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Mercury exposure and risks from dental amalgam in the US population, post-2000
G M Richardson1, R Wilson, D Allard
1SNC-Lavalin Environment, Suite 110, 20 Colonnade Road, Ottawa, ON Canada. mark.richardson@snclavalin.com
The Science of the Total Environment
|July 26, 2011
Summary
Dental amalgam fillings release mercury vapor, increasing body mercury levels in adults and fetuses. Millions of Americans may exceed safe mercury exposure limits due to these common dental restorations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Dental Materials Science
Background:
- Dental amalgam, composed of 50% metallic mercury, continuously releases mercury vapor.
- Mercury exposure from amalgam fillings increases body burden in various tissues and fluids, including during pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate mercury exposure levels in the US population resulting from dental amalgam restorations.
- To compare estimated exposures against established reference exposure levels (RELs).
Main Methods:
- Utilized US population statistics on body weight and restored tooth surfaces.
- Incorporated research on urinary mercury concentration increases per amalgam-filled tooth surface.
- Calculated mercury exposure for five age groups under three different exposure scenarios.
Main Results:
- An estimated 67.2 million Americans may exceed the US EPA's mercury REL of 0.3 μg/m³.
- Approximately 122.3 million Americans could exceed the California EPA's mercury REL of 0.03 μg/m³.
- Daily mercury exposure estimates range from 0.2 to 1 μg per amalgam-filled tooth surface or tooth.
Conclusions:
- A significant portion of the US population is at risk of exceeding safe mercury exposure levels due to dental amalgam.
- Mercury exposure from dental amalgam is a widespread public health concern, particularly for individuals with multiple restorations.
- The findings underscore the need for continued monitoring and potential reassessment of dental amalgam use.
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