World Journal of Dentistry

Register      Login

VOLUME 5 , ISSUE 3 ( July-September, 2014 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Hair Mercury Levels in Periodontal Patients in Comparison with Healthy Individuals

Soraya Khafri, Hamidreza Hasanjani Roushan, Hadi Parsian, Ramin Alijannia, Abbas Mosapour

Citation Information : Khafri S, Roushan HH, Parsian H, Alijannia R, Mosapour A. Hair Mercury Levels in Periodontal Patients in Comparison with Healthy Individuals. World J Dent 2014; 5 (3):166-169.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10015-1281

Published Online: 01-06-2016

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2014; The Author(s).


Abstract

Introduction

The clinical manifestation of periodontal diseases (such as gingivitis and chronic periodontitis) results from a complex interplay between the etiologic agents such as bacteria that present in the dental plaque, genetic factors, systemic diseases, smoking and exposure of some heavy metals, such as mercury. In this study, we aimed to evaluate hair mercury levels in healthy subjects in comparison with periodontal patients.

Materials and methods

One hundred twenty subjects were enrolled in this study. The included persons were divided into 3 groups: healthy subjects (n = 40), gingivitis (n = 40) and chronic periodontitis patients (n = 40). Hair samples were collected from occipital area of head. Total mercury levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Results

The difference between mercury levels in three groups were statistically significant (p-value < 0.001). Mercury level in periodontitis patients was greater than the gingivitis group (p-value < 0.001). In addition the differences between mercury levels in periodontitis patients vs healthy individuals was significant (p-value = 0.048). The gingivitis patients had lower levels of mercury than the control group, but the difference was not significant (p-value = 0.170).

Conclusion

The results showed that the levels of mercury are to some extent differed in periodontal diseases in comparison with the healthy individuals. A study with larger sample size is needed for clarification of this issue.

How to cite this article

Roushan HH, Parsian H, Alijannia R, Mosapour A, Khafri S. Hair Mercury Levels in Periodontal Patients in Comparison with Healthy Individuals. World J Dent 2014;5(3):166-169.


PDF Share
  1. Development of a classification system for periodontal diseases and conditions. Ann Periodontol 1999 Dec;4(1):1-6.
  2. Blastomycosis of the gingiva and jaw. Can Med Assoc J 1932;26(6):662-665.
  3. Yeast diversity in the oral microbiota of subjects with periodontitis: Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis colonize the periodontal pockets. Med Mycol 2008 Dec;46(8):783-793.
  4. Endogenous Aspergillus endophthalmitis associated with periodontitis. Ophthalmologica 1995;209(2): 109-111.
  5. Periodontal aspects of the juvenile form of paracoccidioidomycosis. Revista do Instituto 1998 Jan-Feb;40(1):15-18.
  6. Diabetes mellitus promotes periodontal destruction in children. J Clin Periodont 2007 Apr;34(4):294-298.
  7. Effects of smoking on periodontal health. Advances in Therapy 2000 Sep-Oct;17(5):230-237.
  8. Smoking-attributable periodontitis in the United States. J Periodont 2000 May;71(5):743-751.
  9. The influence of smoking on host responses in periodontal infections. Periodont 2000, 2007;43(1):267-277.
  10. Effect of cigarette smoking on oral elastase activity in adult periodontitis patients. J Periodont 2000 Jan;71(1):58-62.
  11. Effect of tobacco smoking on neutrophil activity following periodontal surgery. J Periodont 2003 Oct;74(10):1475-1482.
  12. The three modern faces of mercury. Environ Health Perspect 2002 Feb;110(Suppl 1):11-23.
  13. A systematic review of stress and psychological factors as possible risk factors for periodontal disease. J Periodont 2007 Aug;78(8):1491-1504.
  14. Mechanisms of Mercury Disposition in the Body. Am J Industrial Med 2007Oct; 50(10):757-764.
  15. Clinical periodontology. 9th ed. WB Saunders Co. 2006;Chap 4:64-65.
  16. Improvement on a total mercury determination method in human hair by using GF-AAS detection. J Prev Med Hyg 2007;48:43-46.
  17. Human exposure to mercury due to goldmining in the Tapajos River Basin, Amazon, Brazil: speciation of mercury in human hair, blood and urine. Water, Air Soil Poll 1995;80:85-94.
  18. Neurotoxic risk caused by stable and variable exposure to methyl mercury from seafood. Ambul Pediatr 2003 Jan-Feb;3(1):18-23.
  19. Mercury exposure and periodontitis among a Korean population. J Periodontal 2009 Dec;80(12):1928-1936.
  20. Methylmercury contamination in fish and shellfish. CSA Discovery Guides 2007;1:1-9.
  21. Relationship between blood mercury concentration and waist-to-hip ratio in elderly Korean individuals living in Coastal areas. J Preventive Med Public Health 2011 Sep;44(5):218-225.
  22. Dental health in workers previously exposed to mercury vapour at a chloralkali plant. Occupational and Environmental Med 1994 Oct;51(10):656-659.
  23. Association between blood lead and mercury levels and periodontitis in the Korean general population: Analysis of the 2008-2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Int Archives Occupational and Environmental Health 2013 July;86(5):607-613.
  24. Cytogenetic damage related to low levels of methylmercury contamination in the brazilianamazon. An Acad Bras 2000 Dec;72(4):496-507.
  25. The amalgam controversy. An evidence-based analysis. J Am Dent Assoc 2001 Mar;132(3):348-356.
  26. Mercury in hair for a child population from Tarragona Province, Spain. Sci Total Environ 1996 Dec 20;193(2):143-148.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.