Mercury vapour levels in dental practices and body mercury levels of dentists and controls

Historical exposure to mercury among Norwegian dental personnel

“…It reported results from 153 dosimeters worn by dentists. The mean concentration was 0.029 mg/m 3 ; 29% of the measurements were >0.025 mg/m 3 (22). However, most available studies that have looked at determinants for exposure to metallic mercury in dental clinics have used mercury levels in urine as an indicator of exposure.…”

Economic impact of regulating the use of amalgam restorations

“…Based on several well-done studies, there is no evidence that the use of amalgam restorations leads to any adverse neurological impairments for children or that dentists and dental assistants who handle amalgams every day and have done so for more than 150 years have any adverse health outcomes as a result of their continuous exposure to this material. 10 Likewise, the disposal of residual mercury used in the preparation of amalgams is not a significant source of environmental mercury. In contrast, a ban on amalgams will lead to a significant increase in dental care expenditures and a reduction in utilization that will mainly impact children and adults from lower-income families.…”

“…8 Several studies found no, or minimal, free mercury going into the environment from dentists' offices. 9 Although published studies in national refereed journals have not indicated an association between mercury in dental amalgams and the adverse health of dental patients, dental providers, 10 or the general population, several countries, including Germany, Sweden, and Denmark, have limited the use of amalgam restorations to adults and nonpregnant women. 11 In the United States, bills have been introduced in federal and state legislatures to restrict the use of amalgam restorations.…”

Casting the runes

“…The mean urine mercury levels in dental personnel has been variously reported to range from 3 µg/l to 22 µg/l, compared to 1-5 µg/l as the normal range for non-occupational groups (Hörsted-Bindslev 2004). This increased body burden is attributed to dental personnel mixing and applying dental amalgam and removing amalgam restorations; Ritchie et al (2004) showed that dentists had, on average, urinary mercury levels over 4 times that of control subjects although all but one dentist had urinary mercury below the UK Health and Safety Executive health guidance value. Dentists were significantly more likely than control subjects to have suffered from disorders of the kidney but these symptoms were not significantly associated with their level of mercury exposure as measured in urine.…”