British TV exposé on mercury fillings applauds FDA warnings

            In February, Britain’s second-largest TV network ran an exposé on mercury fillings called “What’s In Your Mouth?”:

http://www.toxicteeth.org/mercury_fillings_Feb_2009.cfm   It appeared on

Britain’s heavily-watched Tonight program in a Sixty-Minutes-style format.

            I was the sole American spokesman for mercury-free dentistry featured on the show (about 15 or 20 minutes into the clip), and I took the opportunity to present our movement’s successes to the large British audience.  By contrast, the British Dental Association executive director’s confrontation with the reporter was a huge defeat for the pro-mercury dental interests.

            The show highlighted the FDA warning about the toxicity of mercury in amalgam -- the warning that came about as a direct result of our negotiated settlement against FDA.  There it was, right on the screen:

“Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses.” 

            The program focused on another success of our movement -- the

fact sheets.   Visiting a dental office in Maine, the reporter pointed to

the fact sheet about the risks of mercury amalgam, which must by law be given to each patient.  This law was written by one of our leaders, Congressman Mike Michaud (while he was a state senator), and was passed by the Maine legislature due to a great grassroots effort spearheaded by activists Pam Anderson and Kathleen McGee.

            Small wonder, then, that the reporter challenged British health authorities to try to catch up with the bans in Scandinavia -- and also to keep up with the progress in the United States.

Charlie 19 March 2009