why are mercury containing amalgam tooth fillings considered safe despite mercury being extremely toxic?
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The mercury is locked away in a compound that will not be made available to the body’s cells.
Pure metallic mercury also isn’t too poisonous (short external exposures), as it has a hard time absorbing and becoming available.
But something like dimethyl mercury is in a compound that is instantly absorbed through skin (and through gloves) and into the body. Like one drop on the skin and you’re likely going to die, which has happened.
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