Rapid communication: acute exposure to mercury from dental amalgam does not affect the levels of C-reactive protein or interleukin-6 in peripheral blood.
In a previous study, a significant increase in serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) was apparent after an acute low-level mercury (Hg) exposure, achieved by removal of amalgam fillings (Loftenius et al., 1998). In the present study, 11 healthy volunteers were exposed to an oral dose of 1 g of pulverized amalgam powder. Hg, IL-6, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in plasma were followed before and up to 72 h after exposure. The Hg levels were low and stable prior to exposure and increased rapidly after exposure. The median Hg increase was 12.9 nmol/L, which is considerably higher than in the previous study. No significant change over time was observed for IL-6 and CRP levels. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that our previous finding of increasing IL-6 levels detected after acute low-level Hg exposure through removal of amalgam fillings was due to the dental treatment per se.
Sandborgh-Englund
Gunilla
G
Division of Dental Toxicology, Department of Odontology, Karolinska Institute, PO Box 4064, S-141 04 Huddinge, Sweden. Gunilla.Sandborgh@ofa.ki.se
af Geijersstam
Eric
E
Loftenius
Annika
A
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007854:Lead / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male
D015850:Interleukin-6; D007854:Lead; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D002097:C-Reactive Protein