Author: Apostoli P, Cortesi I, Mangili A, Elia G, Drago I, Gagliardi T, Soleo L, Valente T, Sciarra GF, Aprea C, Ronchi A, Minoia C.
Source: Sci Total Environ.
Year: 2002
Comment:
In this study, the area of dental amalgams impacted mercury levels.
Abstract / Excerpt:
“The results of a polycentric study to assess the reference values of urinary mercury (U-Hg) in four Italian cities are presented. A total of 383 subjects were selected on the basis of standardised criteria by a questionnaire on personal habits, lifestyle, occupational or non-occupational exposure to Hg, medical history, number and area of dental amalgams. U-Hg was determined by hydride generation atomic absorption method (HG-AAS), with a detection limit of 0.5 microg/l and by flow injection (FI) inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), with a detection limit of 0.03 microg/l. The median value of U-Hg, determined by HG-AAS, was 0.78 microg/g creatinine (0.75 for males and 0.83 for females), with 5 degrees and 95 degrees percentiles, respectively, of 0.17 and 3.66 microg/g creatinine. When determined by FI ICP-MS, the median value was 0.79 microg/g creatinine (0.77 for males and 0.79 for females) with 5 degrees and 95 degrees percentiles of, respectively, 0.12 and 5.02 microg/g creatinine. Among the independent variables, city of origin, area of dental amalgams, fish intake and tobacco smoking significantly influenced the U-Hg levels. The U-Hg reference values from this survey are lower than those from other recent investigations, probably due to characteristics and selection of the examined individuals and to the strict control of pre-analytical and analytical factors of variability.”
Citation:
Apostoli P, Cortesi I, Mangili A, Elia G, Drago I, Gagliardi T, Soleo L, Valente T, Sciarra GF, Aprea C, Ronchi A, Minoia C. Assessment of reference values for mercury in urine: the results of an Italian polycentric study. Sci Total Environ. 2002; 289(1):13-24.