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The FDA was forced into a corner today regarding mercury.

Silver-colored metal dental contain mercury that may cause health problems in pregnant women, children and fetuses, the Food and Drug Administration
said on Wednesday after settling a related lawsuit.

As part of the settlement with several consumer advocacy groups, the FDA agreed to alert consumers about the potential risks on its website and to issue a more specific rule next year for fillings that contain mercury, FDA spokeswoman Peper Long said.

Kudos to Moms Against Mercury, Consumers for Dental Choice, and others for a job well done.

The lawsuit settlement was reached on Monday with several advocacy
groups, including Moms Against Mercury, which had sought to have
mercury fillings removed from the U.S. market.

While the FDA previously said various studies showed no harm from
mercury fillings, some consumer groups contend the fillings can trigger
a range of health problems such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s
disease. In 2006, an FDA advisory panel of outside experts said most
people would not be harmed by them, but said the agency needed more
information.

Mercury has been linked to brain and kidney damage at certain
levels. Amalgams contain half mercury and half a combination of other
metals.

Charles Brown, a lawyer for one of the groups called Consumers for
Dental Choice, said the agency’s move represented an about-face. “Gone,
gone, gone are all of FDA’s claims that no science exists that amalgam
is unsafe,” he said in a statement.