Hi, I'm the scientific half of Steven Salzberg, my other half is the epitomy of a pseudo-skeptic who writes articles, which are posted on FORBES.com. My lesser half recently wrote an article filled with misleading, inaccurate statments and half truths made to look like an authoratative scientific critique of Dr. Oz and his coverage of amalgam fillings, which contain 50% elemental mercury. Read on as I show my ignorance about mercury and how to manipulate readers when writing about the subject.

Contrary to public misconception and government statments of safety, dental mercury fillings expose over 60 million americans to daily amounts of mercury vapor at levels higher than the Environmental Protection Agency reference concentration dose (RfC) for mercury. Dentists are also unaware of the many toxic exposures to mercury vapor and mercury contaminated particulate matter taking place in the workplace, thus exposing staff (and patients) to levels far above current occupational safety regulations. In addition, because of dentists rigid belief that amalgam fillings do not release mercury, they are unaware that dental mercury contributes a significant portion, 340 tons, into the global environment each year.

Resin-based composites have a number of advantages for restorative treatment. They possess desirable aesthetic properties and favor retention of sound tooth structure because they require less cavity preparation than traditional amalgam restorations. Recent clinical studies have demonstrated that composites can now match or exceed the longevity of amalgam.

When preparing its policy and proposals relating to consumer safety, public health and the environment, the European Commission relies on Independent Scientific Committees to provide it with sound scientific advice. These committees have now been given new guidance. A coalition of NGO's strongly opposes the use of a method proposed by an employee of the chemical industry, Klimisch et al., (2007) and the OECD. If implemented this excludes a majority of independent, well performed, peer-reviewed scientific research and favors research performed by the industry itself, say the NGO letter. The cost of this effectively excludes most academic investigations no matter how well performed. According to the NGO: s this gives investigations performed by the industry itself an unjustified advantage."

I've spent over 35 years researching mercury amalgam fillings and gum disease, the two most important oral health problems in this country. I've also extensively researched mercury detoxification and developed a safe and natural mercury detoxification program. In addition to have written three books on these subjects, my website has information such as how to find mercury free and mercury safe dentists, the health hazards of mercury amalgam fillings, symptoms and diseases related to chronic mercury poisoning, and how to test for mercury.

The NIH, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency. NIH is the largest source of funding for medical research in the world. The NIH killed funding to the researcher who was able to show that mercury reproduced three of the biochemical hallmarks of Alzheimer's Disease.

OSHA's role is to assure safe and healthful working conditions for workers by authorizing enforcement of the standards developed under the Act. But, despite knowledge of mercury's widespread use in dentistry and elevated levels of mercury in dental offices during placement, polishing and removal OSHA refuses to enforce current regulations that would protect both staff and patients from uneccessary mercury exposure.