Documented Clinical Side-Effects to Dental Amalgam

1992 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.F. Ziff
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Dental Amalgam ◽  
The Body ◽  
Host Susceptibility ◽  
World Health ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Rate Of Absorption ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Dental Amalgam Fillings

Since all dental restorative materials are foreign substances, their potential for producing adverse health effects is determined by their relative toxicity and bioavailability, as well as by host susceptibility. Adverse health effects to dental restoratives may be local in the oral cavity or systemic, depending on the ability of released components to enter the body and, if so, on their rate of absorption. The medical scientific community is now in general agreement that patients with dental amalgam fillings are chronically exposed to mercury, that the average daily absorption of mercury from dental amalgam is from 3 to 17 micrograms per day, and that the amalgam mercury absorption averages 1.25-6.5 times the average mercury absorption from dietary sources (World Health Organization, 1991). The health significance of this chronic mercury exposure is now being investigated by several medical research groups.

Adverse health effects related to mercury exposure from dental amalgam fillings: toxicological or psychological causes?

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. BAILER ◽  
F. RIST ◽  
A. RUDOLF ◽  
H. J. STAEHLE ◽  
P. EICKHOLZ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Psychological Factors ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Dental Amalgam ◽  
General Tendency ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Medically Unexplained ◽  
Dental Amalgam Fillings ◽  
Amalgam Fillings

Background. Possible adverse health effects due to mercury released by amalgam fillings have been discussed in several studies of patients who attribute various symptoms to the effects of amalgam fillings. No systematic relation of specific symptoms to increased mercury levels could be established in any of these studies. Thus, a psychosomatic aetiology of the complaints should be considered and psychological factors contributing to their aetiology should be identified.Methods. A screening questionnaire was used to identify subjects who were convinced that their health had already been affected seriously by their amalgam fillings (N = 40). These amalgam sensitive subjects were compared to amalgam non-sensitive subjects (N = 43). All participants were subjected to dental, general health, toxicological and psychological examinations.Results. The two groups did not differ with respect to the number of amalgam fillings, amalgam surfaces or mercury levels assessed in blood, urine or saliva. However, amalgam sensitive subjects had significantly higher symptom scores both in a screening instrument for medically unexplained somatic symptoms (SOMS) and in the SCL-90-R Somatization scale. Additionally, more subjects from this group (50% versus 4·7%) had severe somatization syndromes. With respect to psychological risk factors, amalgam sensitive subjects had a self-concept of being weak and unable to tolerate stress, more cognitions of environmental threat, and increased habitual anxiety. These psychological factors were significantly correlated with the number and intensity of the reported somatic symptoms.Conclusions. While our results do not support an organic explanation of the reported symptoms, they are well in accord with the notion of a psychological aetiology of the reported symptoms and complaints. The findings suggest that self-diagnosed ‘amalgam illness’ is a label for a general tendency toward somatization.

scholarly journals Human mercury exposure and adverse health effects in the Amazon: a review

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (suppl 4) ◽  
pp. s503-s520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos J. S. Passos ◽  
Donna Mergler
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
World Health ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

This paper examines issues of human mercury (Hg) exposure and adverse health effects throughout the Amazon region. An extensive review was conducted using bibliographic indexes as well as secondary sources. There are several sources of Hg (mining, deforestation, reservoirs), and exposure takes place through inhalation or from fish consumption. There is a wide range of exposure, with mean hair-Hg levels above 15µg/g in several Amazonian communities, placing them among the highest reported levels in the world today. Dietary Hg intake has been estimated in the vicinity of 1-2µg/kg/day, considerably higher than the USEPA RfD of 0.1µg/kg/day or the World Health Organization recommendation of 0.23µg/kg/day. Neurobehavioral deficits and, in some cases, clinical signs have been reported both for adults and children in relation to Hg exposure in several Amazonian countries. There is also some evidence of cytogenetic damage, immune alterations, and cardiovascular toxicity. Since fish provide a highly nutritious food source, there is an urgent need to find realistic and feasible solutions that will reduce exposure and toxic risk, while maintaining healthy traditional dietary habits and preserving this unique biodiversity.

scholarly journals Premature Adult Mortality and Years of Life Lost Attributed to Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter Pollution and Potential for Mitigating Adverse Health Effects in Tuzla and Lukavac, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1107
Author(s):  
Vlatka Matkovic ◽  
Maida Mulić ◽  
Selma Azabagić ◽  
Marija Jevtić
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
World Health ◽  
Years Of Life Lost ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Adverse Health

