Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

The Korean Society of Occupational & Environmental Medicine (대한직업환경의학회)
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The Relationship Between Amalgam Tooth Fillings and Concentration of Blood Mercury in Elementary School Students in Korea

국내 초등학생의 치아 아말감과 혈중 수은 농도의 관련성

  • Lee, Kyu-Hwa (Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Yeungnam University Hospital) ;
  • Jeon, Man-Joong (Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Yeungnam University Hospital) ;
  • Hong, Yun-Chul (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Leem, Ong-Han (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Inha University) ;
  • Ha, Mi-Na (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University) ;
  • Kwon, Ho-Jang (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University) ;
  • SaKong, Joon (Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Yeungnam University Hospital)
  • 이규화 (영남대학교병원 산업의학과, 영남대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 전만중 (영남대학교병원 산업의학과, 영남대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 홍윤철 (서울대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 임종한 (인하대학교 의과대학 산업의학과) ;
  • 하미나 (단국대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 권호장 (단국대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 사공준 (영남대학교병원 산업의학과, 영남대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실)
  • Published : 2011.12.31
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Abstract

Objectives: The adverse health effects of mercury in dental amalgam have not yet been clarified. This study was conducted to examine the effects of dental amalgam on the concentration of blood mercury in Korean children. Methods: A total of 1,275 students were enrolled in the elementary school in Seoul, Incheon, and Daegu. The number and location of dental amalgam filling of teeth were ascertained by oral examination. Dietary habits-including frequency of seafood intake-and other demographic factors were obtained from the children's parents. The concentration of blood mercury was measured by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer to which a hydride generator was installed. Results: The geometric mean of blood mercury concentration was 1.91 ${\mu}g$/L. It was found that elementary school students in Seoul and the 4th grade elementary school students have the lowest concentration of blood mercury among the study groups. Both linear and secondary linear increase of the concentration of blood mercury, depending on the number of dental amalgam fillings, were statistically significant (ptrend < 0.01, p-quadratic < 0.01). As a result of multiple regression analysis on the blood mercury concentration of elementary school students, the regression coefficient (${\beta}$) of a dental amalgam filling was found to be 0.027 (standard error = 0.014, p = 0.048). Conclusions: In children, the dental amalgam fillings were significantly contribute to the concentration of blood mercury. To accurately assess the effect of dental amalgam on the concentration of body mercury, further studies using the concentration of urine mercury are needed.

목적: 치아 아말감의 유해성에 대해서는 아직 명확하게 밝혀져 있지 않다. 따라서 이 연구는 우리나라 어린이들에게서 치아 아말감이 혈중 수은 농도에 미치는 영향을 평가하고자 실시하였다. 방법: 서울특별시, 인천광역시, 대구광역시의 초등학생 1,275명을 대상으로 수소화 발생기가 장착된 원자흡광광도계를 이용하여 혈중수은농도를 측정하고, 아말감으로 치료된 치아의 위치와 수를 구강기록지에 기록하였다. 그리고 어패류 섭취빈도와 식습관에 대해서는 설문지 조사를 실시하였다. 결과: 대상자들의 혈중 수은 농도의 기하 평균은 1.91 ${\mu}g$/L이었다. 서울지역과 4학년에서 혈중 수은 농도가 상대적으로 낮았으며, 치아 아말감 면수에 따른 혈중 수은농도는 선형적 증가와 2차 선형적 증가 모두 통계적으로 유의하였다(p-trend<0.01, p-quadratic<0.01). 혈중 수은 농도에 미치는 영향을 분석한 다중 회귀분석에서 치아 아말감 면수는 회귀계수가 0.027(표준오차=0.014, p=0.048)이었다. 결론: 어린이들에게서 치아 아말감 면수가 많을수록 혈중 수은 농도가 유의하게 증가하였다. 치아 아말감이 체내 수은 농도에 미치는 영향을 정확하게 평가하기 위해서는 요중 수은 농도를 이용한 추가적인 연구가 필요하며, 치아 아말감으로 인한 체내 수은 농도 증가에 대한 건강영향평가를 실시할 필요가 있다.

Keywords

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