What health effects could be linked to the form of mercury contained in dental amalgams?
4.1 People are mainly exposed to elemental mercury by breathing in its vapour, since contact with the skin or ingestion leads to very little absorption into the body. Mercury vapour is absorbed in the lungs, spreads to the entire body and is then slowly excreted. Breathing in extremely high concentrations of mercury may produce bronchitis and pneumonia and affect the central system, for instance leading to muscle tremors. Long-term exposure to high levels may affect the kidneys and the inside of the mouth and gums. Such effects have been observed in some workers employed in industries using mercury. However, the amount released by dental amalgams is much lower than the limits allowed for exposure at work. There is no evidence that the other metallic elements in amalgams present a health risk, apart from allergic reactions. More…
