Statement by Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles)

Mercury in Dental Filling Disclosure and Prohibition Act

Los Angeles, California

November 5, 2001

In times like these, there are toxins that we don't know about – how
to control them, their source and their impact. But there are toxins
that we DO know about – toxins that we know do not belong in our
bodies, toxins that we can do something about. My bill addresses that
very problem.

Mercury is an acute neuro-toxin. It is the most toxic non-radioactive
element and the most volatile heavy metal. In recent years, it has
been, or is being removed from all health care uses, save one.
Antibiotics have replaced oral doses of Mercury. The disinfectant
Mercurochrome is banned. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control
ordered Mercury preservatives removed from childhood vaccines.
Mercury preservatives are no long used in contact lens solutions.
This year, legislatures in California and several other states banned
Mercury thermometers. When Governor Gray Davis signed bills
addressing Mercury in thermometers and in dental fillings, he
said, "Mercury is a persistent and toxic pollutant that
bioaccumulates in the environment." In recent years, the American
Public Health Association, the California Medical Association and
Health Care Without Harm have all called for the elimination of
putting any Mercury in the human body.

Today, I am announcing legislation to disclose and phase-out the last
major use of Mercury in the human body. The fillings that organized
dentistry wrongly calls "silver" are mainly Mercury, not "silver."

Mercury is the major ingredient in each filling, about one-half gram
per. In the words of Professor Boyd Haley of the University of
Kentucky, that is a "colossal" amount of Mercury in scientific terms –
as much, in fact, as is in a thermometer. A teenager with six
fillings has six Mercury thermometers worth of Mercury in his or her
mouth.

The Mercury in the fillings is volatile, such that – as all
authorities concede – poisonous vapors are constantly being emitted
from the fillings, more so when one chews or passes hot liquid over
the teethe. The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry of the
United States Public Health Service reports that those poisonous
vapors go first to the brain and kidneys. For the developing brain –
and by that I mean a child's brain – a major health risk exists.

It is in fact children who are at greatest risk from these fillings.
The government of Canada recommended back in 1996 that dentists not
place fillings in the mouths of children or pregnant women. (The 1999
report on Mercury by the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease
Registry says Mercury passes through the placenta into the developing
child's brain.) In 1997, a major manufacturer of dental amalgam,
Dentsply, said that amalgam is CONTRAINDICATED (translation DO NOT
USE) for children and pregnant women, as well as for those with
braces, Mercury hypersensitivities, or kidney problems. Another
manufacturer, Vivadent, added a contraindication for nursing mothers.
(The 1999 government report says the Mercury goes through the
mother's breast milk into the baby.)

Why don't consumers already know this? The answer is a disappointing
one. Organized dentistry is extremely divided on this issue. My bill,
in fact is supported by the American Academy of Biological Dentistry.
But the American Dental Association tells the public that the
fillings are safe. The ADA does not tell the public that it accepts
payments from the amalgam manufacturers while it pronounces their
product safe. I wish to note that the American Medical Association
has a policy prohibiting the organization from taking money for
product endorsements. The ADA, by contrast, accepts money from the
manufacturers of the products it endorses which certainly hurts its
credibility in my mind.

The public does not know about the presence of Mercury and its risks
for two reasons. First, the fillings are falsely called "silver."
This term is deceptive, because there is much more Mercury than
silver in the product. It's time to call it what it is and quit
hiding the large presence of Mercury.

Second, the ADA has a rule that gags dentists from talking about the
risks of Mercury amalgam, a rule that some dental boards enforce
against dentists who call for the elimination of Mercury in dental
fillings. I understand that rule is being challenged by dentists in
federal court in Maryland based on the First Amendment.

Developments in this area have been quite encouraging this year in my
state. In 1992, as a state Senator, I wrote a law that required the
Dental Board of California to write a "Fact Sheet" about the risks
and efficacies of dental fillings. My goal was to ensure the public
could make informed choices about Mercury dental amalgam. But the
Dental Board continued to ignore the law and, in recent years, defy
the Davis Administration's insistence that it comply with this law.
After an impasse, including the Board refusing to show up for a
hearing in Los Angeles on this issue, the Legislature stepped in and
shut down the Board. I am told that never before has the California
Legislature shut down a board before its Sunset date expired. In
January, a new Dental Board will come into existence.

