Possible mercury danger to dentists

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http://www.health-news.co.uk/showstory.asp?id=86225

Possible mercury danger to dentists

30 April 2002

LONDON

By health-newswire.com reporters

Dentists exposed to mercury in their work over many years may be impairing

their health, suggests occupational health research.

Dental personnel health risks studied

The debate over the safety of amalgam as a dental filling is not new, but

many reports have concluded that the health risk to dental personnel is

negligible. However, research led by Dr Ritchie from the Glasgow Royal

Infirmary suggests that long-term exposure to mercury from handling fillings

may impair kidney function and memory among dentists.

The researchers took samples of urine, hair and nails from 180 dentists from

the west of Scotland and 180 academic staff from the University of Glasgow,

and both groups provided general health information and underwent

psychomotor skills testing. In addition, the dentists provided information

on working hours and the number of fillings they handled, and samples of

environmental mercury levels were taken from surgeries.

The dentists were found to have significantly higher levels of reported

kidney disorders and memory lapses than the academic staff - health effects

known to be caused by high levels of mercury exposure.

Dentists were also found to have higher mercury levels in their hair and

nails than the academic staff, and over four times more mercury in their

urine. Only one dentist had urine mercury levels above the safety limit

recommended by the Health and Safety Executive, but over 60 per cent of the

dental surgeries registered mercury readings above the occupational standard

in one or more areas.

The researchers say that, while the observed health effects cannot be

directly attributed to urinary mercury levels, an association cannot be

ruled out.

Writing in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, they say,

" Further health surveillance of all members of dental teams, including

dental nurses and dental hygienists, should be carried out to determine the

nature of this association and the preventive health measures which may be

required. "

However, in an accompanying editorial, Dr Echeverria, from the

Battelle Center for Public Health Research in Seattle, the US, criticised

the study for not using unexposed dentists as controls. She said this might

explain the difference in psychomotor performance between the two groups,

without relation to mercury exposure.

She also criticised the fact that 28 per cent of the dentists in the study

were volunteers and not randomly selected. In addition, the age, gender and

length of career in dentistry were not considered, she said.

" A more uniform dental population needs to be evaluated, " Dr Echeverria

said.

A spokesperson for the British Dental Association (BDA) said, " The BDA is

interested to see the results of this research, albeit on the basis of a

small sample of dentists. As the professional association representing the

majority of dentists in practice in the UK, the BDA gives advice on handling

mercury on a daily basis. "

Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine

© Health Media Ltd 2002

http://www.health-news.co.uk