title: Quantification of Hg excretion and distribution in biological samples of mercury-dental-amalgam users and its correlation with biological variables.
abstract: This is the first study conducted to quantify the excretion and distribution of mercury (Hg) with time (days) in the biological samples collected from Hg dental amalgam users (MDA). The individuals, with Hg-based dental filling were selected, and their biological samples (red blood cells (RBCs), plasma, urine, hair, and nails) were collected on first, third, and 12th day of fillings. The concentrations of Hg observed in the biological samples of MDA were also correlated with the biological variables such as age, weight, restoration, fish consumption, number, and surface area of fillings. The concentrations of Hg in the biological samples of MDA were found 6-8 times higher than the non-amalgam users (control). The concentrations of Hg in the RBCs (4.39 μg/L), plasma (3.02 μg/L), and urine (22.5 μg/L) on first day of filling were found comparatively higher than the concentrations observed on third day (2.15, 1.46, and 12.3 μg/L for RBCs, plasma, urine, respectively) and 12th day (3.05, 2.5, 9.12 μg/L for RBCs, plasma, urine, respectively), while Hg concentrations were found lower in the hair and nails on third day of fillings (1.53 μg/g for hair and 2.35 μg/g for nails) as compared to the 12th day (2.95 μg/g for hair and 3.5 μg/g for nails). The correlations were found significant (p ˂ 0.05) between Hg concentrations in the biological samples of MDA and biological variables (the number of restoration, fish consumption, number, and surface area of fillings), while no significant (p ˃ 0.05) correlations were observed for Hg concentrations in the biological samples with age and weight of MDA. These observations unveil the fact that the use of Hg-based dental filling is the undesirable exposure to Hg which should be replaced by composite (a safer filling material).
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nayab
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gul
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan. sardar.khan2008@yahoo.com.|Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Health Risk Factors for Seafood of Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan Municipal Center For Disease Control and Prevention, Zhoushan, 316021, China. sardar.khan2008@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sardar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Drug Control Administration, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Health Department, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan.|Department of Environmental and Conservation Sciences, University of Swat, Swat, 19130, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nawab
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan.|Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Isha
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shamshad
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Health Risk Factors for Seafood of Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan Municipal Center For Disease Control and Prevention, Zhoushan, 316021, China. xinweiyu0716@163.com.
authors.forename: Xinwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000737:chemistry*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000097:blood; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D003723:Dental Amalgam; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Biological variables; Dental amalgam users; Hair; Mercury; Nails; Plasma; Red blood cells; Urine