A major environmental issue exists here. When removed from a
patient's mouth, Mercury amalgam is a hazardous waste, and it is
often improperly disposed of. The more Mercury that goes into
people's teeth, the more of it that will end up in our water supply.
I am delighted, therefore, that San Francisco-based Clean Water
Action is supporting my bill, and I look forward to other
environmental groups joining us in this effort.

The occupational risk is significant. Dental employees are constantly
exposed to the vapors. Women in dental offices have lower fecundity
(pregnancy) rates, more miscarriages, and more problem births.
Mercury exposure is the likely reason. Dentists have the highest
suicide rate of any profession; depression leading to suicide is
consistent with a diagnosis of Mercury toxicity.

Mercury amalgam is dangerous before it is put in the mouth – any
dental journal will tell you that – and it is considered hazardous
waste after it has been removed. Who can conclusively say it's safe
in between when it is in our bodies?

A major social justice, or environment justice, issue exists here.
While the public lacks informed choice, low- and moderate-income
people have it worse: they have no choice at all. For families on
Medi-Cal, the children get Mercury – or nothing. It is outrageous
that low-income Americans are forced to have such a toxic material
put in their mouths. I understand that the Rhode Island legislature
adopted a law this year to provide choice in insurance plans, and
that the state of Maine permits Medicaid children to get alternatives
to amalgam – so, yes, we can do it differently.

Mercury, and all other poisons in the body, hurt the body's immune
system – its ability to withstand diseases and biologically harmful
agents. If at any time in our nations history we need strong immune
systems, it is now. The stronger our bodies, the more able we are to
fend off biological agents that have so tragically been placed in our
midst.

My bill will protect children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers
immediately – regardless of their income. Henceforth, amalgam will
bear warnings that they not be placed in these most vulnerable
people. And there will be health warnings for all consumers of
amalgam, also immediately. Then, there is a five-year phase out of
Mercury amalgam. That will give dentistry plenty of time to shift to
alternatives that exist in today's market – resin, porcelain, and
gold – or to develop new materials.

Dentistry says amalgam is fine because it has been in ;use for 150
years. This statement, makes no scientific sense. We have abandoned
other remnants of pre-Civil War medicine, and we have abandoned all
other uses of Mercury. It is no longer a question of if, but when.
Mercury dental fillings will be history. I say five more years is
time enough.



To see a complete copy of Rep. Watson's Press Release see
watsonstatementnov5.pdf

Mailing Address:

The Honorable Diane Watson,
United States House of Representatives
5100 Goldleaf Circle
Suite 208
Los Angeles, CA 90056
Washington DC 20515

Fax 202.225-2422 or 323.292-1836

E-mail: Diane.Watson@...

Be sure and include your full mailing address.



Response of the California Dental Association to Rep. Watson

California Dental Association Says Consumers Were Misled By
Congresswoman's Comments

From E-Dental http://www.e-dental.com/content/news/article.asp?DocID=
{DB0FB6F9-D455}



California dentists are once more were on attack trying to mislead
all unfortunatelly while taking strong issue with Congresswoman
Diane Watson's (32nd Congressional District), assertions this week
that there is a conspiracy regarding the use of amalgam as a
restorative material for decaying teeth. The conspiracy and
collusion is very real and undisputed!

Fortunatelly for all of us this legislator held a press conference
in Los Angeles November 5th, to announce a bill to prohibit using
amalgam for dental fillings.

The Dentist Labor Union decisively is attacking Watson claiming that
the statements Watson made in her remarks and distributed in her
press materials are unproven and untrue. This scam is
orchestrated to assault Watson while the branch of the Dentist
Labor Union known as California Dental Association (CDA) is
deliberately trying one more time to mislead patients and
consumers, says the

To rebute CDA anecdotal comments and opinions one need to read
the real scienytists and researchers comments:

http://www.altcorp.com/mercurytox.htm

Congresswoman Watson's comments regarding amalgam are very accurate
and shall result in final nation wide ban of use of mercury
urgently needed protection for all, not just California
consumers, contrary to what falsely claims another Dental Labor
Union QUACK Steven Chan, passing for DDS, and now CDA president-
elect.

"We encourage dialogue and discussion on the amalgam issue, it is
imperative that the information disseminated to the public be
absolutely correct and clear" added Dr. Chan.

They are injuring people and want to talk about it, while we the
injured patrients who know it better, we MUST to stop this
modern age medical HOLOCAUST and propaganda.

Specifically two undisputed facts raised by Watson are:
that there is a collusion between the American Dental Association
(ADA) and amalgam manufacturers for the ADA's financial gain, and
that the ADA is "conspiring" to withhold from the public the fact
that mercury is present in dental amalgams.

