The Prediction Of Intake Of Mercury Vapor from Amalgams

Clarkson, Thomas W.; Friberg, L; Hursh, John B.; Nylander, Magnus

doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-0961-1_9

Cited by 71 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In interpreting each subject's intra-oral mercury vapor readings, however, Vimy and Lorscheider treated the measurements as though the subject were exposed to room air at those concentrations. Several authors have pointed out their error (Mackert, 1987;Olsson and Bergman, 1987;Berglund et al, 1988;Clarkson et al, 1988). In the paper by Berglund et al (1988), it was shown experimentally that the mercury vapor release from amalgams was a time-dependent process and that the amount of mercury released during a certain time period was independent of the flow rate of the air through the oral cavity during respiration and collection with measuring instruments.…”

Section: Intra-oral Hg Vapor Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury Exposure From Dental Amalgam Fillings: Absorbed Dose and the Potential for Adverse Health Effects

Mackert

Berglund

1997

Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine

108

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This review examines the question of whether adverse health effects are attributable to amalgam-derived mercury. The issue of absorbed dose of mercury from amalgam is addressed first. The use of intra-oral Hg vapor measurements to estimate daily uptake must take into account the differences between the collection volume and flow rate of the measuring instrument and the inspiratory volume and flow rate of air through the mouth during inhalation of a single breath. Failure to account for these differences will result in substantial overestimation of the absorbed dose. Other factors that must be considered when making estimates of Hg uptake from amalgam include the accurate measurement of baseline (unstimulated) mercury release rates and the greater stimulation of Hg release afforded by chewing gum relative to ordinary food. The measured levels of amalgam-derived mercury in brain, blood, and urine are shown to be consistent with low absorbed doses (1-3 pLg/day). Published relationships between the number of amalgam surfaces and urine levels are used to estimate the number of amalgam surfaces that would be required to produce the 30 plg/g creatinine urine mercury level stated by WHO to be associated with the most subtle, pre-clinical effects in the most sensitive individuals. From 450 to 530 amalgam surfaces would be required to produce the 30 pg/g creatinine urine mercury level for people without any excessive gum-chewing habits. The potential for adverse health effects and for improvement in health following amalgam removal is also addressed. Finally, the issue of whether any material can ever be completely exonerated of claims of producing adverse health effects is considered.

show abstract

Section: Intra-oral Hg Vapor Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury Exposure From Dental Amalgam Fillings: Absorbed Dose and the Potential for Adverse Health Effects

Mackert

Berglund

1997

Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine

108

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Thus, women of childbearing age should avoid eating most predatory fish, which often contain 0.3-1.0 mg MeHg/kg (5,6). The main source of exposure to inorganic mercury (I-Hg) is dental amalgam fillings, which release Hg 0 (7,8). The intake and uptake of Hg 2+ is negligible (9).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Inorganic mercury and methylmercury in placentas of Swedish women.

Ask

Åkesson

Berglund

et al. 2002

Environ Health Perspect

146

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We determined levels of inorganic mercury (I-Hg) and methylmercury in placentas from 119 Swedish women, not selected with respect to high exposure of mercury. Our objective was to relate placental Hg species with maternal and fetal blood concentrations and to evaluate possible associations with selenium. We performed the analyses using automated alkaline solubilization/reduction and cold-vapor atomic fluorescence spectrophotometry. I-Hg levels in placenta increased with an increasing number of maternal dental amalgam fillings (p < 0.001). Despite placental accumulation (median, 1.3 microg/kg; range, 0.18-6.7 microg/kg wet weight), a substantial fraction of maternal blood I-Hg, probably as Hg(0), reached the fetus. Although MeHg transferred easily to the fetus, it also accumulated in the placenta. On average, 60% of placental Hg was in the form of MeHg. The median concentration was 1.8 microg/kg (range, 0-6.2 microg/kg wet weight), more than twice the maternal blood concentration. We found significant associations between MeHg and selenium in both maternal and umbilical cord blood but not in the placenta. The associations were particularly obvious in freshwater fish consumers, probably reflecting that fish is a source of both MeHg and selenium. We found no correlations between I-Hg and selenium. This study increases the understanding of Hg, in its different forms, in human placenta and how they are related to maternal and fetal exposure.

show abstract

“…About half of the mercury exposure is organic, and probably comes from low-level food contamination. The other half is from metallic mercury used in restorative dentistry (15).…”

Section: Leadmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Poisoning of Children - Lessons from the Past

Rogan¹

1995

Environmental Health Perspectives

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Prediction Of Intake Of Mercury Vapor from Amalgams

Cited by 71 publications

References 16 publications

Mercury Exposure From Dental Amalgam Fillings: Absorbed Dose and the Potential for Adverse Health Effects

Mercury Exposure From Dental Amalgam Fillings: Absorbed Dose and the Potential for Adverse Health Effects

Inorganic mercury and methylmercury in placentas of Swedish women.

Environmental Poisoning of Children - Lessons from the Past

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About