Teeth fillings could be harmful to women, children — FDA
Posted on June 5th, 2008Greenwire: Silver-colored metal fillings contain mercury, which could cause health problems in pregnant women, children and fetuses, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA’s announcement came yesterday after the agency settled a related lawsuit with consumer advocacy groups. The FDA agreed to alert consumers about the potential risks on its Web site and to issue a more specific rule about fillings containing mercury next year, according to FDA spokeswoman Peper Long.
The agency posted a notice on its Web site, saying: “Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses.”
Millions of Americans have the fillings, or amalgams, in their teeth. The FDA said it did not recommend that those with mercury fillings have them removed.
The lawsuit settled on Monday was reached with several advocacy groups, including Moms Against Mercury, which had wanted mercury fillings removed from the U.S. market.
The FDA previously said various studies showed no harm from mercury fillings, but consumer groups claimed the fillings can trigger a range of health problems. In 2006, an FDA advisory panel of outside experts said the fillings did not pose a risk to most people, but that the agency needed more information (Susan Heavey, Reuters, June 4). – RB