Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields as a Hazard for People with Dental Amalgam Restorations

Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields as a

Hazard for People with Dental Amalgam Restorations

Ghazal Mortazavi, DDsDentist

Shiraz University of Medical [email protected]

1Ghazal Mortazavi (DDs) and SMJ Mortazavi (Ph.D)

SMJ Mortazavi, Ph.DProfessor of Medical Physics &

INIRPRC DirectorShiraz University of Medical Sciences

[email protected]

•Electricity is an essential part of modern life.

•It is estimated that by the middle of this century, the global use of electricity will be multiplied by a factor of 2.5 to 3.0.

Ghazal Mortazavi (DDs) and SMJ Mortazavi (Ph.D)

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http://listtoptens.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Top-10-Electricity-Producing-Countries-Canada.jpg

• Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are produced by the motion of electrons.

• All electrical or electronic devices such as wireless technologies (e.g. Wi-Fi, mobile phones and cordless phones), laptop computers, microwave ovens and power lines produce electromagnetic fields.


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EMF Ocean!We live in an ocean of electromagnetic fields!


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Ghazal Mortazavi (DDs) and SMJ

Mortazavi (Ph.D)

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A very basic question that should be answered:Why is Exposure to Different Sources of EMFs so Important?


Mortazavi (Ph.D)

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Very Frequent Use by the Whole PopulationWide Geographical Distribution of Users

In Africa, No land-line but mobile phones are usedPoor Knowledge about the EffectsInescapable ExposuresVery Wide Sources

Baby Watch, Wireless TechnologiesHidden Sources

Wi-Fi Signals coming from our neighboursContinuous 24 h/d, 7 days/wk exposuresOld StandardsChallenging Serious Biological EffectsThe issue of exposure to Children

Current Controversies


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• However, the effect of RF-EMF on biological systems is still controversial.

• Over the past years, our laboratory has focused on studying the health effects of exposure to some common and/or occupational sources of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) such as mobile phones [1-8] and their base stations [9], mobile phone jammers [10], laptop computers [11], radars [2], dentistry cavitrons [12] and MRI [13, 14].

Amalgam Mercury Issue• It was previously believed that dental amalgam, which contains about fifty precents mercury, is inert and cannot release mercury after restoration.

• However, in 2009, the US FDA acknowledged that dental amalgam releases low levels of elemental mercury vapor.


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Dental Amalgam Safety Concern• Since 150 years ago, amalgam has been used in dentistry as an excellent and versatile dental restorative material due to its properties such as low cost, ease of application, strength, durability, and bacteriostatic effects 15.

• However, nowadays, the popularity of amalgam is decreasing due to rapidly growing concerns about its detrimental health effects, environmental pollution, and aesthetics 16.


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Now there is a growing public concern!


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Historical Changes of Mercury%• After some historical changes in the mercury-to-amalgam ratio, modern amalgams are now produced from precapsulated alloy consisting of 42-45% mercury by weight 17.


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•Recent findings indicate that mercury, even at low doses, may cause toxicity

•As dental amalgam fillings release low levels of elemental mercury vapor, today, there is a debate over :▫If these levels are safe and ▫Whether the safety threshold is the same for different subpopulations.

Are low levels of mercury safe?


Mortazavi (Ph.D)

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•Concerns regarding the rapidly growing exposure to EMF sources and increased mercury release from dental amalgam after exposure to electromagnetic fields, especially in children, people who are routinely exposed to electromagnetic fields and hypersensitive subpopulations, prompted us to perform more studies.

The rationale for our previous studies


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• Our first report on the role of exposure to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or microwave radiation emitted by mobile phones in enhancing the release of mercury from dental amalgam restoration was published in 2008 [7].

MRI and the Release of Mercury

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MRI & Release of Mercury


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Mobile Phone Use and the Release of Mercury


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Rationale for Our Recent Study

SMJ Mortazavi

•Nowadays, MRI systems utilize:▫ Stronger static magnetic fields

▫ Faster and stronger gradient magnetic fields

▫ More powerful radiofrequency (RF) transmission coils


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• To overcome the limitations of our previous study, we have recently studied the effects of stronger magnetic fields (1.5 T in our recent study vs. 0.25 T in our previous report) and provided further support for the adverse effect of MRI in increasing the release of mercury from dental amalgam fillings [15].

Methods in our recent study

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Results


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• We have also shown that a few published papers which reported no increased release of mercury after MRI, may have severe methodological flaws [16].

No Effect Reports in the Literature

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•Recent findings show that even at low doses, mercury may cause toxicity.

Conclusion:


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•Therefore, as:▫ Children are generally more sensitive to toxic agents

▫Some people tend to be more sensitive to the effects of exposure to any chemical substance in their environment

▫Some people are routinely exposed to different sources of electromagnetic fields

a paradigm shift may be needed in evaluating the adverse health effects of amalgam fillings.


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Based on these facts:• The amount of mercury released from dental amalgam after exposure to different sources of electromagnetic fields may be sufficient for causing a toxic effect in children, people who are routinely exposed to electromagnetic fields and hypersensitive subpopulations.

