This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Sällsten, G. Articles by Skarping, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sällsten, G. Articles by Skarping, G. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Long-term Use of Nicotine Chewing Gum and Mercury Exposure from Dental Amalgam Fillings

Department of Occupational Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, St Sigfridsgatan 85, S-41266 Goteborg, Sweden

J. Thorén

Department of Occupational Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, St Sigfridsgatan 85, S-41266 Goteborg, Sweden

L. BarregÅrd

Department of Occupational Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, St Sigfridsgatan 85, S-41266 Goteborg, Sweden

A. Schütz

Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden

G. Skarping

Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden

In experimental studies, chewing gum has been shown to increase the release rate of mercury vapor from dental amalgam fillings. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of long-term frequent chewing on mercury levels in plasma and urine. Mercury levels in plasma (P-Hg) and urine (U-Hg), and urinary cotinine were examined in 18 subjects who regularly used nicotine chewing gum, and in 19 referents. Age and number of amalgam surfaces were similar in the two groups. Total mercury concentrations in plasma and urine were determined by means of cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. Urinary cotinine was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The chewers had been using 10 (median) pieces of gum per day for the past 27 (median) months. P-Hg and U-Hg levels were significantly higher in the chewers (27 nmol/L and 6.5 nmol/mmol creatinine) than in the referents (4.9 nmol/L and 1.2 nmol/mmol creatinine). In both groups, significant correlations were found between P-Hg or U-Hg on the one hand and the number of amalgam surfaces on the other. In the chewers, no correlations were found between P-Hg or U-Hg and chewing time per day or cotinine in urine. Cotinine in urine increased with the number of pieces of chewing gum used. The impact of excessive chewing on mercury levels was considerable.

Key Words: mercury • amalgam • nicotine chewing gum • biological monitoring

Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 75, No. 1, 594-598 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/00220345960750011301


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L Barregard Mercury from dental amalgam: looking beyond the average Occup. Environ. Med., June 1, 2005; 62(6): 352 - 353. [Full Text] [PDF]

				B A Dye, S E Schober, C F Dillon, R L Jones, C Fryar, M McDowell, and T H Sinks Urinary mercury concentrations associated with dental restorations in adult women aged 16-49 years: United States, 1999-2000 Occup. Environ. Med., June 1, 2005; 62(6): 368 - 375. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. P. Hujoel, M. Lydon-Rochelle, A. M. Bollen, J. S. Woods, W. Geurtsen, and M. A. del Aguila Mercury Exposure from Dental Filling Placement during Pregnancy and Low Birth Weight Risk Am. J. Epidemiol., April 15, 2005; 161(8): 734 - 740. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. W. Davidson, G. J. Myers, and B. Weiss Mercury Exposure and Child Development Outcomes Pediatrics, April 1, 2004; 113(4/S1): 1023 - 1029. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Jarup Hazards of heavy metal contamination Br. Med. Bull., December 1, 2003; 68(1): 167 - 182. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. W. Clarkson, L. Magos, and G. J. Myers The Toxicology of Mercury -- Current Exposures and Clinical Manifestations N. Engl. J. Med., October 30, 2003; 349(18): 1731 - 1737. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. E. Milov, J. M. Andres, N. A. Erhart, and D. J. Bailey Chewing Gum Bezoars of the Gastrointestinal Tract Pediatrics, August 1, 1998; 102(2): e22 - 22. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Sandborgh-Englund, C.-G. Elinder, S. Langworth, A. Schutz, and J. Ekstrand Mercury in Biological Fluids after Amalgam Removal Journal of Dental Research, April 1, 1998; 77(4): 615 - 624. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. Kingman, T. Albertini, and L.J. Brown Mercury Concentrations in Urine and Whole Blood Associated with Amalgam Exposure in a US Military Population Journal of Dental Research, March 1, 1998; 77(3): 461 - 471. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J.R. Mackert Jr and A. Berglund Mercury Exposure From Dental Amalgam Fillings: Absorbed Dose and the Potential for Adverse Health Effects Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, January 1, 1997; 8(4): 410 - 436. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]