Adverse Health Effects of Palladium
Metal cations in dental alloys such as mercury and palladium are
continuously released and accumulate in the kidneys, liver, thyroid, brain,
CNS, etc.(1,15). Mercury and palladium have high levels of galvanic
current densities when near other metals, with the current densities of Pd
alloys approx. 10 times higher than for high noble alloys(16). This causes
extensive migration of mercury and palladium to saliva, tooth roots, jaw,
gums, and other parts of the body(15,16).
Like mercury, palladium is cytotoxic and kills or damages
cells(12,13,14). Palladium also causes considerable damage and degradation
of DNA and exacerbates hydroxyl radical damage (13,14). Palladium also
damages cell mitochondria and inhibits enzyme activity and function
Palladium also causes significant numbers of allergic reactions as
well as contact dermatitis, stomatitis, lichinoid reactions, and periodontal
Because of its toxicity and high mobility, many cases of palladium
poisoning have resultedand palladium in dental alloys has been banned in
Switzerland. Likewise the German Health Ministry has been warning
dentists since 1993 not to use palladium-copper alloys.
The warning against using palladium alloys came as a result of poisonings
and lab tests inGermany that showed the following toxic effects of
Based on German studies and cases, early symptoms of palladium
- Obstruction of important enzyme systems like creatin-linase, aldolase,
alcalite phospatase, carbon-anhydrease,trypsin, chymotropsin,
- Disturbance of collage synthesis like bone and cartilage;
- Obstruction of thymidin in the DNA;
- Accumulation in body organs;
- Allergic reaction- esp. for people with nickel allergy.
increased salivation; pain in teeth and jaw; burning tounge; cold feeling
in mouth; metal taste, peeling of mucous membrane around teeth; fungus like
coating in throat and sore throat; painful, swollen lymph nodes in the
neck; extreme nervousness, extreme tiredness, confusion, memory loss,
dizziness, migraine headaches, burning of eyes, allergies, impairment of
immune system, blisters on body.
Late symptoms of palladium poisoning include:
dying of the teeth, granulomas, puss pockets with dead tissue, swollen
tongue; nerve pain in the face; paralysis of face; muscle cramps of tongue,
lips, around eyes; sinus infection, bronchitis and lung ailments without
clear reason; difficulty breathing at night; problems with stomach,
intestines, liver, bladder, kidneys; weight loss; joint and muscle pain;
muscle cramps and weakness; earnoise; visual disturbance; depression,
insomnia; outbreaks of sweat, palpitations, difficulty concentrating.
(1) A.Schedle et al, "Response of fibroblasts to various metal cations", J
Dent Res, Aug 1995, 74(8):1513-1520.
(2) L. Niemi et al, "In vitro cytotoxicity of Ag-Pd-Cu based alloys", J
Biomed Mater Res, May 1985, 19(5):549-561.
(3) S.Takeda et al, "Corrosion behavior of Ag-Pd alloys and its
cytotoxicity", shika Zairyo Kikai, Nov 1990, 9(6):825-830.
(4) A.M. Al-roubaie, "Condition of the periodontion of teeth with
silver-palladium bridge", Fogorv Sz, Jul 1986, 79(7):207-212.
(5) D. Downey, "Contact mucositis due to palladium", Contact Dermatitis, Jul
(6) J.A.Marcusson, "Contact allergies to palladium chloride", Contact
Dermatitis, May 1996, 34(5): 320-323.
(7) J.Vilaplana et al, "Adverse oral mucous membrane reactions to dental
prostheses", Feb 1994, 30(2): 80-84.
(8) A Henston-Pettersen, "Casting Alloy side effects", Adv Dent Res, Sep
(9) G.M.Kolesova et al, "Effect of Palladium compounds on mitrochondrial
enzymatic systems", Vopr Med Khim, sep 1979, 25(5):537-540.
