title: Evaluation of mercury contamination in patients and water during amalgam removal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate mercury levels in wastewater and in patients during the removal of dental amalgam restorations.
  
  
  METHODS
  To test for mercury levels, patients were tested before and after amalgam restoration removal. To test for mercury emissions, samples of constant volume of wastewater from high-speed drills were collected before and during amalgam restoration removal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the systemic mercury levels were lower than the limit of biological tolerance, all patients had increased levels after dental restorations. All samples of wastewater had increased mercury levels too.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The urinary levels of mercury increased with dental amalgam removal using a high-speed drill. During the process of amalgam removal, water used for cooling the dental drill was contaminated with mercury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mercury released by the physical action of the drill, the replacement material and especially the final destination of the amalgam waste can increase contamination levels that can be a risk for human and environment health.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Dental Materials, University of Southern Santa Catarina, UNISUL, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Tomás
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Student, Department of Dental Materials, University of Southern Santa Catarina, UNISUL, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Henrique Vieira
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Constantino
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Peridontics, University of Southern Santa Catarina, UNISUL, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo Otoboni
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Student, Department of Dental Materials, University of Southern Santa Catarina, UNISUL, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elysa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Milioli
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, University of Southern Santa Catarina, UNISUL, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Janaina Salomon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ghizoni
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, University of Southern Santa Catarina - UNISUL, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jefferson Ricardo
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001822:Body Burden; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000032:analysis; D017005:Dental Debonding / Q000295:instrumentation; D003754:Dental High-Speed Equipment; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000295:instrumentation; D018057:Dental Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018057:Dental Waste; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D014867:Water; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D008628:Mercury