BIOLOGIST SEEKS BABY TEETH
HOUGHTON-A Michigan Tech wildlife biologist known for his studies of wolves and moose on Isle Royale National Park is seeking baby teeth from children in the Upper Peninsula.
"We're asking parents who have children born in the U.P. in the 1990s who have lived here from birth to at least age 3 to send us their children's baby teeth when they lose them," says Dr. Rolf Peterson of MTU's School of Forestry and Wood Products. Peterson isn't trying to replace the Tooth Fairy--he simply wants to check the mercury levels in the children's teeth.
The research project is being sponsored by the National Park Foundation and Canon USA, Inc., who are supporting a comprehensive study of mercury in the food chain on Isle Royale National Park. Recent studies showed mercury levels in moose teeth almost doubled from 1960 to 1980.
"High levels of mercury can be toxic to both animals and humans,"says Peterson, "and data from previous studies have resulted in National Park Service and Michigan DNR advisories to limit fish consumption from some inland lakes, both on Isle Royale and on the mainland. We would like to broaden the scope of our studies to include surrounding human populations."
Peterson says he is placing the highest priority on receiving teeth from children who lose them within the next 2 or 3 months or from those who save lost their baby teeth during the past 2-3 years and have saved them. The study will use one tooth per child. "We're most interested in the lower front teeth, but other teeth might also be used," he says.
Persons interested in participating in the study should send teeth to Peterson at at the following address: Tooth Study, School of Forestry and Wood Products, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931-1295.
Peterson says parents who submit teeth will receive a report on mercury levels found in their children's teeth and also a summary of data from the U.P. study and the results of mercury studies of other human populations around the world. He says teeth sent to him should be wrapped in some padding to prevent breakage and can be mailed in a regular envelope.