what's in your mouth?

were you a kid in the 70s? did you get lots of cavities filled with mercury based amalgams? are you, like me, freaked out because you have small bits of mercury in your mouth that are released every time you chew? well i am. have been for several years even though my dentist says no worries, no, we don't have to replace them. but last year i did get a new cavity filled with resin stuff. i looked at a few articles regarding this "scare" but i'm still scared.

a recent article from terrain got me to worrying again:

Aside from uranium, mercury is the most toxic metal known to man; it takes only a few milligrams to kill you, and once it accumulates in your tissues, it can cause neurological problems and organ damage. Mercury toxicity in humans has been linked to chronic fatigue syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and kidney problems, and some believe it's responsible for the alarming rise in autism and Alzheimer's disease.

"We have a very serious problem here," said Dr. Boyd Haley during a September 2006 clinical teleconference. Haley is chairman of the chemistry department at University of Kentucky, and he has conducted extensive research on mercury's effects on brain and nerve tissue. "Every study of mercury on the human brain shows that it generates neuronal problems," he said. "The American Dental Association (ADA) and the FDA ignore this, saying mercury is safe and has no effect on the brain. This is 100 percent wrong."

Mercury compounds can enter the body through various pathways, including inhalation of vapor, ingestion, and skin contact. It's found in paints, pesticides, batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, skin creams, vaccines, old-style thermometers, eye drops, and of course, those silver amalgam fillings in your mouth. Despite the American Dental Association's best efforts to downplay the risk, mercury from amalgams is continually released, increasing as you chew food or gum. "Mercury comes off amalgam fillings at a rate much, much higher than the ADA spokespeople say it does," says Haley. "Eighty percent that comes off the fillings is retained by the body."

and here's what the FDA says about amalgam safety. i'm not convinced, are you?

finally check out this cool site about all things mercury.

...get some sleep...

i love to sleep. a lot. always have. always will. i'm already panicking at the thought of my new job schedule which will take away my late morning sleep time.

today's new york times science section has a bunch of articles on sleep. good reading. and more reasons for me to go back to sleep. jane brody writes about the damaging effects (at every age) of not enough rest.

"Studies suggest that adults who sleep seven to eight hours a night are the healthiest. About a third fall into that range. More than a third sleep less than seven hours, and nearly a third sleep more than eight hours." (photo from flickr.com)

and then check out some musings on sleep, and why we have nightmares.

my favorite sleep quote:

Sleeping alone, except under doctor’s orders, does much harm. Children will tell you how lonely it is sleeping alone. If possible, you should always sleep with someone you love. You both recharge your mutual batteries free of charge. MARLENE DIETRICH

happy dreaming!

Governor Max Baucus on Healthcare for Kids

Simply ridiculous. This is a draconian measure that is mere pennies to the National Government. This is not a money issue, but a philosophy issue. "One step closer to national health insurance" goes the argument. I say good! Please.