Toxic Mercury – Evidence of a Strong Poison

1. Toxic Mercury – Evidence of a Strong Poison
2. Dental Amalgams – Poisonous Teeth
3. Mercury Detox – Ridding the Body of Mercury

NB: Boldfaced emphasis in the quotes is mine throughout this page…

To Be Toxic or Not To Be Toxic…?

If you are inclined to accept what the mainstream media is telling you as being the gospel truth, then you’d probably look favorable towards having mercury in your body:

Unfortunately however, it won’t be the first time that the mainstream media deceives and lies to its viewers. Mercury is anything but good for you. Here is a short video that clearly demonstrates, on a microscopic level, what mercury does to your nerve-cells or neurons:

MeHg has a high affinity for thiol (-SH, sulfhydryl) groups, making protein & peptides containing the amino acid cysteine vulnerable to structural & functional modification. A particularly high affinity is seen for tubulin sulfhydryl groups in microtubules. Microtubules, which carry vital substances to various parts of a cell, are particularly critical for neuron function and for brain development. (Many substances manufactured in the neuron cell body must be transported down long axons or dendrites through microtubules — and other substances travel in the other direction.) Necrosis (death) of neurons results in replacement of neurons by glial cells (gliosis). Source: benbest.com

So this latter video presents us with clear evidence that mercury acts as a neuro-toxin. Let’s try and reconcile this with the claims made in the former video. There it is claimed that mercury is responsible for “improved behavior and mental performance” in vaccinated children. In order for this claim to have validity to it, then by necessity the kids who sustained brain damage through mercury exposure must somehow show “improved behavior and mental performance”. I would like to know how such a thing could be possible at all. Unless, of course, it’s considered desirable to cause chemically induced lobotomical effects in children.

Proof of Toxicity – Material Safety Data Sheets

So, all fairy-tales aside, let’s first establish with certainty that mercury is indeed a neurotoxin and as such exposure should be minimized no matter how strongly the mainstream media is trying to convince you that it’s good for ya and yer kids.

A convenient tool to verify the toxicity of any given substance is to consult its corresponding Material Safety Data Sheet. Let’s do an internet search for, Material Safety Data Sheet mercury:

The first entry yields (Google):

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

Appearance: silver liquid.
Danger! Corrosive. Harmful if inhaled. May be absorbed through intact skin. Causes eye and skin irritation and possible burns. May cause severe respiratory tract irritation with possible burns. May cause severe digestive tract irritation with possible burns. May cause liver and kidney damage. May cause central nervous system effects. This substance has caused adverse reproductive and fetal effects in animals. Inhalation of fumes may cause metal-fume fever. Possible sensitizer.
Target Organs: Blood, kidneys, central nervous system, liver, brain.

Potential Health Effects
Eye: Exposure to mercury or mercury compounds can cause discoloration on the front surface of the lens, which does not interfere with vision. Causes eye irritation and possible burns. Contact with mercury or mercury compounds can cause ulceration of the conjunctiva and cornea.
Skin: May be absorbed through the skin in harmful amounts. May cause skin sensitization, an allergic reaction, which becomes evident upon re-exposure to this material. Causes skin irritation and possible burns. May cause skin rash (in milder cases), and cold and clammy skin with cyanosis or pale color.
Ingestion: May cause severe and permanent damage to the digestive tract. May cause perforation of the digestive tract. May cause effects similar to those for inhalation exposure. May cause systemic effects.
Inhalation: Causes chemical burns to the respiratory tract. Inhalation of fumes may cause metal fume fever, which is characterized by flu-like symptoms with metallic taste, fever, chills, cough, weakness, chest pain, muscle pain and increased white blood cell count. May cause central nervous system effects including vertigo, anxiety, depression, muscle incoordination, and emotional instability. Aspiration may lead to pulmonary edema. May cause systemic effects. May cause respiratory sensitization.
Chronic: May cause liver and kidney damage. May cause reproductive and fetal effects. Effects may be delayed. Chronic exposure to mercury may cause permanent central nervous system damage, fatigue, weight loss, tremors, personality changes. Chronic ingestion may cause accumulation of mercury in body tissues. Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause inflammation of the mouth and gums, excessive salivation, and loosening of the teeth. Source: fishersci.com

Again try for a minute to reconcile the slogan “may cause permanent central nervous system damage, fatigue, weight loss, tremors, personality changes” with the claim that mercury “improves behavior and mental performance.” Can you say schizophrenic?

