Biomonitoring of titanium, mercury, platinum, rhodium and palladium in dental health care workers

Abstract

Background. In dentistry, titanium, mercury, platinum, rhodium and palladium are used to produce dental fillings. Therefore, dental workers who apply such materials may be exposed to these metals. Methods. The study concerned 40 healthy subjects - 20 controls and 20 dental health care workers - to determine serum and urinary levels of the aforementioned metals by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results. Mean urinary and serum titanium did not reveal statistically significant differences in the two groups. The very low urinary and serum levels of mercury, platinum, rhodium and palladium prevented us from making a statistical evaluation between the two groups. Conclusions. We did not find a significant increase in serum and urinary titanium levels in dental health care workers. Measurement of mercury, platinum, rhodium and palladium in urine and serum was not useful in determining occupational exposure. © Society of Occupational Medicine 2004; all rights reserved.