Mercury Exposure Assessment in Mother–Infant Pairs from Continental and Coastal Croatia

The main source of mercury (Hg) exposure in the general population is fish. Another possible source is dental amalgam. Here, we compare the levels of Hg and selenium (Se) in samples of maternal and fetal origin collected shortly after childbirth of healthy postpartum women in the coastal (n = 96) and continental (n = 185) areas of Croatia related to maternal seafood/fish consumption. We also evaluated Hg concentrations and maternal serum metallothionein (MT2) concentrations in relation to the number of dental amalgam fillings, and MT2A-5A/G (rs28366003) polymorphism. The levels of Hg and Se in maternal hair and blood/serum, placenta and cord blood/serum increased in relation to increasing fish consumption with the highest values in subjects from the coast. The concentrations of each element and between elements correlated across the matrices. Increasing amalgam number correlated linearly with increased Hg levels in maternal and cord serum and was not associated with serum MT2. No association of MT2A-5A/G polymorphism and Hg or Se levels were found. The results confirmed higher fish consumption in coastal vs. continental Croatia and increases of both Hg and Se related to fish consumption in all analyzed samples. Increased blood Hg reflected the predominant MeHg share from seafood, while increased serum Hg matched exposure from dental amalgams.

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Rethinking the Dental Amalgam Dilemma: An Integrated Toxicological Approach

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16061036 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. 1036 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Hector Jirau-Colón ◽

Leonardo González-Parrilla ◽

Jorge Martinez-Jiménez ◽

Waldemar Adam ◽

Braulio Jiménez-Velez

Keyword(s):

Current Knowledge ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Mercury Vapor ◽

The United States ◽

Dental Amalgam ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Toxic Pollutant ◽

Dental Amalgams ◽

Dental Amalgam Fillings ◽

Amalgam Fillings

Mercury (Hg) has been identified as one of the most toxic nonradioactive materials known to man. Although mercury is a naturally occurring element, anthropogenic mercury is now a major worldwide concern and is an international priority toxic pollutant. It also comprises one of the primary constituents of dental amalgam fillings. Even though dental mercury amalgams have been used for almost two centuries, its safety has never been tested or proven in the United States by any regulatory agency. There has been an ongoing debate regarding the safety of its use since 1845, and many studies conclude that its use exposes patients to troublesome toxicity. In this review, we present in an objective way the danger of dental amalgam to human health based on current knowledge. This dilemma is addressed in terms of an integrated toxicological approach by focusing on four mayor issues to show how these interrelate to create the whole picture: (1) the irrefutable constant release of mercury vapor from dental amalgams which is responsible for individual chronic exposure, (2) the evidence of organic mercury formation from dental amalgam in the oral cavity, (3) the effect of mercury exposure on gene regulation in human cells which supports the intrinsic genetic susceptibility to toxicant and, finally, (4) the availability of recent epidemiological data supporting the link of dental amalgams to diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson.

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The achievement of comet assay through analyzing relationship between fish consumption and dental amalgam fillings in detection of Hg toxicity

Toxicology Letters ◽

10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.05.1000 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 205 ◽

pp. S296

Author(s):

Z. Kayaalti ◽

E. Söylemez ◽

V. Aliyev ◽

T. Söylemezoğlu

Keyword(s):

Comet Assay ◽

Fish Consumption ◽

Dental Amalgam ◽

Dental Amalgam Fillings ◽

Amalgam Fillings

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The Hazardous Effects of Dental Amalgam Fillings in Human Body: A Systematic Review

Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International ◽

10.9734/jpri/2021/v33i49b33339 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 45-54

Author(s):

Laila Mohammed Alanazi ◽

Zahra Helal Alqallaf ◽

Waad Mohammad Alghamdi ◽

Ahmed Mufadhi Alanazi ◽

Salihah Muslih Alqarni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Body ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

High Strength ◽

Dental Amalgam ◽

Tooth Color ◽

Dental Fillings ◽

Dental Amalgams ◽

Materials Used ◽

Dental Amalgam Fillings ◽

Amalgam Fillings

The Dental amalgam used in the dental fillings is basically an alloy of mercury (Hg). The amalgam is one of the most commonly used and versatile restorative material. Since more than 150 years this alloy of mercury, that is amalgam is used for it been economical, easy to use, durable, high strength and bacterio-static characteristics. Due to environmental pollution, detrimental health its use is decreasing in recent times. Also its not so appealing like the other materials used that resemble the tooth color. The tooth coloured restorative materials are recommended by both the doctor and the patient. Many researchers suggested that over the period of time the mercury from the filling might leach into the mouth. Thus in this study a detailed review of all the literature available online is done to understand the hazardous effects of dental amalgam fillings in the human body. The systematic literature search using Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science electronic databases was done using PRISMA. The experiments conducted in Sheep and monkey suggested the penetration of amalgam into the jaw bone of the patient with dental restorations. Constant exposure of mercury at lower levels can also lead to multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Most commonly reported renal dysfunction due to the dental amalgams are Tubular and Glomerular damage of the kidneys.

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