Mercury, selenium, and glutathione peroxidase in dental personnel

Abstract

Eighteen persons, dentists and nurses, with urinary mercury levels higher than the group median value of all dental personnel in the country of Västerbotten were compared with a group consisting of 15 persons with low urinary mercury levels working in the same clinics. A statistically significant difference between the high urinary mercury group and the low urinary mercury group could be seen in the plasma mercury level. In each group a statistically significant relation could be seen between the plasma mercury level and the total number of amalgam surfaces. The two groups did not differ with regard to the levels of plasma selenium and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase, and no correlation between these two variables and the plasma mercury levels could be found. To evaluate organ functions, a large number of supplementary analyses were performed. These analyses did not indicate any influence on organ functions. Although the persons in the present study were occupationally exposed to mercury, none of the biologic variables analyzed seemed to be affected. Even among dental personnel who handle amalgam professionally the number of amalgam surfaces is a major contributory factor to the P-mercury level.

Methylmercury and Inorganic Mercury in Serum—Correlation to Fish Consumption and Dental Amalgam in a Cohort of Women Born in 1922

“…2), which is in accordance with several other studies (Abraham et al, 1984;Akesson et al, 1991, Molin et al, 1989, 1990. The slope of the linear regression line indicates an increase in S-InoHg by almost 0.1 nmol/L per amalgam surface, but the differences between individuals are considerable.…”

“…The slope of the linear regression line indicates an increase in S-InoHg by almost 0.1 nmol/L per amalgam surface, but the differences between individuals are considerable. This is somewhat less than the values reported by Molin et al (1989Molin et al ( , 1990, 0.19 and 0.14 nmol/L per amalgam surface.…”

“…The possible health effects from dental amalgam have caused much debate through the years (Enes-tro¨m and Hultman 1995), and it has been demonstrated several times that dental amalgam increases the mercury concentration in urine (Aronsson et al, 1989) and blood (Abraham et al 1984;Akesson et al, 1991;Molin et al, 1989Molin et al, , 1990. In this study, MeHg and InoHg have been studied in serum from a cohort of Swedish women.…”

Number of amalgam fillings in relation to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and early death in Swedish women

“…In many countries there has been a very intense discussion concerning possible negative effects on health caused by dentai amalgam fillings and nol least in Sweden (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). A correlation has been observed between number of amalgam fillings and the concentration of mercury in plasma (27)(28)(29) and the excretion of tnercury in the urine (29,30), and an increased content of mercury in some tissues has been observed iti dental staff working with atnalgatn fillings (31). However, these concentrations of mercury in plasma have beeti low atid reached levels which are by far lower than those defined as accepted maximal values for subjects subjected to mercury in their professions.…”

Mercury vapor release from dental amalgam in patients with symptoms allegedly caused by amalgam fillings

“…The occurrence of several subjective symptoms, such as fatigue, irritability, and loss of appetite is also increased. In a few studies, tremor, recorded electrophysiologically, has been observed at low urine mercury concentrations (down to [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] |ig Hg/g creatinine). Other studies did not show any such effect" (24).…”