Concluding remarks:


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• Therefore, expert groups at national and international organizations should actively review the safety of exposure to electromagnetic fields in individuals with amalgam restorations.

Concluding remarks:

SMJ Mortazavi

30Ghazal Mortazavi

(DDs) and SMJ Mortazavi (Ph.D)


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REFERENCES• [1] S. M. J. Mortazavi, M. Motamedifar, G. Namdari, M. Taheri, A. R. Mortazavi, and N.

Shokrpour, "Non-Linear Adaptive Phenomena which Decrease the Risk of infection after Pre-Exposure to Radiofrequency Radiation," Dose-Response, in press.

• [2] S. M. J. Mortazavi, S. Taeb, and N. Dehghan, "Alterations of Visual Reaction Time and Short Term Memory in Military Radar Personnel," Iranian J Publ Health, vol. 42, pp. 428-435, 2013.

• [3] S. M. J. Mortazavi, M. S. Rouintan, S. Taeb, N. Dehghan, A. A. Ghaffarpanah, Z. Sadeghi , et al., "Human short-term exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones decreases computer-assisted visual reaction time," Acta Neurologica Belgica, vol. 112, pp. 171-175, 2012.

• [4] S. M. J. Mortazavi, M. A. Mosleh-Shirazi, A. R. Tavassoli, M. Taheri, A. R. Mehdizadeh, S. A. S. Namazi, et al., "Increased Radioresistance to Lethal Doses of Gamma Rays in Mice and Rats after Exposure to Microwave Radiation Emitted by a GSM Mobile Phone Simulator," Dose Response, vol. 11 pp. 281-292, 2013.

• [5] S. Mortazavi, M. Mosleh-Shirazi, A. Tavassoli, M. Taheri, Z. Bagheri, R. Ghalandari , et al., "A comparative study on the increased radioresistance to lethal doses of gamma rays after exposure to microwave radiation and oral intake of flaxseed oil," Iranian Journal of Radiation Research, vol. 9, pp. 9-14, 2011.

• [6] S. M. J. Mortazavi, A. Habib, A. H. Ganj-Karimi, R. Samimi-Doost, A. Pour-Abedi, and A. Babaie, "Alterations in TSH and Thyroid Hormones Following Mobile Phone Use," OMJ, vol. 24, pp. 274-278 2009.

• [7] S. M. J. Mortazavi, E. Daiee, A. Yazdi, K. Khiabani, A. Kavousi, R. Vazirinejad , et al., "Mercury release from dental amalgam restorations after magnetic resonance imaging and following mobile phone use," Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, vol. 11, pp. 1142-1146, 2008.


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• [8] S. M. J. Mortazavi, J. Ahmadi, and M. Shariati, "Prevalence of subjective poor health symptoms associated with exposure to electromagnetic fields among University students," Bioelectromagnetics, vol. 28, pp. 326-330, 2007.

• [9] S. M. J. Mortazavi, "Safety Issue of Mobile Phone Base Stations " J Biomed Phys Eng, vol. 3, pp. 1-2, 2013.

• [10] S. M. J. Mortazavi, "Adaptive responses after exposure to cosmic and natural terrestrial radiation," Indian Journal of Radiation Research, pp. 104-112, 2004.

• [11] S. M. J. Mortazavi, A. R. Tavasoli, F. Ranjbari, and P. Moamaei, "Effects of Laptop Computers' Electromagnetic Field on Sperm Quality," Journal of Reproduction and Infertility, vol. 11, pp. 251-258, 2011.

• [12] S. M. Mortazavi, S. Vazife-Doost, M. Yaghooti, S. Mehdizadeh, and A. Rajaie-Far, "Occupational exposure of dentists to electromagnetic fields produced by magnetostrictive cavitrons alters the serum cortisol level," J Nat Sci Biol Med, vol. 3, pp. 60-4, Jan 2012.

• [13] S. M. Mortazavi, E. Daiee, A. Yazdi, K. Khiabani, A. Kavousi, R. Vazirinejad , et al., "Mercury release from dental amalgam restorations after magnetic resonance imaging and following mobile phone use," Pak J Biol Sci, vol. 11, pp. 1142-6, Apr 15 2008.

• [14] S. M. J. Mortazavi, M. Neghab, S. M. H. Anooshe, N. Bahaeddini, G. Mortazavi, and P. Neghab, "High Magnetic Flux MRI Accelerates Release of Mercury from Dental Amalgam Fillings," THEIJOEM, 2014.

• [15] S. M. J. Mortazavi, M. Neghab, S. M. H. Anoosheh, N. Bahaeddini, G. Mortazavi, P. Neghab , et al., "High-field MRI and Mercury release from dental amalgam fillings," International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol. 5, pp. 101-105, 2014.

• [16] S. M. J. Mortazavi and G. Mortazavi, "Effects of X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging on mercury release from dental amalgam into artificial saliva," Oral Radiology, pp. 1-2, 2014/09/30 2014.

Thank you

Ghazal Mortazavi (DDs) and SMJ Mortazavi (Ph.D) 33

Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields as a Hazard for People with Dental Amalgam Restorations

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