Autoradiographic study of distribution patterns of metals which occur as corrosion products from dental restorations

Radioactive chromium, cobalt, gold and mercury, all of which may occur as corrosion products from dental restorations, were injected in single doses via the tail vein of mice and an in vivo analysis of their distribution was performed using whole-body autoradiography. Gold seemed to be inert and went mainly to the liver and bones. The other elements studied were distributed widely in the body and remained for a long period of time in specific target organs and tissues.