From: Gary Krasner [gk-cfic@juno.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2002 12:33 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Cc: bullelkman@aol.com; skreider@dca.net
Subject: comment re: Docket No. 01N-0067

Comment submitted by

Gary Krasner,  Director,  Coalition For Informed Choice.
188-34  87th Drive,  #4B,  Hollis, NY 11423
Fax / Phone: 718-479-2939,    email: GK-CFIC@JUNO.COM

re: Docket No. 01N-0067



Dear FDA,

As a health activist for 30 years, I’ve encountered dozens of people
inflicted with the effects of mercury toxicilty. Many have restored their
health only by removal of their amalgam fillings. Upon removal, dentists
must treat the fillings as a toxic waste substance. This goes to the
issue of stability while in the mouth. There are numerous studies that
indicate 50% mercury fillings leach mercury into the body through various
routes.

Beyond the vast accumulated annectodal evidence, I urge you to review the
medical literature supplied by dedicated anti-amalgam organizations to
support more restrictions on the application of this substance for dental
carries. I offer one such study below:

Amalgam Fillings May Damage Kidneys 

Amalgam fillings and skin- lightening creams both contain significant
amounts of mercury. Researchers at the King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia have just completed a study aimed at determining whether the
mercury actually gets into the blood stream. The study involved 225 women
(aged 17 to 58 years) who had their urine measured for mercury,
creatinine, urea, uric acid, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and glucose.
The urinary mercury level varied between 0 and 204.8 micrograms per liter
and was directly related to the number of dental amalgam fillings present
in the women's mouths. The researchers conclude that chronic exposure to
mercury may be associated with deterioration of renal (kidney) function. 

Source: Biometals, Vol. 10, October 1997, pp. 315-23