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Quantification of Hg excretion and distribution in biological samples of mercury-dental-amalgam users and its correlation with biological variables

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Abstract

This is the first study conducted to quantify the excretion and distribution of mercury (Hg) with time (days) in the biological samples collected from Hg dental amalgam users (MDA). The individuals, with Hg-based dental filling were selected, and their biological samples (red blood cells (RBCs), plasma, urine, hair, and nails) were collected on first, third, and 12th day of fillings. The concentrations of Hg observed in the biological samples of MDA were also correlated with the biological variables such as age, weight, restoration, fish consumption, number, and surface area of fillings. The concentrations of Hg in the biological samples of MDA were found 6–8 times higher than the non-amalgam users (control). The concentrations of Hg in the RBCs (4.39 μg/L), plasma (3.02 μg/L), and urine (22.5 μg/L) on first day of filling were found comparatively higher than the concentrations observed on third day (2.15, 1.46, and 12.3 μg/L for RBCs, plasma, urine, respectively) and 12th day (3.05, 2.5, 9.12 μg/L for RBCs, plasma, urine, respectively), while Hg concentrations were found lower in the hair and nails on third day of fillings (1.53 μg/g for hair and 2.35 μg/g for nails) as compared to the 12th day (2.95 μg/g for hair and 3.5 μg/g for nails). The correlations were found significant (p ˂ 0.05) between Hg concentrations in the biological samples of MDA and biological variables (the number of restoration, fish consumption, number, and surface area of fillings), while no significant (p ˃ 0.05) correlations were observed for Hg concentrations in the biological samples with age and weight of MDA. These observations unveil the fact that the use of Hg-based dental filling is the undesirable exposure to Hg which should be replaced by composite (a safer filling material).

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Acknowledgment

The financial support was provided by the University of Peshawar and Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan. (085-10159-SS5-157 (50012927)).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan

    Nayab Gul, Sardar Khan, Javed Nawab & Isha Shamshad

  2. Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Health Risk Factors for Seafood of Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan Municipal Center For Disease Control and Prevention, Zhoushan, 316021, China

    Sardar Khan & Xinwei Yu

  3. Drug Control Administration, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Health Department, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan

    Abbas Khan

  4. Department of Environmental and Conservation Sciences, University of Swat, Swat, 19130, Pakistan

    Javed Nawab

  5. Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Isha Shamshad

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  1. Nayab Gul
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  2. Sardar Khan
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  3. Abbas Khan
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  4. Javed Nawab
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  5. Isha Shamshad
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  6. Xinwei Yu
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Correspondence to Sardar Khan or Xinwei Yu.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Gul, N., Khan, S., Khan, A. et al. Quantification of Hg excretion and distribution in biological samples of mercury-dental-amalgam users and its correlation with biological variables. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 20580–20590 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7266-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7266-0

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