Exposure to Mercury Vapors in Dental Workers in Poland

Abstract

Objectives:The study aimed at assessing the effect of low-level exposure to mercury (Hg) vapor from amalgam fi llings among dental surgery staff in the city of Łódź, Poland. Materials and Methods: The study group was composed of 51 workers (mean age, 39.25±11.05 years) employed in dental surgeries; the control group comprised 16 white-collar workers (mean age, 40.05±10.57 years) of the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, who had no or a few amalgam dental fi llings. Total urine mercury (Hg-U) concentration was determined with cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) based on tin (II) chloride mercury reduction after overnight digestion of urine sample with potassium permanganate in sulfuric acid solution. The reliability of mercury determinations was verifi ed by measuring Hg concentration in the reference material and via participation in the external quality assessment scheme. Results: No statistically signifi cant differences were found in geometric mean of urine Hg concentrations between the study and control groups (GM±SD, 0.44±0.440 and 0.5±0.270 μg/g creatinine, respectively, p = 0.242). Among different factors affecting Hg exposure in dental surgeries, only the duration of dental practice showed a statistically signifi cant infl uence on total Hg-U (r = 0.3000; p = 0.024). Having divided the subjects into two groups, with and without amalgam fi llings, we noted a statistically signifi cant difference in urine Hg concentrations (0.60 ± 0.720, n = 38; 0.36 ± 0.650, n = 29; p = 0.004) between these two groups. Conclusions: The results of biological monitoring of dental surgery staff did not reveal current exposure to Hg vapors from amalgam fi llings. However, these dental workers may have been the subject to such an exposure in the past. The only statistically signifi cant correlation was that between total Hg-U concentrations and the duration of dental practice.

Impact of occupational exposure to elemental mercury on some antioxidative enzymes among dental staff

“…In our study, there is a statistically significant positive correlation between duration of exposure and both U-Hg and B-Hg (Table 2), this is in resemblance with the results of Herber et al, 1988;Ritchie et al, 2004;Trzcinka-Ochocka et al, 2007; however, it did not agree with Kobal et al (2004); in their study of retired miners, they reported a significant negative correlation between U-Hg concentration and duration of time after exposure.…”

“…However, Trzcinka-Ochocka et al (2007) in their study aimed at assessing the effect of exposure to mercury (Hg) vapor from amalgam fillings among dental surgery staff in a city of Poland. They reported that there was no statistically significant differences in the mean of urinary Hg concentrations between the study and control groups.…”

“…Exposure to mercury has been known to adversely affect human health (Langworth et al, 1997;Trzcinka-Ochocka et al, 2007;Zolfaghari et al, 2007).…”

Biological Monitoring of Exposure: Trends and Key Developments

“…Schütz and Elinder 34) noted urinary excretion of α 1 -microglobulin (HC) above the cut-off level in 10% of the investigated population with cadmium in urine (Cd-U) concentrations about 1 µg/g creatinine. The results obtained recently by Noonan et al 35) and Trzcinka-Ochocka et al 36) revealed that the urinary excretion of early biomarkers of kidney dysfunction can be increased at cadmium levels in urine of about 2.0 µg/ g creatinine.…”

The Effect of Mercury Vapor and the Role of Green Tea Extract on Brain Cells

“…Uap merkuri dapat terhirup atau terabsorbsi melalui alveolus di paru-paru sampai 80%. [9][10] Sistem saraf merupakan target utama dari toksisitas metal, terutama senyawa metal organik. Misalnya metal merkuri, karena mempunyai sifat larut dalam lemak (lipid soluble), secara mudah melewati blood brain barrier dan masuk ke sistem saraf.…”