Maternal And Neonatal Hair Mercury Concentrations: The Effect Of Dental Amalgam

In a 2003 study involving 53 healthy women and their newborns at a maternity hospital in Northern England, researchers found that both maternal and neonatal hair mercury concentrations were significantly higher in those with dental amalgam restorations compared to those without. However, the timing of the amalgam placement, whether before or during pregnancy, did not significantly affect the mercury levels. The study concluded that while the presence of dental amalgam restorations was associated with increased hair mercury levels, additional placement during pregnancy did not exacerbate this effect. The findings also noted that the British urban cohort studied had relatively low hair mercury levels compared to other populations with different mercury exposures.