Ambient air pollution is one of eight global risk factors for deaths and accounts for 38.44 all causes death rates attributable to ambient PM pollution, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is 58.37. We have estimated health endpoints and possible gains if two policy scenarios were implemented and air pollution reduction achieved. Real-world health and recorded PM pollution data for 2018 were used for assessing the health impacts and possible gains. Calculations were performed with WHO AirQ+ software against two scenarios with cut-off levels at country-legal values and WHO air quality recommendations. Ambient PM2.5 pollution is responsible for 16.20% and 22.77% of all-cause mortality among adults in Tuzla and Lukavac, respectively. Our data show that life expectancy could increase by 2.1 and 2.4 years for those cities. In the pollution hotspots, in reality, there is a wide gap in what is observed and the implementation of the legally binding air quality limit values and, thus, adverse health effects. Considerable health gains and life expectancy are possible if legal or health scenarios in polluted cities were achieved. This estimate might be useful in providing additional health burden evidence as a key component for a clean air policy and action plans.

scholarly journals Ambient and household air pollution: complex triggers of disease

2014 ◽  
Vol 307 (4) ◽  
pp. H467-H476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Farmer ◽  
Timothy D. Nelin ◽  
Michael J. Falvo ◽  
Loren E. Wold
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

Concentrations of outdoor air pollution are on the rise, particularly due to rapid urbanization worldwide. Alternatively, poor ventilation, cigarette smoke, and other toxic chemicals contribute to rising concentrations of indoor air pollution. The World Health Organization recently reported that deaths attributable to indoor and outdoor air pollutant exposure are more than double what was originally documented. Epidemiological, clinical, and animal data have demonstrated a clear connection between rising concentrations of air pollution (both indoor and outdoor) and a host of adverse health effects. During the past five years, animal, clinical, and epidemiological studies have explored the adverse health effects associated with exposure to both indoor and outdoor air pollutants throughout the various stages of life. This review provides a summary of the detrimental effects of air pollution through examination of current animal, clinical, and epidemiological studies and exposure during three different periods: maternal (in utero), early life, and adulthood. Additionally, we recommend future lines of research while suggesting conceivable strategies to curb exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollutants.

The Potential Adverse Health Effects of Dental Amalgam

2005 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy M Brownawell ◽  
Stanley Berent ◽  
Robert L Brent ◽  
James V Bruckner ◽  
John Doull ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Dental Amalgam ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Adverse Health

scholarly journals Mercury Exposure From Dental Amalgam Fillings: Absorbed Dose and the Potential for Adverse Health Effects

1997 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 410-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.R. Mackert ◽  
A. Berglund
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Mercury Level ◽  
Absorbed Dose ◽  
Dental Amalgam ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Gum Chewing ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Urine Mercury

This review examines the question of whether adverse health effects are attributable to amalgam-derived mercury. The issue of absorbed dose of mercury from amalgam is addressed first. The use of intra-oral Hg vapor measurements to estimate daily uptake must take into account the differences between the collection volume and flow rate of the measuring instrument and the inspiratory volume and flow rate of air through the mouth during inhalation of a single breath. Failure to account for these differences will result in substantial overestimation of the absorbed dose. Other factors that must be considered when making estimates of Hg uptake from amalgam include the accurate measurement of baseline (unstimulated) mercury release rates and the greater stimulation of Hg release afforded by chewing gum relative to ordinary food. The measured levels of amalgam-derived mercury in brain, blood, and urine are shown to be consistent with low absorbed doses (1-3 μg/day). Published relationships between the number of amalgam surfaces and urine levels are used to estimate the number of amalgam surfaces that would be required to produce the 30 μg/g creatinine urine mercury level stated by WHO to be associated with the most subtle, pre-clinical effects in the most sensitive individuals. From 450 to 530 amalgam surfaces would be required to produce the 30 μg/g creatinine urine mercury level for people without any excessive gum-chewing habits. The potential for adverse health effects and for improvement in health following amalgam removal is also addressed. Finally, the issue of whether any material can ever be completely exonerated of claims of producing adverse health effects is considered.

