[Amalgam--a question of belief? A review and assessment of the current literature].

Several hundred written sources have been researched regarding old and new findings. Forgotten and new facts are covered in four chapters. One of the authors is a retired industrial chemist, and the other a dental surgeon. In the first section the natural and synthetic sources of mercury are explained. In every scientific study the ubiquity of mercury for billions of years must be taken into consideration. The second chapter looks at the toxicology of mercury and its compounds. Well known catastrophies in Japan and Iraq are depicted. Individual intoxications are hardly mentioned in literature. The third chapter is devoted to the dental amalgam, a silver alloy with both physical-chemical properties, and corrosive and thermal behaviour. An attempt is made to define the mercury balance. The forth paragraph deals with the disposal and recycling of mercury. Many dental associations are currently discussing the possibility of recycling amalgam, which is rather a stable silver alloy than a volatile mercury compound. A controlled landfill disposal of dental amalgam will absorb a certain quantity of mercury during its life cycle, and is positive. Recycling is expensive, energy consuming and causes additional exposure. Unless silver and mercury become rare metals, recycling should not be considered. As yet no worldwide regulatory procedures exist.