NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION IN MERCURY-EXPOSED DENTISTS

Irving M. Shapiro; Austin J. Sumner; Lawrence K. Spitz; David R. Cornblath; Barbara Uzzell; Irwin I. Ship; Peter Bloch

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(82)92226-7

NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION IN MERCURY-EXPOSED DENTISTS

Irving M. Shapiro, Austin J. Sumner, Lawrence K. Spitz, David R. Cornblath, Barbara Uzzell, Irwin I. Ship, Peter Bloch

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

84 Scopus citations

Abstract

In a study of the relation between cumulative exposure to mercury and chronic health impairment 298 dentists had their mercury levels measured by an X-ray fluorescence technique. Electrodiagnostic and neuropsychological findings in the dentists with more than 20 μg/g tissue mercury levels were compared with those of a control group consisting of dentists with no detectable mercury levels. 30% of the 23 high mercury dentists had polyneuropathies. No polyneuropathies were detected in the control group. The high mercury group had mild visuographic dysfunction; they also had more symptom-distress than did the control group. These findings suggest that the use of mercury as a restorative material is a health risk for dentists.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1147-1150
Number of pages	4
Journal	The Lancet
Volume	319
Issue number	8282
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(82)92226-7
State	Published - May 22 1982
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Medicine(all)

Access to Document

10.1016/S0140-6736(82)92226-7

Cite this

@article{f4e8979670684b39be9e649f304bd7b9,

title = "NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION IN MERCURY-EXPOSED DENTISTS",

abstract = "In a study of the relation between cumulative exposure to mercury and chronic health impairment 298 dentists had their mercury levels measured by an X-ray fluorescence technique. Electrodiagnostic and neuropsychological findings in the dentists with more than 20 μg/g tissue mercury levels were compared with those of a control group consisting of dentists with no detectable mercury levels. 30% of the 23 high mercury dentists had polyneuropathies. No polyneuropathies were detected in the control group. The high mercury group had mild visuographic dysfunction; they also had more symptom-distress than did the control group. These findings suggest that the use of mercury as a restorative material is a health risk for dentists.",

author = "Shapiro, {Irving M.} and Sumner, {Austin J.} and Spitz, {Lawrence K.} and Cornblath, {David R.} and Barbara Uzzell and Ship, {Irwin I.} and Peter Bloch",

year = "1982",

month = may,

day = "22",

doi = "10.1016/S0140-6736(82)92226-7",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "319",

pages = "1147--1150",

journal = "The Lancet",

issn = "0140-6736",

publisher = "Elsevier Limited",

number = "8282",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION IN MERCURY-EXPOSED DENTISTS

AU - Shapiro, Irving M.

AU - Sumner, Austin J.

AU - Spitz, Lawrence K.

AU - Cornblath, David R.

AU - Uzzell, Barbara

AU - Ship, Irwin I.

AU - Bloch, Peter

PY - 1982/5/22

Y1 - 1982/5/22

N2 - In a study of the relation between cumulative exposure to mercury and chronic health impairment 298 dentists had their mercury levels measured by an X-ray fluorescence technique. Electrodiagnostic and neuropsychological findings in the dentists with more than 20 μg/g tissue mercury levels were compared with those of a control group consisting of dentists with no detectable mercury levels. 30% of the 23 high mercury dentists had polyneuropathies. No polyneuropathies were detected in the control group. The high mercury group had mild visuographic dysfunction; they also had more symptom-distress than did the control group. These findings suggest that the use of mercury as a restorative material is a health risk for dentists.

AB - In a study of the relation between cumulative exposure to mercury and chronic health impairment 298 dentists had their mercury levels measured by an X-ray fluorescence technique. Electrodiagnostic and neuropsychological findings in the dentists with more than 20 μg/g tissue mercury levels were compared with those of a control group consisting of dentists with no detectable mercury levels. 30% of the 23 high mercury dentists had polyneuropathies. No polyneuropathies were detected in the control group. The high mercury group had mild visuographic dysfunction; they also had more symptom-distress than did the control group. These findings suggest that the use of mercury as a restorative material is a health risk for dentists.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0020053497&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0020053497&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/S0140-6736(82)92226-7

DO - 10.1016/S0140-6736(82)92226-7

M3 - Article

C2 - 6122938

AN - SCOPUS:0020053497

SN - 0140-6736

VL - 319

SP - 1147

EP - 1150

JO - The Lancet

JF - The Lancet

IS - 8282

ER -

NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION IN MERCURY-EXPOSED DENTISTS

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this