Dental amalgam fillings and mercury vapor safety limits in American Adults
Overview
Paper Summary
This cross-sectional study found a correlation between the number of amalgam filling surfaces and daily urinary mercury levels in a large sample of American adults. A majority of adults had at least one amalgam filling, and a significant portion were estimated to have mercury vapor exposure exceeding various safety limits. However, the study design cannot determine causality and the safety limits themselves are subject to uncertainty.
Explain Like I'm Five
This study found that a lot of American adults have mercury fillings, and many get exposed to more mercury vapor than is considered safe. More research is needed on the potential health effects of mercury fillings.
Possible Conflicts of Interest
Two of the authors have financial interests in a company developing a compound to treat mercury toxicity, and all authors are associated with a non-profit that received funding from the IAOMT.
Identified Limitations
Rating Explanation
This study utilized a large and nationally representative dataset, which is a strength, but it relies on correlational data and is limited by its indirect assessment of mercury exposure and potential for confounding. The conflict of interest raises additional concerns.
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