There is nothing closer to the economic reality of the purpose
of the organised movement by nothing else but the Dentist Labor
Union.


CDA deceptively alleges that "One of the falsehoods Watson
implies is the connection between the ADA and the manufacturers of
amalgam -- that it is a mass conspiracy of financial gain."

This is simply a matter of fact, contrary to what said allegedly
a "Doctor" Chan whants us to believe.

The fact is, the connection to which she refers is the abuse of
the "ADA Seal of Acceptance" program.

The American Dental Association's Seal of Acceptance Program is just
another joke for profit to promote the Dentist Labor Union
propaganda to generate income from endorsements for the oral
health care products for over 60 years.

ADA and CDA alleges that the cost to maintain the Seal program
is $1.5 million annually, of which alleged approximately $5,100
per year is generated from amalgam manufacturers, who cares?
At the same time not reporting the income generatred from
endorsements of other products.

No one endorse products fopr free while risking the liability
for fraudulent endorsements such as fluoride in toothpaste or
water fluoridation.

Not surprisingly CDA deceived all when it continue to stand by its
position on the safety, efficacy and value of amalgam fillings to
dental consumers.

The Association (Dentist Labor Union) recognized that dental
amalgam contains mercury, the liability associated with the
placement of mercury in lieu of emerging current scientific
evidence does supporting the contention that the mercury contained in
amalgam causes serious illnesses or disease is a substantial
financial liability, than is vigorously defending its corrupt
practice to protect its financial goals and shattered by past
150 years of deception the "STATUS QUO".

"Education of the public regarding dental health and the care that is
available to them is a high priority to CDA and other health
professionals," decisively said Jack Broussard, DDS, than the CDA
President, while being silent about neurotoxicity of mercury
resulting in chronic systemic poisoning.

Consequently Dental Labor Unions are still denying that an entire
healthcare profession would attempt to deceive or mislead the public
only due to generated cash flow, helpless treatments and
undisputed liability, is well understood.

Its report, titled "Toxicological Profile for Mercury" (Update 1999),
stipulates on page 23 that "the practice of having all your dental
amalgam fillings replaced with non-mercury filling materials just to
remove the possibility of mercury exposure is not recommended by
ATSDR." So who is deliberately misleading the ATSDR?

World-renowned dental researchers many Schools of dentistry concur
that Watson's statements are right on target are not misleading,
in contrast to imbeciles hired by Dentist Labor Union including
quacks like Dr. Harold Slavkin, DDS, PhD, and unfortunatelly Dean
at the USC School of Dentistry and former director of the NICDR in
Washington, D.C singing to the tune of ADA.

The Restorative Dental Materials Fact Sheet Watson referred to was
required by legislation since 1992 to provide a detailed and
accurate data on hazards due to toxicity of somer of the
restorative materials such as poisonous dental mercury to the
consumer, giving patients constitutional right to be informed and
consequent choice based on disclosure of severe harm posed by
dental mercury fillings and describing the alternate choices
instead of being stuffed like a thanksgiving turkeys with out ther
right to chose based on prefered by dentists and fraudulently
alleged as safe only due to cost of dental materials with no
choice.

It is the cost of labor which is most critical than the
materials as dentists prefer to buy $ 85,000 Mercedeses or
Porches instead of investing in dental technology suchn as CEREC
3 with same cost to benefits of all patients!

In violation of the legislation, The Dental Board lied to all
consumers when it created alleged "fact sheet" in 1993 and
distributed an updated version to all dentists on October 31, 200l.

Watson very accurately presented the California Dental Board,
which will allegedly prepared a response to Watson's scientific
findings with regard to severe adverse well now known toxicology
and neurotoxicity of the restorative materials fact sheet,
specially dental mercury fiillings.

CDA recently launched a public propaganda known as "awareness
campaign" to mislead when claiming to stress the importance of
discussion and dialogue between patients and their dentists.
Consumers interesting in seeking how the CDA brainwash all
with nonscientific and purely anecdotal information on amalgam and
other alleged dental topics should call 1-800-CDA-SMILE or visit
http://www.smilecalifornia.org.

[The California Dental Association (CDA) is the nonprofit
organization representing Dentist Labor Union or organized
dentistry in California. Founded in 1870, CDA is the largest and
most high profile constituents of the nation wide Dentist Labor
Union known as American Dental Association.

