Mercury poisoning dentistry: high-level indoor air mercury contamination at selected dental sites

Khwaja, Mahmood A.; Abbasi, Maryam Shabbir

doi:10.1515/reveh-2014-0010

Cited by 17 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 2 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These high levels of mercury in dental personnel indicate the chronic accumulation of mercury in the blood of dentists and dental assistants due to their occupational exposure of elemental mercury vapors. A study from Pakistan revealed that 100% of the studied private dental clinics have significantly higher levels of mercury vapors in indoor air than ATSDR limit [ 17 ]. The inhaled mercury vapors move into blood stream from lungs and circulate in the human body, affecting different organs and systems [ 28 , 29 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although dentists in developed countries have become aware of their environmental responsibilities towards mitigation of adverse impacts associated with amalgam handling and have adopted appropriate measures to confront the matter [ 13 ], however, the dentists in less developed countries, particularly in South Asia, are deliberately ignoring the issue. The dental amalgam waste in Pakistan and India is disposed of into wastewater streams diluted or undiluted [ 14 – 17 ]. According to Mumtaz et al [ 18 ], about 92% of dentists in Pakistan used amalgam but also perceived it as a health risk.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Use of Mercury in Dental Silver Amalgam: An Occupational and Environmental Assessment

Jamil

Baqar

Ilyas

et al. 2016

BioMed Research International

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The objective of this study was to assess the occupational exposure to mercury in dentistry and associated environmental emission in wastewater of Lahore, Pakistan. A total of ninety-eight blood samples were collected comprising 37 dentists, 31 dental assistants, and 30 controls. Results demonstrate that the dentistry personnel contained significantly higher mean concentration of mercury in their blood samples (dentists: 29.835 µg/L and dental assistants: 22.798 µg/L) compared to that of the controls (3.2769 µg/L). The mean concentration of mercury was found maximum in the blood samples of older age group (62.8 µg/L) in dentists and (44.3 µg/L) in dental assistants. The comparison of mercury concentration among dentists, dental assistants, and controls (pairing based on their ages) revealed that the concentration increased with the age and experience among the dentists and dental assistants. Moreover, the mercury concentration in all the studied dental wastewater samples, collected from twenty-two dental clinics, was found to be exceeding the recommended discharge limit of 0.01 mg/L. Therefore, we recommend that immediate steps must be taken to ensure appropriate preventive measures to avoid mercury vapors in order to prevent potential health hazards to dentistry personnel. Strong regulatory and administrative measures are needed to deal with mercury pollution on emergency basis.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Mercury in Dental Silver Amalgam: An Occupational and Environmental Assessment

Jamil

Baqar

Ilyas

et al. 2016

BioMed Research International

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In addition, many of them, particularly earlier studies, underestimated the genetic susceptibilities involved in patients [ 6,15] . As far as these authors are aware, the present study has produced the first clinical evidence for higher SOD-1 activity in plasma among women with long-term dental amalgam fillings, who showed higher mercury levels in their hair than control subjects without fillings [ 16, 38] . However, data must be interpreted with caution given the limited sample size (n = 55); the authors hope to confirm the results in further clinical trials.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, SOD-1 may prove to be a clinically useful marker to determinate heavy metal contamination in humans. In fact, even 30 years after ceasing mercury exposure, dental nurses still show significant adverse health effects [ 38, 39] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increased Zn/Glutathione Levels and Higher Superoxide Dismutase-1 Activity as Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Women with Long-Term Dental Amalgam Fillings: Correlation between Mercury/Aluminium Levels (in Hair) and Antioxidant Systems in Plasma

Cabaña-Muñoz

Parmigiani-Izquierdo²,

González

et al. 2015

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundThe induction of oxidative stress by Hg can affect antioxidant enzymes. However, epidemiological studies have failed to establish clear association between dental fillings presence and health problems.ObjectivesTo determine whether heavy metals (in hair), antioxidant enzymes (SOD-1) and glutathione levels could be affected by the chronic presence of heavy metals in women who had dental amalgam fillings.Materials and Methods55 hair samples (42 females with amalgam fillings and 13 female control subjects) were obtained. All subjects (mean age 44 years) who had dental amalgam filling for more than 10 years (average 15 years). Certain metals were quantified by ICP-MS (Mass Spectrophotometry) in hair (μg/g: Al, Hg, Ba, Ag, Sb, As, Be, Bi, Cd, Pb, Pt, Tl, Th, U, Ni, Sn, Ti) and SOD-1 and Glutathione (reduced form) levels in plasma. Data were compared with controls without amalgams, and analyzed to identify any significant relation between metals and the total number of amalgam fillings, comparing those with four or less (n = 27) with those with more than four (n = 15). As no significant differences were detected, the two groups were pooled (Amlgam; n = 42).FindingsHg, Ag, Al and Ba were higher in the amalgam group but without significant differences for most of the heavy metals analyzed. Increased SOD-1 activity and glutathione levels (reduced form) were observed in the amalgam group. Aluminum (Al) correlated with glutathione levels while Hg levels correlated with SOD-1. The observed Al/glutathione and Hg/SOD-1 correlation could be adaptive responses against the chronic presence of mercury.ConclusionsHg, Ag, Al and Ba levels increased in women who had dental amalgam fillings for long periods. Al correlated with glutathione, and Hg with SOD-1. SOD-1 may be a possible biomarker for assessing chronic Hg toxicity.

show abstract

“…Exposure levels of Hg vapour in dental clinics vary considerably between different countries and different studies . Until recently, the threshold limit value for Hg exposure was 50 μg/m 3 during an 8‐hour working day .…”

Section: Mercury Exposure and Neuropsychological And Cognitive Symptomentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurotoxic effects of mercury exposure in dental personnel

Bjørklund

Hilt

Dadar

et al. 2019

Basic Clin Pharma Tox

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Numerous studies have reported neurobehavioural effects in dental personnel occupationally exposed to chronic low levels of mercury (Hg). Hg exposure from dental work may also induce various chronic conditions such as elevation of amyloid protein expression, deterioration of microtubules and increase or inhibition of transmitter release at motor nerve terminal endings. Therefore, clinical studies of Hg toxicity in dentistry may provide new knowledge about disturbed metal homeostasis in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and mood disorders. The purpose of this MiniReview is to evaluate the evidence of possible relevance between Hg exposure in dentistry and idiopathic disturbances in motor functions, cognitive skills and affective reactions, as well as dose-response relationships. K E Y W O R D Scognitive functions, dental personnel, mercury, mood and symptoms, motor functions 42

show abstract

Mercury poisoning dentistry: high-level indoor air mercury contamination at selected dental sites

Cited by 17 publications

References 2 publications

Use of Mercury in Dental Silver Amalgam: An Occupational and Environmental Assessment

Use of Mercury in Dental Silver Amalgam: An Occupational and Environmental Assessment

Increased Zn/Glutathione Levels and Higher Superoxide Dismutase-1 Activity as Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Women with Long-Term Dental Amalgam Fillings: Correlation between Mercury/Aluminium Levels (in Hair) and Antioxidant Systems in Plasma

Neurotoxic effects of mercury exposure in dental personnel

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About