Evaluation of urinary mercury concentrations in general dentists and restorative specialists in Mashhad in 2010

Amalgam is used in dentistry cautiously، due to the toxicity of mercury in dental amalgam. Dentists are exposed to mercury vapor in their routine occupational practice، which can be harmful to their health. The aim of the present study was to measure urinary mercury concentrations in general dentists and restorative specialists in Mashhad in 2010. This cross-sectional and analytical study was performed on 45 general dentists، 10 restorative specialists، and 70 controls without any exposure to mercury. A 20 ml urine sample was taken from each of the cases before each one''s routine occupational practice. Mercury concentration of urine was measured by means of an atomic absorption spectrometry. The obtained data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA، Duncan tests، and SPSS software (V: 11. 5) at the significant level α=0. 05. Mean (SD) urine mercury level of general dentists was 9. 26± 2. 70 µg/l and 9. 13± 1. 73 µg/l in general dentists and the restorative specialists، respectively; and 1. 84± 1. 73 µg/l in the control group. There was no significant difference between urine mercury level of the general dentists and restorative specialists (P=0. 833). Urine mercury levels of general dentists and restorative specialists were greater than that of the control group (P=0/000، P=0/001، respectively). Although the urinary mercury concentrations in dentists is higher than that in the control group، it does not reach the toxic level.