Identifying the sources of mercury exposure in dental workers
Issued Date
2025-01-16
Resource Type
eISSN
14718405
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85216036177
Pubmed ID
39729505
Journal Title
Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)
Volume
74
Issue
9
Start Page
684
End Page
687
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Occupational medicine (Oxford, England) Vol.74 No.9 (2025) , 684-687
Suggested Citation
Chuthong W., Trakulsrichai S., Sirinara P. Identifying the sources of mercury exposure in dental workers. Occupational medicine (Oxford, England) Vol.74 No.9 (2025) , 684-687. 687. doi:10.1093/occmed/kqae107 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/103128
Title
Identifying the sources of mercury exposure in dental workers
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Author's Affiliation
Corresponding Author(s)
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Abstract
Dental professionals who handle dental amalgam are at risk of mercury exposure, though the prevalence and severity of elevated mercury levels from non-occupational sources are not well characterized. We report two dental workers who had elevated urinary mercury levels (37 and 25.6 mcg/L) during routine health screenings. Their previous mercury tests were normal, and no symptoms or abnormal findings were identified on clinical examination. Mercury exposure in these two workers occurred both occupationally through amalgam contact and non-occupationally via unregulated facial creams and seafood consumption. Their urine mercury levels normalized within 2 months after transitioning to amalgam-free roles and discontinuing the use of the facial products. No chelation or medication was administered in these cases. The identified primary source was inorganic mercury from unregistered facial creams, with levels measuring 18 302.17 and 6221.53 mcg/g surpassing the Thai regulation's maximum limit of zero.