Blood mercury levels of dental students and dentists at a dental school.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the blood mercury levels in dental students and clinical teaching staff in a dental school using amalgam as a restorative material.


METHODS
A dental school in Ege University, Turkey surveyed during one academic year.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of groups of dental students (n=92) in years I to V, clinical teachers in restorative dentistry (n=16) and controls (n=14). Mercury concentration was estimated in venous blood samples using a cold vapour atomic absorption method at the commencement and end of the academic year. Daily air mercury levels were determined in clinical and teaching areas by measuring the darkening of palladium chloride discs using spectrophotometry.


RESULTS
There were statistically significant increases (p<0.001) in plasma mercury concentration between measurements in all groups at the end of the academic year. Red cell mercury levels were also consistently elevated. Although the highest levels of mercury were recorded in persons working with amalgam, increased levels were also found in subjects working in the teaching classrooms but not with amalgam (controls and first year students).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased mercury levels appeared to be due to background exposure from spillage of mercury and amalgam residues on floors. Increased mercury hygiene and regular control of working atmosphere should be implemented to prevent mercury exposure in the dental pre-clinical laboratory.
Tezel
H
H
Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Ege University, Bornova Izmir, Turkey.
Ertas
O S
OS
Erakin
C
C
Kayali
A
A
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000737:chemistry; D003740:Dental Clinics; D003797:Dental Staff; D006801:Humans; D007754:Laboratories, Dental; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014421:Turkey
D003723:Dental Amalgam; D008628:Mercury