The Chronic Poisoning Of Man

A follow-up to 1989's Second Thoughts: Silver Fillings and Your Health (reviewed in our November 1989 issue) and 1990's The Amalgam Wars Round 3, the latest video from producer/director Michael F. Brown incorporates footage from the previous tapes and adds new material. The subject matter of all three tapes is the same: the mercury that is contained in amalgam dental fillings is a poison, is dangerous, and is not recognized as such by the American Dental Association. The subject of an examination on 60 Minutes, the amalgam question has received more attention in the last few years and spurred legislation in Sweden restricting its use. This program, which is hosted by Paul Petersen (of The Donna Reed Show fame) includes interviews with a number of dentists, and health practitioners, as well as victims of chronic mercury poisoning who maintain that their medical symptoms disappeared or were significantly decreased after their amalgam fillings were replaced with composite fillings. Reports on various state resolutions introduced and later defeated suggest that the failures of the bills had a lot to do with increased PAC funds from the dental profession. The production values are so-so, with occasionally muddy audio during some of the interviews, but there isn't anything else out there on this topic (with the exception of previous programs from the same producer). There's also a bit of repetition on the tape (no doubt because the program seems more like a work in progress with segments from the earlier tapes included). At nearly an hour in length, the program is too long to support the subject matter, and doesn't present enough new information, in our opinion, to warrant replacing earlier versions of the story. However, if you don't already have one of the earlier tapes, then The Chronic Poisoning of Man is recommended. (Available from: Productions West, 511 N. Webster St., Naperville, IL 60563; (708) 357-4703.)