Dental Fillings Unlikely to Cause Mercury Poisoning
 (London, Reuters Health, 8/6/02)

A team led by Dr. Birgit Gottwald from the University of Giessen, Germany, studied 40 patients who believed that the amalgam (mercury) fillings in their teeth were creating health problems and 40 controls who had amalgam fillings, but no health problems. The researchers assessed the quantity, quality and surface area of the fillings and tested mercury levels in blood and urine. They also gave participants psychological questionnaires. While mercury levels were similar for both groups, more patients than controls had "unfavorable styles of coping with stress," suggesting that some of the physical symptoms may have been psychologically induced..