Marco
Grrrrrrr!
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This came up in the context of a recent discussion regarding amalgam fillings and CFS. I admit to be being sceptical.
While neurotoxicity of high level exposure to environmental mercury is uncontrovesial, the same can't be said for detrimental effects, if any, to human health through low level chronic exposure from whatever source. Yet a number of papers suggest that heavy metals can effect the immune system and potentially interact with or exacerbate autoimmune diseases.
This paper may not be the most recent (or best) but does give a general overview :
Adverse immunological effects and autoimmunity induced by dental amalgam and alloy in mice.
"We hypothesize that under appropriate conditions of genetic susceptibility and adequate body burden, heavy metal exposure from dental amalgam may contribute to immunological aberrations, which could lead to overt autoimmunity."
http://www.fasebj.org/content/8/14/1183.long
My question is. Is this a valid/accepted paradigm and applicable beyond animal models?
While neurotoxicity of high level exposure to environmental mercury is uncontrovesial, the same can't be said for detrimental effects, if any, to human health through low level chronic exposure from whatever source. Yet a number of papers suggest that heavy metals can effect the immune system and potentially interact with or exacerbate autoimmune diseases.
This paper may not be the most recent (or best) but does give a general overview :
Adverse immunological effects and autoimmunity induced by dental amalgam and alloy in mice.
"We hypothesize that under appropriate conditions of genetic susceptibility and adequate body burden, heavy metal exposure from dental amalgam may contribute to immunological aberrations, which could lead to overt autoimmunity."
http://www.fasebj.org/content/8/14/1183.long
My question is. Is this a valid/accepted paradigm and applicable beyond animal models?