MERCURY-VAPOR RELEASE FROM DENTAL AMALGAM IN PATIENTS WITH SYMPTOMS ALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY AMALGAM FILLINGS

The aim of this study was to determine whether a group of patients wit h symptoms, self-related to their amalgam restorations, experienced an exposure to mercury vapor from their amalgam restorations that reache d the range at which subtle symptoms have been reported in the literat ure. Furthermore, the aim was to determine whether the mercury exposur e for these patients was significantly higher than for controls with n o reported health complaints. The symptom group consisted of 10 consec utively selected patients from a larger group, referred by their physi cians for investigation into any correlation between subjective sympto ms and amalgam restorations, The control group consisted of 8 persons with no reported health complaints. The intra-oral release of mercury vapor was measured between 7:45 a.m, and 9:00 p.m, at intervals of 30- 45 min, following a standardized schedule. The mercury levels in plasm a, erythrocytes, and urine were also determined. The calculated daily uptake of inhaled mercury vapor, released from the amalgam restoration s, was less than 5% of the daily uptake calculated at the lower concen tration range given by the WHO (1991), at which subtle symptoms have b een found in particularly sensitive individuals. The symptom group had neither a higher estimated daily uptake of inhaled mercury vapor, nor a higher mercury concentration in blood and urine than the control gr oup. The study provides no scientific support for the belief that the symptoms of the patients examined originated from an enhanced mercury release from their amalgam restorations.