Last update Jan. 20, 2014

Mercury

Low Risk

Possibly safe. Probably compatible. Mild risk possible. Follow up recommended. Read the Comment.

Environmental pollutant that is used for manufacturation of batteries, fungicidal products, dental amalgam, and contaminated fish.

Most of mercury present in breast milk does it as an inorganic substance which is almost non-absorbable. Breastfeeding should be discontinued whenever a mother is contaminated or intoxicated. It may be a source of neurological troubles.

Benefits of breastfeeding are largely more important than risk related to the presence of mild level environment pollutants in human milk, in many instances, they are at lower content than those found in cow’s milk or other foods. (Codex alimentarius FAO-WHO).

Alternatives

We do not have alternatives for Mercury.

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

Your contribution is essential for this service to continue to exist. We need the generosity of people like you who believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.

Thank you for helping to protect and promote breastfeeding.

José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.
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Group

Mercury belongs to this group or family:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. Baja - Low %
Molecular weight 201 daltons
Protein Binding 40 %
T½ 1680 hours
M/P ratio 1 -

References

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. About Dental Amalgam Fillings None 2021 Consulted on Dec. 3, 2023 Full text (link to original source)
  2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Appendix I : Summary of Changes to the Classification of Dental Amalgam and Mercury. None 2017 Consulted on Dec. 3, 2023 Full text (link to original source)
  3. MedlinePlus. Mercury poisoning. Health topics. 2021 Consulted on Dec. 2, 2023 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  4. INSHT - Instituto Nacional de Seguridad e Higiene en el Trabajo. Límites de exposición profesional para agentes químicos en España. None 2022 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  5. MedlinePlus. Intoxicación con mercurio. Temas de Salud. 2021 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  6. WHO. Mercury and health. Fact sheet. 2017 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  7. OMS. El mercurio y la salud. Temas de salud. 2017 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  8. ATSDR. Mercury and Your Health. online. 2015 Full text (link to original source)
  9. Vieira SM, de Almeida R, Holanda IB, Mussy MH, Galvão RC, Crispim PT, Dórea JG, Bastos WR. Total and methyl-mercury in hair and milk of mothers living in the city of Porto Velho and in villages along the Rio Madeira, Amazon, Brazil. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2013 Abstract
  10. Jiménez L. Empastes de amalgama de mercurio ¿Son tóxicos y peligrosos? ¿Tienes que preocuparte por tu salud? El Blog de Centinel. 2013 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  11. Norouzi E, Bahramifar N, Ghasempouri SM. Effect of teeth amalgam on mercury levels in the colostrums human milk in Lenjan. Environ Monit Assess. 2012 Abstract
  12. Barghi M, Behrooz RD, Esmaili-Sari A, Ghasempouri SM. Mercury exposure assessment in Iranian pregnant women's hair with respect to diet, amalgam filling, and lactation. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2012 Abstract
  13. Orün E, Yalçin SS, Aykut O, Orhan G, Koç-Morgil G, Yurdakök K, Uzun R. Mercury exposure via breast-milk in infants from a suburban area of Ankara, Turkey. Turk J Pediatr. 2012 Abstract
  14. CDC. Evaluating Mercury Exposure: Information for Health Care Providers. Fact sheet 2012 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  15. Richardson GM, Wilson R, Allard D, Purtill C, Douma S, Gravière J. Mercury exposure and risks from dental amalgam in the US population, post-2000. Sci Total Environ. 2011 Abstract
  16. DGA 2010 - U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th Edition, Washington, DC - 2010 Full text (link to original source)
  17. Roberts HW, Charlton DG. The release of mercury from amalgam restorations and its health effects: a review. Oper Dent. 2009 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  18. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. White Paper: FDA Update/Review of Potential Adverse Health Risks Associated with Exposure to Mercury in Dental Amalgam. 2009 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  19. CDC. Evaluación de la exposición al mercurio: información para profesionales sanitarios. Hoja de datos 2009 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  20. Edlich RF, Greene JA, Cochran AA, Kelley AR, Gubler KD, Olson BM, Hudson MA, Woode DR, Long WB 3rd, McGregor W, Yoder C, Hopkins DB, Saepoff JP. Need for informed consent for dentists who use mercury amalgam restorative material as well as technical considerations in removal of dental amalgam restorations. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 2007 Abstract
  21. The Trans-agency Working Group on the Health Effects of Dental Amalgam. Review and analysis of the literature on the Health effects of Dental Amalgam. Life Sciences Research Office. 2005 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  22. Brownawell AM, Berent S, Brent RL, Bruckner JV, Doull J, Gershwin EM, Hood RD, Matanoski GM, Rubin R, Weiss B, Karol MH. The potential adverse health effects of dental amalgam. Toxicol Rev. 2005 Abstract
  23. Mitchell RJ, Osborne PB, Haubenreich JE. Dental amalgam restorations: daily mercury dose and biocompatibility. J Long Term Eff Med Implants. 2005 Abstract
  24. da Costa SL, Malm O, Dórea JG. Breast-milk mercury concentrations and amalgam surface in mothers from Brasília, Brazil. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2005 Abstract
  25. Ursinyova M, Masanova V. Cadmium, lead and mercury in human milk from Slovakia. Food Addit Contam. 2005 Abstract
  26. Ekstrand J, Björkman L, Edlund C, Sandborgh-Englund G. Toxicological aspects on the release and systemic uptake of mercury from dental amalgam. Eur J Oral Sci. 1998 Abstract
  27. Drasch G, Aigner S, Roider G, Staiger F, Lipowsky G. Mercury in human colostrum and early breast milk. Its dependence on dental amalgam and other factors. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 1998 Abstract
  28. Drexler H, Schaller KH. The mercury concentration in breast milk resulting from amalgam fillings and dietary habits. Environ Res. 1998 Abstract
  29. Oskarsson A, Schültz A, Skerfving S, Hallén IP, Ohlin B, Lagerkvist BJ. Total and inorganic mercury in breast milk in relation to fish consumption and amalgam in lactating women. Arch Environ Health. 1996 Abstract
  30. Klemann D, Weinhold J, Strubelt O, Pentz R, Jungblut JR, Klink F. [Effects of amalgam fillings on the mercury concentrations in amniotic fluid and breast milk]. Dtsch Zahnarztl Z. 1990 Abstract

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