Relation Between Serum Copper and Iron with Mercury Pollution in Dentists Used Amalgam Fillings

Abstract

The aim of this study is the investigation of copper and iron levels in blood serum of dentists exposed to mercury which was undertaken. from mercury dental amalgam preparation .The study includes (70) dentists divide into three groups according to the period of exposure (Group B exposed for (3-10) years), (Group C exposed for (10-15) years), (and Group D exposed for (15-30) years). Twenty healthy controls with no chance of exposure to mercury were chosen as control group (A). Mercury, copper and iron concentration were measured.The result revealed that copper level increased with duration of exposure compared to the control group. A decrease in iron level was noticed in all dentists group compared with the control. It’s concluded that mercury vapour from the dental amalgam could be a serious pollution poisoning source of dentists inhaling mercury vapor which inhibits some metabolic enzymes through their sulfhydryl (-SH) group. The alteration of essential and trace elements in the body could be due to damage the occur to the biological membranes and the imbalance of the ion transports across these membranes.