• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.373-380
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• 2023

Background: The association between dental amalgam fillings and urine mercury concentrations was investigated in this study to assess the health risks associated with dental amalgams. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 99 women in their 20s who visited the dental clinic in Daegu, Korea. The 99 participants were composed of 68 subjects who had dental amalgam fillings (exposure group) and 31 subjects who did not have dental amalgam fillings (nonexposure group). Oral examinations were conducted by a single dental hygienist, sociodemographic features were investigated as confounding variables, and urine mercury concentrations were measured using an automatic mercury analyzer. Results: The mean±standard deviation of the urine mercury concentrations of the exposure and nonexposure groups were 1.50±1.78 ㎍/g creatinine and 0.53±0.63 ㎍/g creatinine, respectively. The exposure group showed significantly higher levels than the nonexposure group (p<0.01). The urine mercury concentration significantly increased with an increase in the number of teeth filled with amalgam, cavity surfaces involved, and number of defective amalgam fillings, and according to the latest exposure time (p<0.001). In the multiple regression analysis of amalgam-related factors and urine mercury concentrations after correction for confounding factors, the urine mercury concentration in the group with six or more amalgam-filled teeth, 11 or more cavity surfaces, and two or more defective amalgams was significantly higher than that in the nonexposure group (p<0.001). Conclusion: According to this study, exposure to dental amalgams was confirmed to significantly affect urine mercury concentrations.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.480-486
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• 2008

This paper reports on the monitoring results of some heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As and Hg) in oriental mineral medicines. Levels of Pb, Cd and As were determined using the acid digestion method and ICP-MS. Hg levels were determined using the gold amalgamation method and Automatic mercury analyzer (AMA). The results indicated that, in the case of Pb, 25.81% (24 cases) of the samples were over MRL (5 mg/kg). Pb levels in Calamina, Pumex, and Cinnabaris exceeded MRL (5 mg/kg). In the case of Cd, 9.68% (17cases) of the samples were over MRL (0.3 mg/kg). Cd levels in Calamina, Pumex and Cinnabaris were exceeded MRL (0.3 mg/kg). In case of As, 24.73% (23 cases) of samples exceeded MRL (3 mg/kg). As levels in Calamina, Lithargyrum, Vermilionum, Cinnabaris and Chalcocitum exceeded MRL (3 mg/kg). In the case of Hg, it was shown that the 76.34% (78 cases) of the samples exceeded MRL (0.2 mg/kg). Hg levels in almost all the samples exceeded MRL (0.2 mg/kg). These results led us to recommend that the domestic commercial law to be legislated to ensure the quality estimation and safety of oriental mineral medicines.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.64-68
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Heavy metals (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Li, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were analyzed to elucidate the impact of weir construction on their concentrations in sediments of Geum River, Korea. We also attempted to investigate the source of the heavy metals in sediments. METHODS AND RESULTS: For this study, sediments were collected from May through June in 2012. The concentrations of heavy metals except Hg were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, and Hg was measured by automatic mercury analyzer. More clay were accumulated in the furthest stations in the upstream direction starting from the weirs. Most of the heavy metals showed higher concentrations in the most upstream located station of Geumnam Weir. However, high concentrations were not observed in the most upstream stations of the other weirs. The concentrations of Hg and As were much higher in sediments of Gap Stream. CONCLUSION: Gap Stream may be a potential source for high deposits of As and Hg. Presence of the dams may not play an important role in controlling heavy metal concentrations in sediments. It is necessary to monitor heavy metal concentrations for a longer time period to study the effect of environmental changes on heavy metal distribution in Geum River.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.201-209
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• 2009

Four heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As, and Hg) in 38 species (total 325 samples) of oriental animality medicines were monitored by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and automatic mercury analyzer (AMA). The detected concentration range of Pb, Cd, As was presented as $0.02{\mu}gkg^{-1}$ $(D.L){\sim}11.29mgkg^{-1}$, $0.01{\mu}gkg^{-1}$ $(D.L){\sim}2.50 mgkg^{-1}$, $0.12{\mu}gkg^{-1}$ $(D.L){\sim}5.27mgkg^{-1}$, respectively. In case of Hg, it the concentration range was $0.01{\sim}77.11mgkg^{-1}$ except one sample which exceeded detection limit. In all samples of Amydae Carapax and Gallnut, it was not detected over the maximum residue limits of metals. Pb is in charge of the greatest portion of contamination in 22 species of animality medicines, and in case of Hg, 54.46% of total samples were over the maximum residue limits. Therefore, environmental levels of Pb and Hg are needed to continue the researches and the studies for tracking pollution source are required.