On another MSDS we find:

WARNING:
THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS A CHEMICAL(S) KNOWN TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS OR OTHER REPRODUCTIVE HARM.

Australian Hazchem Code: 2Z
Poison Schedule: S7
WHMIS:
This MSDS has been prepared according to the hazard criteria of the Controlled Products Regulations (CPR) and the MSDS contains all of the information required by the CPR. Source: jtbaker.com

So what exactly is a S7 poison?

Schedule 7 Dangerous Poison

Schedule 7 (S7) poisons are substances and preparations –

• with high to extremely high toxicity
• which can cause death or severe injury at low exposures
• which require special precautions in their manufacture, handling or use
• which may require special regulations restricting their availability, possession or use
• which are too hazardous for domestic use or use by untrained persons Source: Wikipedia

The toxicity and hazardous nature of mercury is further evidenced by this quote found on an official British regulatory website:

Restricted chemicals
REACH places restrictions on the marketing and use of certain chemical substances and preparations. Restrictions are placed on chemicals when they are shown to cause harm to human health or to the environment.

Annex 17 (XVII) of the REACH regulation contains a list of restricted chemicals with the associated restrictions and concentration limits. The list of chemicals and restrictions may be added to.

Restricted chemicals include:

• lead carbons
• lead sulphates
• benzene
• pentachlorophenol
• nonylphenol and its ethoxylates
• cadmium
• hexachloroethane
• creosote
• compounds containing mercury and arsenic. Source: environment-agency.gov.uk

Mercurial Salts and Organic Mercury

Unfortunately elemental mercury is not the only form of mercury human beings are exposed to. Mercurial salts (inorganic mercury) and organically bound mercury also find their way into your system and prove to be hundreds of times more toxic than elemental mercury.

The organic mercurial compound methyl mercury was identified as the cause for the sudden surge of the so-called Minamata disease:

Minamata disease (水俣病, Minamata-byō^?), sometimes referred to as Chisso-Minamata disease (チッソ水俣病, Chisso-Minamata-byō^?), is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. Symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, narrowing of the field of vision and damage to hearing and speech. In extreme cases, insanity, paralysis, coma and death follow within weeks of the onset of symptoms. A congenital form of the disease can also affect fetuses in the womb.

Minamata disease was first discovered in Minamata city in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan in 1956. It was caused by the release of methyl mercury in the industrial wastewater from the Chisso Corporation‘s chemical factory, which continued from 1932 to 1968. This highly toxic chemical bioaccumulated in shellfish and fish in Minamata Bay and the Shiranui Sea, which when eaten by the local populace resulted in mercury poisoning. While cat, dog, pig and human deaths continued over more than 30 years, the government and company did little to prevent the pollution. Source: Wikipedia

Here’s the MSDS of methyl mercury chloride:

Potential Acute Health Effects:
Extremely hazardous in case of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation (lung irritant). Very hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant, permeator), of inhalation (lung sensitizer). Hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive, sensitizer). Severe over-exposure can result in death. Inflammation of the eye is characterized by redness, watering, and itching. Skin inflammation is characterized by itching, scaling, reddening, or, occasionally, blistering.
Potential Chronic Health Effects:
CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: Classified 2B (Possible for human.) by IARC. Source: sciencelab.com

On another MSDS we find:

Very toxic by inhalation, ingestion and through skin contact. Danger of cumulative effects. Note low LD50s.

Source: msds.chem.ox.ac.uk

Given its extreme toxicity, the WHO recommends a remarkably low Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake of methylmercury:

On methylmercury the Committee received and reviewed additional information that had been requested previously. Based on this, the experts revised the PTWI [Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake] for methylmercury, recommending that it be reduced to 1.6 µg per kg body weight per week in order to sufficiently protect the developing foetus. The foetus is exposed to methylmercury through contaminated food eaten by the pregnant mother. This new recommendation changes the prior recommendation for a dietary limit of 3.3 µg per kg body weight per week. Source: WHO (2003)

Mercury in Vaccines

Another heavy hitter mercurial compound is known as thimerosal, which is used as a vaccine preservative and contains approximately 49% of organically bound mercury (ethyl mercury).

