Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between amalgamrestorations and urinary mercury levels in children for 1 year. Amalgam restoration has beenwidely used for over 200 years. But released mercury from amalgam can increase the concentrationof mercury in the body.
Methods : The subjects were 463 elementary school children. Oral examination, urine sampling,and questionnaire survey were performed at baseline and after 1 year.
Results : Amalgam restoration increased the urinary mercury level to 0.55±0.13 ㎍/g creatinine.
In the regression analysis, variation of urinary mercury excretion were positively associated withamalgam surfaces and fish consumption.
Conclusions : Small amount of mercury release from amalgam restoration was closely associatedwith increasing urinary mercury level.