COMPARTMENTAL TRANSFER OF MERCURY RELEASED FROM AMALGAM

The number of amalgam-covered surfaces and the occlusal area of the fi llings, the concentrations of total mercury in plasma, erythrocytes an d urine, the urinary excretion rate, and the absorbed daily doses esti mated by two separate methods from intra-oral Hg emission were determi ned in 29 volunteers with a low amalgam load. The transfer of Hg fr om the fillings via the oral cavity and blood to urinary excretion was e valuated by multiple correlations between these variables. In addition , the combination of variables most representative of the entire compa rtmental transfer of amalgam Hg was determined. Urinary excretion (1), Hg concentration in plasma (2) and absorbed dose (3) were most closel y correlated to each other, followed by correlations with the variable s of the fillings (4). Correlation coefficients were 0.75 for variable s I vs 2 and 2 vs 3, and 0.49 for variables 3 vs 4. It was concluded t hat variables 1-3 best reflected the transfer of mercury from amalgam fillings throughout the organism and that they were relatively insensi tive to dietary mercury. The determination of total mercury in plasma and of its urinary excretion rate appears, under practical aspects, mo st suitable for the investigation of tig uptake from amalgam.