Maternal and neonatal hair mercury concentrations: the effect of dental amalgam

Abstract

To evaluate maternal and fetal hair mercury levels in relation to the placement of dental amalgam tooth restorations. Cross sectional study involving women who never had dental amalgam restorations placed, women who had amalgam restorations placed before pregnancy and women who had restorations placed during the index pregnancy. North of England Maternity Hospital. Fifty-three healthy women who delivered healthy babies at term. Maternal and fetal hair was collected in a standardised manner in the first few days following delivery. Maternal and neonatal hair mercury concentrations. When compared with women without restorations, there was a significant increase in the maternal hair mercury concentration in women who had dental amalgam placed outside of the index pregnancy and also in women who had dental amalgam placed during the index pregnancy. The fetal hair mercury concentration was significantly higher in babies when mothers had been exposed to dental amalgam either before pregnancy or during pregnancy compared with unexposed babies. There was no difference in the maternal or fetal hair mercury levels in the groups of patients who had dental amalgam placed before or during pregnancy. Maternal and fetal hair mercury levels were significantly higher in women who previously had dental amalgam restorations placed. There was no evidence that placement of dental amalgam restorations in pregnant women who had already similar restorations increased the maternal or fetal hair mercury level.