Mercury vapor as an atmospheric contaminant of dental offices

Airborne mercury from dental offices was selectively trapped by silber gauze elements in borosilicate glass obsorbers, followed by heat-desorption and spectrophotometric measurement at 2537A. As little as 0.4 ng of Hg could be accurately determined, which is equivalent to 49 ppt in a wone-L air sample on a v/v basis. Over 860 air samples were taken over a range of locations and working conditions at 88 different dental offices, and at the Dental Training Clinic of the University of Manitoba. The Hg vapor concentrations at the dental facilities ranged from 0.45 to 742 mug/m3 of air, 29% of the samples were within 0.45 to 5 mug; 37.8 were within 5.1 to 25mug;and 33.2% were above 25 mug. Mercury concentrations varied during the working day, depending on the time of sampling, the number of amalgams placed, and the interval between placements. The lowest concentrations were obtained in the morning. Disturbance of residual mercury droplets on floors or working areas by sweeping or dusting, or immediately after attempted clean-up of a mercury spill, sharply increased the amount of airborne mercury.