Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Dental amalgam and mercury.

A Jokstad¹, Y Thomassen, E Bye

¹Department of Anatomy, Dental Faculty, University of Oslo, Norway.

Pharmacology & Toxicology

|April 1, 1992

Summary

Mercury exposure from dental amalgam restorations was assessed in Norwegians. Higher numbers of amalgam surfaces correlated with increased mercury in urine and exhaled air, suggesting significant absorption from dental work.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Selenoprotein P increases upon selenium and coenzyme Q<sub>10</sub> supplementation and is associated with telomere length, quality of life and reduced inflammation and mortality.

Free radical biology & medicine·2024

Same author

Significant decrease of von Willebrand factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 by providing supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10 to an elderly population with a low selenium status.

European journal of nutrition·2020

Same author

Thyroid homeostasis in mother-child pairs in relation to maternal iodine status: the MISA study.

European journal of clinical nutrition·2017

Same author

Computer-assisted technologies used in oral rehabilitation and the clinical documentation of alleged advantages - a systematic review.

Journal of oral rehabilitation·2017

Same author

The impact of iron status and smoking on blood divalent metal concentrations in Norwegian women in the HUNT2 Study.

Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)·2016

Same author

Relatively high mortality risk in elderly Swedish subjects with low selenium status.

European journal of clinical nutrition·2015

Area of Science:

Environmental Health
Toxicology
Dental Materials Science

Background:

Dental amalgam restorations are a common source of mercury exposure.
Quantifying mercury absorption from dental amalgams is crucial for public health.
Previous studies have shown varying correlations between amalgam load and mercury levels.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate mercury exposure levels in an urban Norwegian population.
To correlate mercury concentrations in blood, urine, and exhaled air with dental amalgam restorations.
To estimate daily mercury absorption from dental amalgams.

Main Methods:

Measured mercury concentrations in blood (HgB), urine (HgU), and exhaled air (HgAir) in 147 individuals.
Utilized cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry for sample analysis.
Correlated mercury levels with the number and surface area of dental amalgam restorations.

Main Results:

Mean HgB: 24.8 nmol/l, HgU: 17.5 nmol/l, HgAir: 0.8 µg/m³.
HgU and HgAir showed significant correlations with the number of amalgam restorations and restored surfaces.
HgB exhibited poor correlation with mercury levels in urine/air and amalgam presence.
Individuals with >36 restored surfaces absorbed an estimated 10-12 µg Hg/day.

Conclusions:

Dental amalgam restorations are a significant source of mercury exposure, particularly evident in urine and exhaled air.
Blood mercury levels showed limited correlation, suggesting a need for further investigation into mercury speciation (organic vs. inorganic) for accurate assessment.
The findings indicate a quantifiable daily mercury absorption from extensive dental amalgam use.

Related Experiment Videos