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Urinary mercury concentrations in Finnish dentists
Proceedings of the Finnish Dental Society. Suomen Hammaslaakariseuran Toimituksia
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Dentists using dental amalgam fillings show elevated mercury levels in urine. Even with high levels, none exceeded WHO safety limits, but caution is advised for all dentists.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Occupational Medicine
- Toxicology
Background:
- Public concern exists regarding the safety of dental amalgam fillings.
- Micromercurialism, symptoms from mercury release, is debated.
- Dentists face potential mercury exposure from fillings and handling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine urinary mercury concentrations in dentists.
- To investigate factors related to mercury levels in dentists.
- To assess the impact of amalgam use on dentist mercury exposure.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive medical examinations including urinary mercury determination.
- Study involved 136 dentists in South-Western Finland.
- Analysis of factors associated with observed mercury levels.
Main Results:
- Amalgam use by dentists was strongly correlated with higher urinary mercury levels.
- Dentists not using amalgam had mercury levels similar to the general population.
- Statistically significant elevation in urinary mercury was observed in dentists using amalgam.
Conclusions:
- Dental amalgam use leads to increased occupational mercury exposure for dentists.
- While levels were below WHO safety limits, elevated mercury warrants caution.
- Dentists should exercise care when working with dental amalgam.