Selenium and its protection against the effects of mercury and silver.

The content of mercury and silver (mean values) was estimated by ICP-MS in the rot tips of amalgam-filled teeth, non-filled teeth and milk teeth. The concentration of mercury in amalgam-filled teeth was 6.0 mg/kg in non-filled adult teeth 0.2 mg/kg and in milk teeth 0.3 mg/kg. The concentration of silver in amalgam-filled teeth was 2.6 mg/kg, in non-filled adult teeth 0.08 mg/kg and in milk teeth 0.06 mg/kg. A theory is presented on how selenium protects against the formation of free radicals by heavy metals and/or peroxides which result in cellular damage.