Here are two quotes from the CDC and the National Academies stating that thimerosal in vaccines is basically all fine and dandy:

Thimerosal
“Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative used in some vaccines and other products since the 1930s. No harmful effects have been reported from thimerosal at doses used in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site. However, in July 1999, the Public Health Service (PHS) agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure. Today, with the exception of some influenza (flu) vaccines, none of the vaccines used in the U.S. to protect preschool children against 12 infectious diseases contain thimerosal as a preservative.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

“Based on a thorough review of clinical and epidemiological studies, neither the mercury-based vaccine thimerosal nor the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine are associated with autism… Five large epidemiological studies in the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Sweden since 2001 consistently provided evidence that there is no association between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism… ” National Academies press release about the IOM report “Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism,” May 18, 2004
Source: vaccineinformation.org

Regarding the first quote, if “no harmful effects have been reported from thimerosal at doses used in vaccines” then, while reading the next sentence, why promote the push to eliminate it from vaccines? The quote of and by itself by its mere formulation is oxymoronic and therefore suspicion raising.

Here’s a MSDS of thimerosal:

Primary Physical and Health Hazards: Skin Permeable. Toxic. Mutagen. Irritant (eyes).
Allergen. Nervous System and Reproductive Effects.

Caution Statement: Thimerosal may enter the body through the skin, is toxic, alters genetic material, may be irritating to the eyes, and causes allergic reactions. Effects of exposure may include numbness of extremities, fetal changes, decreased offspring survival, and lung tissue changes.

Routes of Entry: Inhalation and skin absorption.

Effects of Overexposure: Topical allergic dermatitis has been reported. Thimerosal contains
mercury. Mercury poisoning may occur and topical hypersensitivity reactions may be seen. Early signs
of mercury poisoning in adults are nervous system effects, including narrowing of the visual field and
numbness in the extremities. Exposure to mercury in utero and in children may cause mild to severe mental retardation and mild to severe motor coordination impairment. Based on animal data, may be irritating to the eyes. Source: putchildrenfirst.org

Here’s a reference by a manufacturer of thimerosal (Sigma and Aldrich), given in the below picture, that provides it with T+,N hazard coding.

Source: nomercury.org

So what’s the meaning of these codes? The pictograms and hazard codes page indicates that T+ stands for “Extremely toxic” and N stands for “Dangerous for the environment.” Does that sound like stuff you want to have injected straight into your system?

When I was about to finish this blog, I stumbled on an interesting abstract of a new peer-reviewed scientific study investigating thimerosal neurotoxicity. Here’s an excerpt of its abstract stating quite clearly that thimerosal induces autism-like neurotoxicity:

Thimerosal-induced cellular damage as evidenced by concentration- and time-dependent mitochondrial damage, reduced oxidative-reduction activity, cellular degeneration, and cell death in the in vitro human neuronal and fetal model systems studied. Thimerosal at low nanomolar (nM) concentrations induced significant cellular toxicity in human neuronal and fetal cells. Thimerosal-induced cytoxicity is similar to that observed in AD pathophysiologic studies. Thimerosal was found to be significantly more toxic than the other metal compounds examined. Source

Now compare this new find with the embarrassing position the CDC still maintains:

Recent estimates from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring network found that about 1 in 150 children have an ASD. This estimate is higher than estimates from the early 1990s. Some people believe increased exposure to thimerosal (from the addition of important new vaccines recommended for children) explains the higher prevalence in recent years. However, evidence from several studies examining trends in vaccine use and changes in autism frequency does not support such an association. Furthermore, a scientific review* by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that “the evidence favors rejection of a causal relationship between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism.” CDC supports the IOM conclusion. Source: cdc.gov

Somebody better tell the CDC that thimerosal in vaccines is bad news after all. I doubt if they care to listen though.

In reference to the above new study one may argue that the study is an in vitro study and that to have a more accurate reflection on reality one should consider an in vivo study. I think it can be stated with confidence that the practical difference between an in vitro experiment and an in vivo experiment in this case is the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which, if working to satisfaction, should be able to obstruct thimerosal present in the blood from reaching the brain and so prevent it from doing damage.

This assumption however is obviously unjustified if and when the BBB is not working properly and as such its function of blocking mercury from entering the brain is impaired. So when is the BBB compromised? For one, the BBB is not fully functional in infants. Other reasons are given by Dr Blaylock:

Therefore, for the many people who have an impaired BBB, exposure to intravenous or intramuscular thimerosal does make them vulnerable to develop autism-like disorders or symptoms.

For a more detailed narrative on how mercury and mercurial compounds cause brain damage that may trigger Autism-like symptoms please read the Appendix – Mercury and the Brain.

