Title:Neuropsychological Effects of Mercury Exposure Among Dentists in Monastir City
Volume: 9
Issue: 2
Author(s): Neila Chaari, Saber Chebel, Irtyah Merchaoui, Abdelhamid Kerkeni, Fadwa Neffati, Fadhel Najjar and Mohamed Akrout
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Dentists, manifestations, mercury, neurological symptoms, neuropsychiatric occupational exposure, urinary mercury
levels.
Abstract: Aims: The aim of this study is to assess the neuropsychological manifestations of mercury
exposure in dentists. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out including 64 dentists matched to a control group
according to age and gender. This study protocol included a neurological evaluation, a questionnaire assessing the study
groups’ general characteristics and personal factors that may affect mercury urinary excretion in both groups. EUROQUEST
questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) were used to evaluate the neuropsychological
symptoms reported during the last 12 months. In both groups, mercury impregnation was assessed by monitoring urinary
mercury. Results: In the exposed group, scores of neurological symptoms, memory disturbances and anxiety were found
to be significantly higher than those in controls (p < 0.01). Mean scores of HAD Depression’s scale were higher in the exposed
group than in controls. Most of the neurotoxic manifestations were correlated to the levels of urinary mercury excretion
in the exposed group. Mean levels of urinary mercury were significantly higher in the dentists group than in controls,
with respective values of 21.1 ± 19.6µg/g of creatinine and 0.05 ± 0.9µg/g of creatinine. In nine dentists having urinary
mercury levels higher than 35µg/g of creatinine, neurological examination showed a bilateral and symmetric intentional
tremor in both upper limbs. In the exposed group, the neuropsychological manifestations and levels of urinary mercury
were found to be significantly correlated. Conclusion: Increased levels of urinary mercury observed in dentists suggest
that exposure to mercury vapour emissions adversely affects dental professionals, therefore prevention measures
should be strengthened, with a special medical supervision program of dentists exposed to mercury vapours should be implemented.
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