Mercury uptake and kinetics after ingestion of dental amalgam

The aim of the present study was to investigate the G-I uptake of mercury (Hg) after intake of a single dose of amalgam-Hg, followed by pharma-cokinetic analysis of the data. Eleven volunteers without amalgam fillings ingested 1.00 g amalgam powder. Hg in plasma vs. time was analyzed with a two-compartment model by means of mixed-effects modeling. A fraction of the absorption rate of Hg to the central compartment was inversely proportional to the plasma ferritin levels. The population mean half-life of the terminal phase of Hg in plasma was 37 days, with a considerable standard deviation in the population. The absorbed fraction of the administered dose was estimated to be about 0.04%. It is concluded that the G-I uptake of Hg is of quantitative importance during dental treatment.