- 20.5 to 30.1 +/- 15.3 mg/l and urine Na

concentrations increased steadily from 24.8 +/- 7.7 to 82.2 +/- 20.3 mmol/l at

60

days. Concentrations of K, urea, Y-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline

phosphatase,

and total protein did not change significantly form 0 to 60 days in urine.

Plasma levels of Na, K, urea, and albumin remained unchanged form 0 to 60 days

after amalgam. Renal histology remained normal in amalgam-treated animals. It is

concluded that amalgam Hg levels in kidney are sufficient to significantly

reduce the rate of inulin clearance by non defined mechanisms and that

electrolyte patterns in urine are consistent with impaired renal tubular

reabsorption.