Mercury exposure and health impacts in dental personnel

Journal Article · Sun Jul 15 04:00:00 UTC 2018 · Environmental Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2018.02.019· OSTI ID:23105790

Aaseth, Jan ^[1]; Hilt, Bjørn ^[2]; Bjørklund, Geir ^[3]

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1. Research Department, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal (Norway)
2. Department of Occupational Medicine, St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim (Norway)
3. Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Mo i Rana (Norway)

Highlights: • Symptoms attributed to Hg frequently appear in dental personnel working with amalgam. • Symptoms of chronic low-level Hg{sup 0} exposure include weakness, fatigue, and anorexia. • It is crucial to protect human health and the environment against negative Hg effects. • World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended phasing out dental amalgam. Based on toxicological, clinical, and epidemiological knowledge, the present paper reviews the status regarding possible deleterious health effects from occupational exposure to metallic mercury (Hg) in dental practice. Symptoms from the central nervous system are among the health problems that most often are attributed to Hg exposure in dentists and dental nurses working with amalgam. Uncharacteristic symptoms of chronic low-level Hg vapor exposure including weakness, fatigue, and anorexia have been observed in numerous studies of dental personnel. It is crucial to protect both human health and the environment against negative effects of Hg. In line with this, the use of dental amalgam in industrial countries is about to be phased out. In Norway and Sweden, the use of the filling material is banned.

• OSTI ID: 23105790
• Journal Information: Environmental Research, Journal Name: Environmental Research Vol. 164; ISSN ENVRAL; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANOREXIA
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
FATIGUE
MERCURY
MERCURY ALLOYS
NORWAY
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PUBLIC HEALTH
REVIEWS
SWEDEN
SYMPTOMS
VAPORS