by Dirk Yow, Intestinal Hydropath

In Tales of the Arabian Nights a common theme is the djin, a race of creatures with the ability to grant wishes to those fortunate enough to find the object that such a magical being occupied. Quite often, though, there was a price to be paid for the granting of this wish so that, ultimately, the asker ends up regretting having received it. This analogy can be aptly applied to mercury, or Hg. Used in everything from electronics to medicine to agriculture, we may be reaping mercury’s ill effects for generations to come. A recent series of studies suggests that this potentially deadly metal is almost everywhere and, as discussed in our last column, more harmful than we may have suspected.

Reseachers performing tests on birds in the northeastern United States have discovered increased mercury levels in the blood of more than 175 onceclean species. In other parts of the world scientists have found Hg in polar bears, mink, otters and bats, to name a few. According to biologist David Evers of the BioDiversity research Institute in Maine, “It’s far more prevalent and at higher levels than considered, even a couple of years ago!”

As previously discussed, mercury is unique in its ability to change form. It can go from metal to vapor (like turning into an aerosol after it is burned), or when it is eaten by bacteria and converted into methyl-ethyl mercury, a much more biologically adhesive form which not only affects the individual originally poisoned with it, but genetically affecting future generations as well. In our environment mercury has been accumulating at an accelerated rate since the start of the Industrial Revolution.

One of the more startling discoveries made recently is that significant levels of Hg have adhered to damp peat in marshlands that include areas like Alaska and northern Canada. It stays dormant until a wildfire occurs. According to an ecosystems ecologist at Michigan State University who has been studying the problem, “During droughts, you get a meter-thick carpet of dry peat in some places, and then all you need is a match… or lightning”, to cause it to release centuries of accumulated Mercury. This is just one more example of the worldwide rise in mercury levels. Another study measuring Hg levels from polar bear pelts from the 14th century (comparing them to the same species of bears today) found the animals now have 11 times the mercury of their predecessors.

Another source of mercury toxicity much closer to home is the use of “silver” amalgam fillings, in use in popular dentistry since the 1800’s. Environmental Protection Agency cites that dental clinics here in the US use 34 tons of mercury in an average of 70 million fillings a year (ouch - quick, get me some Novocaine!) This is the third largest remaining use of mercury in the U.S. economy and the single largest source of mercury pollution in water. According to a recent Zogby poll, 92% of Americans want “informed consent” from their dentist about potential risks from mercury in dental fillings. “It is very rare that you find 92% of the American public in favor of anything” said pollster John Zogby. He went on to say this was, “a wake up call to dentist’s and politicians.”

So how do we get that Hg genie back in the bottle? Environmentally we can clean up our coal burning power plants and chemical manufacturing facilities. On a more personal level we can clean up our body ecology by looking in our mouths (see any silver in there?) and by examining our diet (some fish contain high levels of mercury). Do any of the products you use contain thimerosal? Used as a preservative in everything from eye drops to vaccinations, you can selectively avoid these products. So both on a personal level and on a global level we can begin to reduce mercury contamination. Once we remove mercury from circulation it ca be stored in double hulled containers and kept cool to prevent evaporation. That may be sometime in the future yet, so how can we clean up in our own bodies right now? That’s the subject of our next column! Until then, practice prudence without paranoia!