Qualitative Toxicity Comparison with “Safe” Substances

In spite of all the evidence of the inherent toxicity of mercury and mercurial compounds, a skeptical mind may argue that any substance, when exposed to in excess, will be toxic to the human body. Let’s factor in that notion by comparing the MSDS of substances that are known to be beneficial  for you. The preferred choice substances are vitamins (like ascorbic acid – vit. C). As such one is able to set an acceptable ‘baseline’ of toxicity, equal to or below which is acceptable and beyond which is not so acceptable when one has the goal in mind of seeking to maintain health.

Here’s the relevant excerpt of a MSDS of…

• Vitamin C:
  

  SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE: Signs and symptoms of exposure to this material through
  breathing, swallowing and/or passage of the material through the skin may include: stomach or
  intestinal upset (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), irritation (nose, throat, airways). Ingestion of large doses of Vitamin C can cause formation of stones in the kidney and bladder. Source: animedproducts.com

• Vitamin A:
  

  Toxicology

  Not believed to be harmful when consumed in moderation. Source: msds.chem.ox.ac.uk

• Vitamin B:
  

  EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE: Not established. Possible anaphylactic hypersensitivity.
  Possible eye, skin and/or respiratory tract irritation. Source: durvet.com

From these MSD sheets we can infer that the toxic effects of common or benign substances is mild irritation (at best) plus a possible belly ache. A careful enough glance at the MSD sheets of mercury and its derivative compounds should convince even the more skeptical reader that their respective toxicity indications far exceed that of common/benign substances such as vitamins.

Conclusion

It can thus be reasonably argued that mercury really has no place in the human body, and that ‘safe’ levels are defined only on the individual’s ability to tolerate and/or expel mercury and any of its derivative compounds.

Other Recommended Videos:

1. Mercury, Autism and the Global Vaccine Agenda
   

2. The Vaccine-Autism Connection
   

3. Vaccine Nation – Director’s Cut (Gary Null)
   

Appendix – Mercury and the Brain

From left to right, structural formulas of the chemicals: methyl-mercury, ethyl-mercury and thimerosal (ethylmercurithiosalicylate)

On the potential development of Autism-like symptoms from mercury exposure, we read from Russell Blaylock’s paper:

It has also been demonstrated that methylmercury (from fish) and ethylmercury (in thimerosal) are both powerful immunosuppressants and are associated with a high incidence of autoimmunity.¹¹ In this study, researchers found that unlike methylmercury, thimerosal (ethylmercury) initially caused immune suppression and then strong TH2-induced autoimmunity. They attributed this to the higher conversion of ethylmercury to ionic mercury (Hg+) than seen with methylmercury.

In fact, one study found that strains of mice highly susceptible to developing autoimmune diseases were sensitive to the ASD-like behavioral effects upon mercury exposure, whereas mouse strains genetically not susceptible to autoimmunity do not develop ASD behaviors.¹²Source: Blaylock (2008)

From another paper we read that methyl-mercury and ethyl-mercury have different neurotoxic strengths:

Though an ethylmercury molecule is only 6% larger than the molecule of
methylmercury, this small difference becomes important through its influence on passage
through the blood-brain barrier. Kerper, Ballatori, Clarkson (1992) suggested that
because the methylmercury-cysteine complex is structurally similar to L-methionine,
methylmercury can use the L (leucine preferring) amino acid transport system through
the blood-brain barrier. No such transport facility system is available for ethylmercury
with the consequence that after identical dose methylmercury treated rats had twice as
much mercury in their brain (1.55 times in males and 2.4 times in females) than
ethylmercury treated rats. In addition to the lower brain deposition of mercury,
ethylmercury treated rats had 3.4-fold more inorganic mercury in their brain and the
contribution to inorganic mercury to total mercury was 5.3 times higher than in their
methylmercury counterparts (Magos et al., 1985). These findings exclude the possibility
that the cleavage itself or the formed inorganic mercury is responsible for the brain
damage. If this were the case, the brain of ethylmercury treated rats would be more
affected than the brain of methylmercury treated rats. Source: Magos (2001)

Note however, that rats rather than human beings were used to assess neurotoxicity. As Blaylock pointed out the blood-brain barrier is easily compromised in human beings and so it is not automatically justified to extrapolate the experimental results obtained in rats to human beings.

Indeed, a later paper comes up with rather different findings than Magos’ as the corresponding study used monkeys rather than rodents; in addition, thimerosal was used instead of ethyl-mercury:

There was a much higher proportion of inorganic Hg in the brain of thimerosal monkeys than in the brains of MeHg monkeys (up to 71% vs. 10%). Absolute inorganic Hg concentrations in the brains of the thimerosal-exposed monkeys were approximately twice that of the MeHg monkeys. Interestingly, the inorganic fraction in the kidneys of the same cohort of monkeys was also significantly higher after im thimerosal than after oral MeHg exposure (0.71 ± 0.04 vs. 0.40 ± 0.03). This suggests that the dealkylation of ethylmercury is much more extensive than that of MeHg.

