title: Further investigations of the soft tissue reaction to the gamma 1 phase (Ag2Hg3) of dental amalgam, including measurements of mercury release and redistribution.
abstract: The subcutaneous implantation in guinea pigs of powdered gamma 1 phase induced a severe initial tissue response and the majority of the material was extruded from the healing wounds. This process was accompanied by the release of significant amounts of mercury which appeared in the body organs and excreta. The small numbers of particles which remained in the tissues were handled quite differently, undergoing slow degradation in macrophages and giant cells in chronic granulomata. Minute secondary particles containing silver and sulphur were deposited in the tissues and gave rise to macroscopic tattooing of the skin above the implants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Eley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008422:Materials Testing; D008628:Mercury / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D003723:Dental Amalgam; D008628:Mercury