title: Neuropsychological Effects of Mercury Exposure Among Dentists in Monastir City.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to assess the neuropsychological manifestations of mercury exposure in dentists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out including 64 dentists matched to a control group according to age and gender. This study protocol included a neurological evaluation, a questionnaire assessing the study groups' general characteristics and personal factors that may affect mercury urinary excretion in both groups. EUROQUEST questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) were used to evaluate the neuropsychological symptoms reported during the last 12 months. In both groups, mercury impregnation was assessed by monitoring urinary mercury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the exposed group, scores of neurological symptoms, memory disturbances and anxiety were found to be significantly higher than those in controls (p < 0.01). Mean scores of HAD Depression's scale were higher in the exposed group than in controls. Most of the neurotoxic manifestations were correlated to the levels of urinary mercury excretion in the exposed group. Mean levels of urinary mercury were significantly higher in the dentists group than in controls, with respective values of 21.1 ± 19.6 µg/g of creatinine and 0.05 ± 0.9 µg/g of creatinine. In nine dentists having urinary mercury levels higher than 35 µg/g of creatinine, neurological examination showed a bilateral and symmetric intentional tremor in both upper limbs. In the exposed group, the neuropsychological manifestations and levels of urinary mercury were found to be significantly correlated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased levels of urinary mercury observed in dentists suggest that exposure to mercury vapour emissions adversely affects dental professionals, therefore prevention measures should be strengthened, with a special medical supervision program of dentists exposed to mercury vapours should be implemented. We have also outlined some relevant patents in this article.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine - University Hospital of Monastir, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia. chaari_ne@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Neila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chaari
authors.forename: Saber
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chebel
authors.forename: Irtyah
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Merchaoui
authors.forename: Abdelhamid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kerkeni
authors.forename: Fadwa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Neffati
authors.forename: Fadhel
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Najjar
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akrout
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003794:Dental Restoration, Temporary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003815:Dentists; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology; D017669:Mercury Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D020262:Mercury Poisoning, Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced; D014416:Tunisia; D016482:Urinalysis; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017669:Mercury Compounds