Previous reports have indicated that the dealkylation of Hg is a detoxification process that helps to protect the central nervous system (Magos 2003; Magos et al. 1985). These reports are largely based on histology and histochemistry studies of adult rodents exposed to Hg for a short period of time. The results of these studies indicated that damage to the cerebellum was observed only in MeHg-treated animals that had much lower levels of inorganic Hg in the brain than animals comparably treated with ethylmercury. Moreover, the results did not indicate the presence of inorganic Hg deposits in the area where the cerebellar damage was localized (granular layer). Source: Environmental Health Perspectives (2005)

From the same Blaylock paper, we later read:

The Role of Mercury in Developmental Brain Damage

Mercury also activates microglia and does so in concentrations below 0.5 microgram (3 to 5 nanograms).¹¹³ This is well below the concentration seen with giving mercury-containing vaccines to children.

Ethylmercury, like its cousin methylmercury, enters the brain very easily but once within the brain it is de-ethylated, forming ionic mercury (Hg⁺).¹¹⁴

There is evidence that ionic mercury is significantly more neurotoxic than organic mercury. Once it is converted, the mercury is difficult, if not impossible, to remove. Studies using monkeys demonstrated that ionic mercury is redistributed in the brain.¹¹⁵

This same series of studies also demonstrated that there was extensive microglial activation in the monkey’s brain and it persisted over 6 months after the mercury dosing was stopped, indicating that even when the plasma mercury disappears the brain mercury remains.¹¹⁶

This is important to remember when you hear from the vaccine safety promoters that new studies have shown that ethylmercury (in thimerosal) disappears from the blood within several days. Actually, the mercury leaves the plasma and enters the brain, where it is de-ethylated and remains for a lifetime.

What they fail to mention is that recent studies have shown that only 7 percent of methylmercury is converted to ionic mercury, whereas 34 percent of ethylmercury is converted within a short time.¹¹⁷ This means that more of the most destructive form of mercury is retained in the brain following mercury-containing vaccine exposure than exposure to mercury from fish.

They also fail to mention that the vaccine-based mercury that was removed from the blood enters the stool in high concentrations, where it recirculates repetitively, meaning that with each cycle the mercury has access to the brain.

Mercury has another link to this immune/excitotoxic reaction. A number of studies have shown that mercury, in submicromolar concentrations, interferes with the removal of glutamate from the extracellular space, where it causes excitotoxicity.^118-120

This removal system is very important, not only in protecting the brain but also in preventing abnormal alterations in brain formation.¹²¹ As you will recall, it is the carefully programmed rise and fall in glutamate levels in the brain that allow the brain’s pathways to develop and for proper development of its connections (called synaptogenesis).

Another way mercury damages the brain is by interfering with its energy production.

The mitochondria of the neuron (the energy factory) accumulate more mercury than any other part of the cell. It is known that when you interfere with the neuron’s ability to produce energy, you greatly magnify its sensitivity to excitotoxicity, so much so that even physiological concentrations of glutamate can become excitotoxic.^122-125

One of the destructive reactions of both excitotoxicity and mercury toxicity is the generation of storms of free radicals and lipid peroxidation products. Essential to the protection of brain cells is the antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase and SOD). Mercury poisons these protective enzymes.

One of the most important protective systems is the glutathione molecule, which is present in every cell in the body. Mercury dramatically lowers glutathione levels by a number of mechanisms. (See Dr. Boyd Haley’s work for more information).¹²⁶ So, we see that mercury can greatly aggravate this entire destructive mechanism.

It is important to appreciate that as important as mercury is, it is not the lone essential element in this process. Rather, essential to this process is a combination of pre-existing or vaccine-induced immune dysfunction and excess immune stimulation by a crowded vaccine schedule.

This is why autism will not go away, even when mercury is completely removed from all vaccines.

It also important to appreciate that mercury can never be removed from the picture because of the numerous sources of mercury in our environment, such as contaminated seafood, atmospheric mercury and dental amalgam. Source: Blaylock (2008)

1. Toxic Mercury – Evidence of a Strong Poison
2. Dental Amalgams – Poisonous Teeth
3. Mercury Detox – Ridding the Body of Mercury