Use of Mercury in Dental Silver Amalgam: An Occupational and Environmental Assessment

Table 1

Sociodemographic characteristics of the dentists, dental assistants, and controls.

Characteristics	Dentists ()		Dental assistants ()		Controls ()
		%		%		%
Age (years)
21–30 (group 1)	12	32	19	55	11	36
31–40 (group 2)	11	30	13	29	8	27
41–50 (group 3)	8	22	5	16	6	20
51–60 (group 4)	6	16	0	0	5	17
Sex
Male	33	89	31	100	27	90
Female	4	11	0	0	3	10
Smoking
Yes	8	22	18	58	11	37
No	29	78	13	42	19	63
Working hours
Less than 6	14	38	9	29	—	—
6–8	21	57	16	52	—	—
More than 8	2	5	6	19	—	—
Years of experience
Less than 5	7	19	9	29	—	—
5–10	11	30	12	39	—	—
More than 10	19	51	10	32	—	—
Frequent fish consumption
Yes	12	32	3	10	10	33
No	25	68	28	90	20	67
Amalgam filling per week
<5	16	43	11	36	—	—
5–10	17	46	15	48	—	—
>10	4	11	5	16	—	—
Own amalgam filling
Yes	27	73	19	61	14	47
No	10	27	12	39	16	53
Number of fillings
<2	16	59	6	32	9	64
2–5	11	41	11	58	5	36
>5	0	0	2	10	0	0

Fish consumption at least once a week.
Applicable to subjects with their own amalgam filling.