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Mercury Burden and Health Impairment in Dental Auxilaries.

PB88247960

Publication Date	1988
Personal Author	Shapiro, I. M.; Bloch, P.; Ship, I. I.; Spitz, L.; Summer, A.
Page Count	28
Abstract	An effort was made to develop a safe and effective X-ray fluorescence system for monitoring mercury and other elements in human tissues in-situ, to determine mercury levels in 207 dental auxiliaries exposed to dental amalgam on the job, to evaluate mercury in matching nonexposed populations and in 298 dentists using mercury amalgam, and to evaluate deficiencies in central and peripheral nervous systems resulting from the mercury exposure. Mercury levels were below 20 micrograms/gram in 60 percent of the dentists and 90 percent of the dental auxiliaries. Dentists with the higher mercury concentrations in their heads or wrists had considerably longer median motor distal latencies and median F-wave latency. Five of them demonstrated abnormalities consistent with carpal tunnel syndrome; seven had polyneuropathies defined as reduced motor or sensory conduction velocities of response amplitudes in two or more nerves. Neuropsychological tests indicated both groups of dental workers were adversely affected by mercury exposure.
Keywords	Mercury poisoning Hazardous materials Dental personnel Nervous system disorders Chemical analysis Exposure Mercury amalgams X ray fluorescence X ray analysis Metals Toxic substances Occupational safety and health Health effects
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine 57Y - Toxicology 99A - Analytical Chemistry 68G - Environmental Health & Safety 44G - Environmental & Occupational Factors
Corporate Authors	National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final rept.,
NTIS Issue Number	198823

Mercury Burden and Health Impairment in Dental Auxilaries.

Mercury Burden and Health Impairment in Dental Auxilaries.
PB88247960

Publication Date	1988
Personal Author	Shapiro, I. M.; Bloch, P.; Ship, I. I.; Spitz, L.; Summer, A.
Page Count	28
Abstract	An effort was made to develop a safe and effective X-ray fluorescence system for monitoring mercury and other elements in human tissues in-situ, to determine mercury levels in 207 dental auxiliaries exposed to dental amalgam on the job, to evaluate mercury in matching nonexposed populations and in 298 dentists using mercury amalgam, and to evaluate deficiencies in central and peripheral nervous systems resulting from the mercury exposure. Mercury levels were below 20 micrograms/gram in 60 percent of the dentists and 90 percent of the dental auxiliaries. Dentists with the higher mercury concentrations in their heads or wrists had considerably longer median motor distal latencies and median F-wave latency. Five of them demonstrated abnormalities consistent with carpal tunnel syndrome; seven had polyneuropathies defined as reduced motor or sensory conduction velocities of response amplitudes in two or more nerves. Neuropsychological tests indicated both groups of dental workers were adversely affected by mercury exposure.
Keywords	Mercury poisoning Hazardous materials Dental personnel Nervous system disorders Chemical analysis Exposure Mercury amalgams X ray fluorescence X ray analysis Metals Toxic substances Occupational safety and health Health effects
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine 57Y - Toxicology 99A - Analytical Chemistry 68G - Environmental Health & Safety 44G - Environmental & Occupational Factors
Corporate Authors	National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final rept.,
NTIS Issue Number	198823