(10) J.D. Spikes et al, "Enzyme inhibition by palladium", Biochem Biophys
Res Commun, 1969, 8; 35(3);420-422.
(11) M.D. Shultz et al, "Palladium- a new inhibitor of cellulase enzyme
activity", Biochem Biophys Res Commun, Apr 1995, 209(3):1046-1052.
(12) Y Kawata et al, "Cytotoxicity of Pd-Co dental alloys", J Dent Res, Aug
1981, 60(8): 1403- 1409.
(13) T.Z.Liu et al, "Palladium exacerbates hydroxyl radical mediated DNA
damage", Free Radic Biol Med, 23(1): 155-161, 1997.
(14) C.K.Pillai et al, "Interaction of palladium with DNA", Biochem Biophys
Acta, Jan 1977, 474(1): 11-16.
(15) W.P Bieger et al, "Immunotoxocolgy of metals", Zur Deutshcen Auszahe,
(16) K.Bonnig et al, "Quantitative analysis of the corrosion rates of
palladium alloys", Dtsch Azhnarztl A 45(8):508-510, Aug 1990.
(17) Additional references on allergy to palladium- see following:
van Ketel WG and Niebber C (1981). Allergy to palladium in dental alloys.
Contact Dermatitis 7:331.
van Loon LAJ, van Elsas PW, van Joost Th and Davidson CL (1984). Contact
stomatitis and dermatitis to nickel and palladium. Contact Dermatitis
Castelain PY and Castelain M (1987). Contact dermatitis to palladium.
Contact Dermatitis 16:46.
Guerra L, Misciali C, Borrello P and Melino M (1988). Sensitization to
palladium. Contact Dermatitis 19:306-307.
Camarasa JG, Serra-Baldrich E, Lluch M, Malet A and Garcia Calderon P
(1989). Recent unexplained patch test reactions to palladium. Contact
van Joost Th and Roesyanto-Mahadi ID (1990). Combined sensitization to
palladium and nickel. Contact Dermatitis 22:227-228.
Rebandel P and Rudzki E (1990). Allergy to palladium. Contact Dermatitis
Hackel H, Miller K, Elsner P and Burg G (1991). Unusual
combinedsensitization to palladium and other metals. Contact
Camarasa JG, Burrows D, Menn_ T, Wilkinson JD and Shaw S (1991). Palladium
contact sensitivity. Contact Dermatitis 24:370-371.
Todd DJ and Burrows D (1992). Patch testing with pure palladium metal in
patients with sensitivity to palladium chloride. Contact Dermatitis
de Fine Olivarius F and Menn_ T (1992). Contact dermatitis from
metallicpalladium in patients reacting to palladium chloride. Contact
Aberer W, Holub H, Strohal R and Slavicek R (1993). Palladium in
dentalalloys -- the dermatologist's responsibility to warn? Contact
Vilaplana J, Romaguera C and Cornellana F (1994). Contact dermatitis and
advers oral mucous membrane reactions related to the use of
dental prostheses. Contact Dermatitis 30:80-84.
Uter W, Fuchs Th, H_usser M and Ippen H (1995). Patch test results with
serial dilutions of nickel sulfate (with and without detergent),
palladium, chloride, and nickel and palladium metal plates. Contact
Marcusson JA (1996). Contact allergies to nickel sulfate, gold
sodiumthiosulfate and palladium chloride in patients claiming
side-effects from dental alloy components. Contact Dermatitis
Santucci B, Cannistraci C, Cristaudo A and Picardo M (1996). Multiple
sensitivities to transition metals: the nickel palladium
reactions. Contact Dermatitis 35:283-286.
Wahlberg JE and Boman AS (1992). Cross-reactivity to palladium and nickel
studied in the guinea pig. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 72:95-97.
Lid_n C and Wahlberg JE (1994). Cross-reactivity to metal compounds studied
in guinea pigs induced with chromate or cobalt. Acta Derm Venereol