Dental Amalgam and Mercury Levels in Autopsy Tissues

Abstract

Eighteen cadavers from routine autopsy casework were subject to a study of tissue levels of total mercury in brain, thyroid, and kidney samples by atomic absorption. On these same cadavers, all dental amalgam fillings (the most important source of inorganic mercury exposure in the general population, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) were charted. Total mercury levels were significantly higher in subjects with a greater number of occlusal amalgam surfaces (>12) compared with those with fewer occlusal amalgams (0-3) in all types of tissue (all P < or = 0.04). Mercury levels were significantly higher in brain tissues compared with thyroid and kidney tissues in subjects with more than 12 occlusal amalgam fillings (all P < or = 0.01) but not in subjects with 3 or less occlusal amalgams (all P > or = 0.07).

Effects of amalgam fillings on human tissues

“…[13] Yeni bir otopsi çal›flmas›na göre, 12'den fazla amalgam dolgusu olanlar›n, beyinlerindeki ve birçok dokular›ndaki c›va düzeyi, 3 ya da daha az amalgam dolgusu olanlardan 10 kat daha yüksektir. [14] 12'den fazla amalgam dolgusu olanlarda, beyin dokusundaki ortalama 300 ng Hg/g saptanm›flt›r. [14] Bu oran, nöronlar üzerindeki in vitro toksisitesi kan›tlanm›fl c›va düzeyinin çok üstündedir (0.02-36 ng Hg/g).…”

“…[14] 12'den fazla amalgam dolgusu olanlarda, beyin dokusundaki ortalama 300 ng Hg/g saptanm›flt›r. [14] Bu oran, nöronlar üzerindeki in vitro toksisitesi kan›tlanm›fl c›va düzeyinin çok üstündedir (0.02-36 ng Hg/g).…”

Effects of mercury on the endocrine system

“…Tan and colleagues fail to cite our recent article (Guzzi et al, 2006), which emphasized the significant contribution of mercury amalgam to the increase of the long-term thyroid burden of mercury. In our study on mercury amalgam disposition in human organs, we have found that levels of total mercury in thyroid specimens were about 5 times higher in cadaver samples with 12 or more than 12 occlusal amalgam surfaces, as compared with those who had 3 occlusal amalgam surfaces.…”

Mercury Exposure and Heart Diseases

“…Methylmercury may also result from methylation of inorganic mercury by microorganisms in mouth, when mercury vapor is released from amalgam dental filling [31], and from nonenzymatic methylation, when Vit B12 in the form of methylcobalamin donates a methyl group to mercury [32]. The different mercury forms are interconvertible in vivo; for example, inhaled elemental mercury vapor is absorbed through mucous membrane of the lungs and rapidly oxidized to other forms.…”