Dental amalgam risks in dental staff: systematic review

Abstract

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.