Context: Dental offices are known to be one of the largest users of inorganic mercury in the preparation of amalgam-a restorative material which, if not handled and disposed through scientific methods, can pose grave threats to the biosphere.
Aims: The objective of this study was to assess and record the mercury management and disposal strategies of dental practitioners belonging to the two South Indian states, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Subjects And Methods: A questionnaire regarding the usage and disposal of a filling material containing mercury (amalgam) was designed and distributed online. The 150 dental practitioners partaking in this study responded anonymously.
Results: The results were statistically analyzed using chi-square test and the value was evaluated. The usage of amalgam was correlated with the age of the practitioner and the nature of practice and it was found to be statistically significant. The number of fillings was correlated with the years of practice and locality of the clinic, which were found to be statistically significant.
Conclusions: This study showed that mercury was widely preferred and utilized even today as a restorative material by dentists and dental specialists, despite the availability of other alternative strategies. Only a minor section of practitioners were found to be aware of the global changes in the guidelines pertaining to the handling and disposal of amalgam. We feel that Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique, amalgam safety rules, and amalgam-free practice should be a part of the academic curriculum and continuing dental education.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6555386 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/JPBS.JPBS_280_18 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Gold-Mercury-Platinum Alloy for Light-Enhanced Electrochemical Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide.
Sensors (Basel)
December 2024
Center for Experimental Chemistry Education of Shandong University, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
In this study, a simple and easy synthesis strategy to realize the modification of AuHgPt nanoalloy materials on the surface of ITO glass at room temperature is presented. Gold nanoparticles as templates were obtained by electrochemical deposition, mercury was introduced as an intermediate to form an amalgam, and then a galvanic replacement reaction was utilized to successfully prepare gold-mercury-platinum (AuHgPt) nanoalloys. The obtained alloys were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReduction and amalgamation of mercury in silver nanoparticle suspensions under dark conditions.
Chemosphere
February 2025
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, United States; Institute of Environment, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL33199, United States. Electronic address:
Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant of concern, and its transport and transformation are controlled by various environmental factors, with aquatic particles being an important driver. Understanding the interactions between silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and Hg under dark condition is a prerequisite for studying the extent of AgNPs interaction with light and its participation in Hg biogeochemical cycling. Herein, under laboratory experimental setting, it was found that the reduction of divalent Hg (Hg(II)) to gaseous elemental Hg (Hg) by AgNPs readily occurred.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIdentifying the sources of mercury exposure in dental workers.
Occup Med (Lond)
January 2025
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMercury in saliva, milk, and hair of nursing mothers in southeastern Iranian mothers: levels, distribution and risk assessment.
Environ Geochem Health
November 2024
Environmental Science and Technology Laboratory, Centre for Research in Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change, Directorate of Research, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India.
This research is on lactating mothers in the city of Chah Bahar in Iran. This descriptive-analytical and questionnaire study selected a random sample of 80 mothers to examine mercury levels in their hair, milk, and saliva. The average concentration of mercury in milk, hair and saliva of mothers was 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDirect Ag-Hg amalgamation in the nanoscale on the surface of biosourced amorphous silica.
J Environ Manage
December 2024
LLP Scientific Production Technical Center "Zhalyn", Almaty, Kazakhstan; Ecology Research Institute, Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Turkestan, Kazakhstan. Electronic address:
Mercury poses a significant threat to air, soil, and water ecosystems. Mercury-based alloys, aka amalgams, are already known for their effectiveness in mercury capture in water and gaseous streams. However, limited research has been published on direct amalgamation, the process involving a direct redox reaction between two metals, occurring on the surface of amorphous silica.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!