Levels of Total Mercury in dentists and influencing factors on it, a case study

Dentists are occupationally in contact with inorganic mercury. Monitoring of total mercury level among dentists from Zanjan province (Abhar and Khorramdareh), comparison of results with international criteria, similar studies and control group as well as investigation of effective factors on total mercury in scalp hair and nails of the samples were the research topic.

Total Mercury concentrations in scalp hair and nails of 25 dentists and students were measured. The non-parametric tests were applied to evaluate the data.

Statistically significant differences were detected between total Hg level in foot and finger nails (p<0.01) and scalp hair and finger nails (p<0.05) of dentists. Significant difference was detected between Total Mercury in finger nail of dentists and students (p<0.05). There was a highly significant correlation among Total Mercury in finger and foot nails (r=0.73، p<0/01) and total Hg in finger nails and average numbers of weekly amalgam fillings for patients (r=0.41، p<0/05). Total Mercury accumulation in dentist’s scalp hair was a correlate o fthe dentist’s occupational precedence (r=0.44 ،p<0/05).

Safety measures and capsulated amalgams can decrease Mercury levels in dentists. Total Mercury in scalp hair and finger nail of dentists is a reflex of age/occupational contact and amalgam using levels, respectively.