Mercury uptake and kinetics after ingestion of dental amalgam

J Dent Res. 2001 Sep;80(9):1793-6. doi: 10.1177/00220345010800090401.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the G-1 uptake of mercury (Hg) after intake of a single dose of amalgam-Hg, followed by pharmacokinetic analysis of the data. Eleven volunteers without amalgam fillings ingested 1.00 g amalgam powder. Hg in plasma vs. time was analyzed with a two-compartment model by means of mixed-effects modeling. A fraction of the absorption rate of Hg to the central compartment was inversely proportional to the plasma ferritin levels. The population mean half-life of the terminal phase of Hg in plasma was 37 days, with a considerable standard deviation in the population. The absorbed fraction of the administered dose was estimated to be about 0.04%. It is concluded that the G-1 uptake of Hg is of quantitative importance during dental treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Area Under Curve
  • Dental Amalgam*
  • Female
  • Ferritins / blood
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Absorption
  • Kinetics
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Male
  • Mercury / blood
  • Mercury / pharmacokinetics*
  • Transferrin / analysis

Substances

  • Transferrin
  • Dental Amalgam
  • Ferritins
  • Mercury