CDA claims that it contributes to the dental health of consumers in
California through various comprehensive programs aimed at improving
dental health.

CDA's (or a State branch of ADA known as Dentist Labor
Union as an organisation ) membership consists of more than 18,000
dentists trying to UNIONISE to defend the undisputed cases of
malpractice due to use of poisonous and higly toxic mercury.



NOW LOOK how idiotic press releases to deceive were
produced by QUACKS from the Dentist Labor Union:


______________

11/9/2001

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov 9, 2001 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- California
dentists are taking strong issue with Congresswoman Diane Watson's
(32nd Congressional District), assertions this week that there is a
conspiracy regarding the use of amalgam as a restorative material for
decaying teeth. The legislator held a press conference in Los Angeles
November 5th, to announce a bill to prohibit using amalgam for dental
fillings. Unfortunately, many of the statements Watson made in her
remarks and distributed in her press materials are unproven and
untrue. This could mislead and scare consumers, says the California
Dental Association (CDA).

"Regrettably, Congresswoman Watson's comments regarding amalgam are
very misleading for California consumers," says Steven Chan, DDS, CDA
president-elect. "We encourage dialogue and discussion on the amalgam
issue, it is imperative that the information disseminated to the
public be absolutely correct and clear" added Dr. Chan.

Specifically, CDA stressed two false allegations raised by Watson:
that there is a collusion between the American Dental Association
(ADA) and amalgam manufacturers for the ADA's financial gain, and
that the ADA is "conspiring" to withhold from the public the fact
that mercury is present in dental amalgams.

"One of the falsehoods Watson implies is the connection between the
ADA and the manufacturers of amalgam -- that it is a mass conspiracy
of financial gain. This is simply untrue," said Dr. Chan. "The fact
is, the connection to which she refers is the highly regarded ADA
Seal of Acceptance program. The American Dental Association's Seal of
Acceptance Program has helped identify effective oral health care
products for more than 60 years. The total cost to maintain the Seal
program is approximately $1.5 million annually, of which a total of
approximately $5,100 per year is generated from amalgam
manufacturers. Let me make this clear," said Dr. Chan. "The ADA does
not profit from giving its seal of approval to dental products."

CDA continues to stand by its position on the safety, efficacy and
value of amalgam fillings to dental consumers. The Association
recognizes that while dental amalgam contains mercury, current
scientific evidence does not support the contention that the mercury
contained in amalgam causes serious illnesses or disease.

"Education of the public regarding dental health and the care that is
available to them is a high priority to CDA and other health
professionals," said Jack Broussard, DDS, CDA President. "To imply
that an entire healthcare profession would attempt to deceive or
mislead the public is reprehensible. This claim wouldonsumer's teeth.
Its report, titled "Toxicological Profile for Mercury" (Update 1999),
stipulates on page 23 that "the practice of having all your dental
amalgam fillings replaced with non-mercury filling materials just to
remove the possibility of mercury exposure is not recommended by
ATSDR."

World-renowned dental researchers from the UCLA and USC Schools of
dentistry concur that Watson's statements are misleading, including
Dr. Harold Slavkin, DDS, PhD, Dean at the USC School of Dentistry and
former director of the NICDR in Washington, D.C.

The Restorative Dental Materials Fact Sheet Watson referred to was
required by legislation in 1992 to provide a comparative study of
restorative materials to the consumer, describing the differences in
durability and cost of these dental materials. In compliance with
this legislation, The Dental Board created a fact sheet in 1993 and
distributed an updated version to all dentists on October 31, 200l.
Watson also apparently misrepresented the California Dental Board,
which will likely prepare a response to Watson's allegations with
regard to the restorative materials fact sheet.

CDA recently launched a public awareness campaign to stress the
importance of discussion and dialogue between patients and their
dentists. Consumers seeking more information on amalgam and other
dental topics should call 1-800-CDA-SMILE or visit
www.smilecalifornia.org.

[The California Dental Association (CDA) is the nonprofit
organization representing organized dentistry in California. Founded
in 1870, CDA is the largest and most high profile constituents of the
American Dental Association. CDA contributes to the dental health of
consumers in California through various comprehensive programs aimed
at improving dental health. CDA's membership consists of more than
18,000 dentists. For more information, visit http://www.cda.org .]

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SOURCE California Dental Association

CONTACT: Lori Reed of California Dental Association , +1-800-736-
7071, ext. 4670
URL: http://www.smilecalifornia.org

http://www.cda.org

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