Mercury Levels Soar in Americans
In this video, Dr Dan Laks, an environmental scientist specialising in neurosciences relates the findings of his study into blood levels of inorganic mercury in the US population.
Click to watch Dr Laks on mercury levels (10 mins).
The study took place between 1999 and 2006 and during that time the percentage of Americans whose blood tested positive for the presence of inorganic mercury rose from 3% to 30% - a tenfold increase in just seven years!
The chemistry of mercury is complex, but the inorganic form can either be derived directly from dental amalgam fillings or may be the end result of conversion within the body of the organic form of mercury.
Whereas the organic form can be excreted (albeit slowly) so that it has a half-life in the blood of 60 days, the inorganic form is more persistent and is deposited within the organs and systems where it is very bioactive.
In another study Dr Laks then set out to determine whether the levels of inorganic mercury found in the research were producing an effect on target organs such as the immune system, pituitary gland and liver.
The biomarker for immune function is the white blood cell count, indicators of liver function are the blood bilirubin and albumin levels, and levels of luteinising hormone (LH) are used to measure pituitary gland function.
In all three areas the biomarkers associated with chronic mercury toxicity were positive and showed an inverse relationship to blood mercury levels. He also found both higher mercury levels and a greater impact on biological function as a result of age.
However, he looked outside of epidemiological analysis to test his hypothesis using data from other disciplines such as haematology and structural biology.
Dr Laks feels that luteinising hormone (LH) which is produced by the pituitary gland in the base of the brain and which primarily directs testicular and ovarian function might just be the missing mechanism which ties together the many diverse symptoms of chronic mercury exposure.
Luteinising hormone has a complex 3 dimensional structure and seems to offer a 'rare and potent' binding site for mercury in what is known as the 'seat-belt' region which binds the 2 molecular subunits together. He speculates that the binding of mercury to LH may affect the bioactivity, structure and/or elimination rate of luteinising hormone.
He suggests that aberrant LH activity could explain the symptoms of mercury toxicity including:
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The concentration of mercury within certain regions of the brain
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Brain and nerve degeneration via the role of LH in governing neurogenesis (growth and development of new nerve cells)
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Dysregulation of sex hormones and infertility
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Compromised immune function and
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Widespread inflammation.
Other research has shown that mercury binds irreversibly to the thyroid hormone, thyroxine, which governs metabolism. Dr Laks suspects the same mechanism is at work with regards to luteinising hormone and that LH levels could be used to measure both chronic mercury exposure and the risk for endocrine disease.
He feels that there is indisputable proof that at current levels mercury poses both an elevated risk of morbidity for the population and for the individual over time but that further funding of studies or the action so urgently needed will be stymied by politics.
Further resources
Click for Dan Laks' Research Paper, his Facebook wall, Quicksilversmile: Mercury Research and Policy to watch him talk about The Trouble Funding Mercury Studies.
"This book offers natural solutions (to mercury poisoning from dental amalgam) that include choosing a good diet, the right supplements, safe amalgam removal, and heavy metal detoxification. The information, and the author’s sharing of her personal story, may help others to survive a crisis similar to what she had and will be a benefit to those seeking answers to this all too common problem."
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