Metal exposure from amalgam alters the distribution of trace elements in blood cells and plasma

Twenty-seven consecutive patients with health problems associated with dent al amalgam were recruited. In spite of thorough medical examinations, there were no diagnoses available. The patient group was dominated by women. A h ealthy age- and sex-matched control group with dental amalgams without symp toms was also recruited. Metal level monitoring in plasma and nuclear micro scopy of isolated individual blood cells were carried out. Significant incr eases of copper, iron, zinc and strontium were found in patient plasma. The re was no significant difference in plasma selenium between the groups. Mer cury was significantly increased in patient plasma, although there was over lap between the groups. In erythrocytes a significant increase in calcium a nd a significant decrease in magnesium, copper, manganese and zinc were fou nd. Calcium, magnesium, manganese and copper increased in patient neutrophi l granulocytes. A significant decrease was found for zinc. A conspicuous fi nding was the presence of measurable mercury in a few of the cells from the patient but not in the control group. Thus, nuclear microscopy of isolated individual blood cells might provide a better diagnostic tool for metal ex posure than blood plasma measurements.