Upper respiratory impairment in restorers of cultural heritage.

Background: There is a paucity of data regarding respiratory health in restorers of cultural heritage or similar occupations, such as visual artists or museum workers, although they are exposed to a complex mixture of various respiratory hazards.

Aims: To evaluate atopy and respiratory health parameters, including bronchial and nasal non-specific reactivity, in restorers and conservators of cultural heritage (restorers).

Methods: Fifty-six restorers and 62 controls provided general data and data on ever experienced rhinitic or asthma-like symptoms, spirometry, non-specific bronchial and nasal responsiveness to histamine, skin prick testing to common inhalational allergens and serum total IgE levels.

Elimination of mercury from amalgam in rats.

The aim of this study was to measure the urinary mercury excretion in rats exposed to amalgam over a two months period. Animals were either exposed to mercury from 4 dental amalgams or fed the diet containing powdered amalgams. The results showed significantly higher mercury amount in urine of both exposed groups than in control.