Women in dental surgeries: reproductive hazards in occupational exposure to metallic mercury

Radzislaw Sikorski; Teodor Juszkiewicz; Tomasz Paszkowski; Teresa Szprengier-Juszkiewicz

doi:10.1007/BF00377918

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

September 1987, Volume 59, Issue 6, pp 551–557

Women in dental surgeries: reproductive hazards in occupational exposure to metallic mercury

Authors
Authors and affiliations

Radzislaw Sikorski
Teodor Juszkiewicz
Tomasz Paszkowski
Teresa Szprengier-Juszkiewicz

Original Papers

Received:: 23 May 1986
Accepted:: 04 May 1987

DOI: 10.1007/BF00377918

Cite this article as:: Sikorski, R., Juszkiewicz, T., Paszkowski, T. et al. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath (1987) 59: 551. doi:10.1007/BF00377918

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Summary

Eighty-one women (45 dentists and 36 dental assistants) occupationally exposed to metallic mercury underwent a toxicoclinical examination. Total mercury lebels (TMLs) were determined in scalp and pubic hair by cold vapour AAS. Furthermore a detailed questionnaire study was made concerning adverse reproductive events. TMLs in the hair of the exposed women examined exceeded significantly those determined in the hair of 34 controls not exposed to mercury. All exposed women had continued working during pregnancy. There was a significant, positive association between TMLs in the hair of exposed women and the occurrence of reproductive failures in their history. The relation between TMLs in the scalp hair and the prevalence of menstrual cycle disorders was statistically significant. These findings indicate that dental work could be another occupational hazard with respect to reproductive processes.

Key words

Metallic mercury Reproduction Spontaneous abortion Congenital malformation Menstrual disorders

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Authors and Affiliations

Radzislaw Sikorski
- 1
Teodor Juszkiewicz
- 2
Tomasz Paszkowski
- 1
Teresa Szprengier-Juszkiewicz
- 2

1.Clinic of Gynaecology, Institute of Obstetrics and GynaecologyAcademy of MedicineLublinPoland
2.Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyInstitute of Veterinary ResearchPulawyPoland
3.Klinika GinekologiiLublinPoland

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Women in dental surgeries: reproductive hazards in occupational exposure to metallic mercury

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