The mercury from amalgam fillings in the mother’s teeth could be a cause of ADHD (attention-deficit, hyperactivity disorder) in children. Mercury from the teeth and the environment affects the brain of the developing fetus, say researchers.
They found a direct link between the levels of mercury in the mother’s hair at the time of birth and the likelihood of their child developing ADHD. For every 1 ug/g (microgram per gram) of mercury in the mother’s hair sample, the child was 1.4 times more likely to be inattentive and 1.8 times more likely to suffer from impulsivity and hyperactivity by the time they reached the age of eight.
Researchers from Boston University School of Public Health made another discovery that points the finger of suspicion at amalgam fillings: the methyl mercury from fish doesn’t seem to be a cause of ADHD. In fact, say the researchers, it seems to have a protective effect, so contradicting public health warnings for pregnant women to avoid fish in their diet. The goodness in fish outweighs any dangers from the methyl mercury they absorb from swimming in polluted waters. Two servings of oily fish a week could protect the child from ADHD, say the researchers.
(Source: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 2012; doi: 10.1001/archpediatrics.2012.1900).
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