Maternal And Neonatal Hair Mercury Concentrations: The Effect Of Dental Amalgam
March 2003
in “
BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
”
TLDR Mothers and newborns with dental fillings have higher mercury in their hair, but adding fillings during pregnancy doesn't raise mercury levels further.
The study conducted at the North of England Maternity Hospital with 53 women and their newborns found that maternal and neonatal hair mercury concentrations were significantly higher in those with dental amalgam restorations than in those without, regardless of when the restorations were placed. However, adding new amalgam restorations during pregnancy did not increase these mercury levels. The study also noted a correlation between maternal hair mercury and fetal brain levels, but the observed mercury concentrations were low compared to populations with high fish consumption or exposure to mercury pollution. The conclusion was that while existing dental amalgam restorations are associated with higher mercury levels in hair, placing new restorations during pregnancy does not exacerbate this effect.
