The relationship between mercury from dental amalgam and the cardiovascular system

Sci Total Environ. 1990 Dec 1;99(1-2):23-35. doi: 10.1016/0048-9697(90)90207-b.

Abstract

The findings presented here suggest that mercury poisoning from dental amalgam may play a role in the etiology of cardiovascular disorders. Comparisons between subjects with and without amalgam showed amalgam-bearing subjects had significantly higher blood pressure, lower heart rate, lower hemoglobin, and lower hematocrit. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cells were significantly lower when correlated to increased levels of urine mercury. The amalgam subjects had a greater incidence of chest pains, tachycardia, anemia, fatigue, tiring easily, and being tired in the morning. The data suggest that inorganic mercury poisoning from dental amalgam does affect the cardiovascular system.

MeSH terms

  • Blood Pressure* / drug effects
  • Cardiovascular System / drug effects
  • Cardiovascular System / physiopathology*
  • Dental Amalgam / adverse effects*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Hair / chemistry
  • Heart Rate* / drug effects
  • Hematocrit
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mercury / analysis
  • Mercury / metabolism
  • Mercury Poisoning / etiology
  • Mercury Poisoning / physiopathology*
  • Reference Values

Substances

  • Dental Amalgam
  • Mercury