scholarly journals Dental amalgam risks in dental staff: systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 319 ◽  
pp. 01001
Author(s):  
Abdelkarim Manyani ◽  
Hanane Chaou ◽  
Naima Rhalem ◽  
Abdelmajid Soulaymani ◽  
Rachida Soulaymani Bencheikh
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Dental Amalgam ◽  
World Health ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Dental Staff ◽  
Dental Amalgams ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Dental Amalgam Fillings ◽  
Harmful Effects

Mercury is an essential constituent of dental amalgams, several studies have shown that dental personnel who work with dental amalgams are chronically exposed to mercury vapors. The World Health Organization considers that inhaling mercury vapors can have harmful effects on the nervous, immune, pulmonary and renal systems. The objective of this review was to collect and analyze data relating to the exposure of dental personnel to mercury and the possible harmful effects on human health. All biomonitoring studies published between 2002 and 2019 measuring mercury in hair, blood, urine and nails were included. Dentists reported higher levels of mercury in their biomarkers compared to control groups. These levels reflected occupational exposures to chronic low levels of elemental mercury in dental amalgam fillings. Some studies have shown a high prevalence of neurological symptoms and memory deficit in dental staff compared to controls. Studies based on genes involved in mercury metabolism have shown associations between sources of mercury exposure and single nucleotide polymorphisms in these genes. It is important that preventive measures are strengthened to reduce exposure to mercury and that a biomonitoring program for dental professionals exposed to mercury vapors is implemented.

scholarly journals THE RISKS OF MOBILE TELEPHONY AND THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE

2005 ◽  
Vol 04 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-29
Author(s):  
A.A. de SALLES ◽  
C.R. FERNÁNDEZ
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Base Station ◽  
The Body ◽  
Base Stations ◽  
World Health ◽  
Mobile Phone Technology ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Radiated Energy

There has been a dramatic increase in the use of mobile phone technology in the last decades, with widespread benefits in many professional and private activities. In parallel with this, the concern regarding the possibility of adverse health effects due to the absorption of electromagnetic fields by humans also increased. For several years, many research groups in different countries were developing research projects on these subjects in the areas of medicine, biophysics, engineering, etc. Also, the World Health Organization (WHO) has coordinate efforts including many countries to access the existing scientific evidence of harmful health effects of non ionizing radiation (NIR) emitted from different communication equipment, such as the mobile phones and their base stations, with special emphasis to the non-thermal effects. In principle, the base stations radiate more energy. However, their antennas are usually located on the top of elevated towers (or masts) and the radiated energy is mainly concentrated in the horizontal direction. Therefore people are usually far from these antennas, and also in directions reasonably apart from those of maximum radiation. Because the conventional monopole (or whip) antennas being used now in mobile phones typically show a circular radiation pattern in the horizontal plane, they may radiate substantial levels of energy in almost all directions, very close to the body and during considerable time. It is observed that when they are operated very close to the user’s head (e.g., 2,5 cm or less) , most of energy is absorbed in the head tissues (such as the bone, the brain, eye, etc), and less energy is radiated to the nearest base station. This situation is undesirable since quality of communication is worse, and the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in the user’s head and the battery drain are increased.

scholarly journals Portable XRF Technology to Quantify Pb in Bone In Vivo

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron James Specht ◽  
Marc Weisskopf ◽  
Linda Huiling Nie
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Lead Exposure ◽  
The Body ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Soft Tissue Thickness ◽  
Bone Lead ◽  
Calibration Methods

Lead is a ubiquitous toxicant. Bone lead has been established as an important biomarker for cumulative lead exposures and has been correlated with adverse health effects on many systems in the body. K-shell X-ray fluorescence (KXRF) is the standard method for measuring bone lead, but this approach has many difficulties that have limited the widespread use of this exposure assessment method. With recent advancements in X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology, we have developed a portable system that can quantify lead in bone in vivo within 3 minutes. Our study investigated improvements to the system, four calibration methods, and system validation for in vivo measurements. Our main results show that the detection limit of the system is 2.9 ppm with 2 mm soft tissue thickness, the best calibration method for in vivo measurement is background subtraction, and there is strong correlation between KXRF and portable LXRF bone lead results. Our results indicate that the technology is ready to be used in large human population studies to investigate adverse health effects of lead exposure. The portability of the system and fast measurement time should allow for this technology to greatly advance the research on lead exposure and public/environmental health.

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