JustTheScience

Amalgam fillings, commonly used for the last century, are an alloy of approximately 50% mercury, 35% silver with other trace elements (Hahn et al 1989)¹.  Mercury is a versatile element, and is utilized in both organic and inorganic forms; both of which are toxic (Langford and Ferner 1999).² A study by Nylander et al (1987) demonstrated a statistical correlation between number of amalgam fillings  and amount of accumulated inorganic mercury in an individuals body. ³  Hahn et al (1989) found mercury vapor is released into the mouth by chewing action, and activities that increase this activity such as chewing gum and brushing teeth increase the level of mercury released.  Likely routes of uptakes of released vapors suggested in this study include inhalation, swallowing, and absorption through bone, tooth, and gum tissues in the mouth.  However, the actual amount of mercury absorbed into body tissue was undetermined, and the authors suggest more research is required to determine this.  ⁴  The results of this study suggest that there is an increase in mercury exposure in individuals with amalgam fillings, however,  it is necessary to ascertain both how much mercury is actually absorbed, as well as the effect this mercury has on an individual.

Myriad results have been found in regards to determining the effects of absorbed mercury from amalgam fillings.  Sandborgh-Englund et al (1996)  and Bates (2006) found no evidence of renal toxicity, chronic fatigue syndrome, reproductive, or other chronic diseases  from mercury absorbed from amalgams, but a evidence of susceptibility to Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s from mercury absorbed from amalgams. ^5 6  In addition, Grandjean et al (1997) found that individuals treated for self reported amalgam related psychotic disorders responded equally to a mercury purging drug in both treatment and placebo groups, while those in the treatment group actually expelled much higher levels of mercury in their urine.⁷  Further study is required for a more definitive answer to whether or not amalgam fillings should be considered a health threat, however, the aforementioned studies have demonstrated that chronic physiological disorders are not associated with amalgams while neurological disorders can be.

1. Dental “silver” tooth fillings: a source of mercury exposure revealed by whole-body image scan and tissue analysis [↩]
2. Toxicity of mercury [↩]
3. Mercury concentrations in the human brain and kidneys in relation to exposure from dental amalgam fillings [↩]
4. Dental “silver” tooth fillings: a source of mercury exposure revealed by whole-body image scan and tissue analysis [↩]
5. No evidence of renal toxicity from amalgam fillings [↩]
6. Mercury amalgam dental fillings: an epidemiologic assessment [↩]
7. Placebo Response in Environmental Disease: Chelation Therapy of Patients With Symptoms Attributed to Amalgam Fillings [↩]

The issue in question is whether there are ingredients in antiperspirants that will cause detrimental health effects with daily exposure.  The main ingredient that has raised such issues is aluminum chloride (AlCl 3) and its permutations, which is used in some, but not all, products to inhibit perspiration.  Studies by  Hosovski et al (1990) found a significant correlation between aluminum exposure and impaired psycho motor and intellectual abilities¹.  However, subjects in this study were exposed to continuous high levels of aluminum dust in the their environment from an aluminum foundry; clearly exceeding the daily intake of aluminum one would receive from regular antiperspirant usage.  Recent studies by Lindsay et al (2002) and Graves et al (1990) found no causal link between aluminum exposure vis-a-vi regular use of antiperspirants and Alzheimer’s^2 3.  Any aluminum absorbed into one’s body is regularly eliminated through normal physiological functions regardless of intake level⁴ (Greger and Baier 1983), but daily exposure to high levels of aluminum (like those found in an aluminum foundry) can have detrimental effects to the body before all traces can be completely eliminated.  When a person’s physiological functions that aid in the processes of eliminating aluminum from their body are impaired (i.e. renal failure), there is a greater case for limiting your use of AlCl3 based antiperspirants.

It is important to note that the dermatological application of AlCl3 based antiperspirants is immaterial in comparison to the aluminum levels consumed in food. Humans ingest an average of 2-25 mg of aluminum per day from our diet⁵ (Greger 1993) and by using antiperspirants containing AlCl 3, an individual would experience a 2.5% increase in daily aluminum intake, which has been found to be statistically insignificant⁶ (Flarend et al 2001).  Based on these studies, it is reasonable to state that while aluminum can be considered toxic in mass quantities (i.e. through industrial exposure), normal use of AlCl 3 based antiperspirants per manufacturers guidelines will not cause aluminum accumulation to the point of significantly increased physical or mental risk, provided that the individual possesses the normal physiological capabilities of processing and eliminating accumulated aluminum.

1. Mental Abilities of Workers Exposed to Aluminium [↩]
2. Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Prospective Analysis from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging [↩]
3. The association between aluminum-containing products and Alzheimer’s disease [↩]
4. Excretion and retention of low or moderate levels of aluminium by human subjects [↩]
5. Aluminum Metabolism [↩]
6. A preliminary study of the dermal absorption of aluminium from antiperspirants using aluminium-26 [↩]