Field study on the mercury content of saliva.

Author: Krausß P, Deyhle M, Maier KH, Roller E, Weiß HD, Clédon P.

Source: Universitat Tubingen-Institut for Organische Chemie.

Year: 1997

Comment:

This study finds exposure from the mercury in dental amalgam is over the acceptable levels offered by the WHO.

Abstract / Excerpt:

“20 000 subjects were enrolled in a large-scale field study to determine the concentration of total mercury in saliva. A statistical relationship was found between the mercury concentration in the pre-chewing saliva and chewing saliva, and the number of amalgam fillings. The mean number of amalgam fillings was 9 and the median mercury concentration was 11.6 µg/1 in the pre-chewing saliva and 29.3 µg/1 in the chewing saliva, which is considerably higher than reported in most previous publications. Extrapolation to the uptake of total mercury per week has shown that the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) value of the WHO is exceeded in at least 30% of the subjects.”

Citation:

Krausß P, Deyhle M, Maier KH, Roller E, Weiß HD, Clédon P. Field study on the mercury content of saliva. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry. 1997; 63(1-4):29-46.