The
Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 17 No 2 (2013): 208 - 213
ANALYSIS OF CHROMIUM, MERCURY, SILVER
AND ZINC IN HAIR SAMPLES FROM DENTISTS PRACTICING IN BENGHAZI, LIBYA
(Analisis
Kromium, Raksa, Perak dan Zink Dalam Sampel Rambut Doktor Gigi
di Benghazi, Libya)
Intisar Alakili1*, Aiman. M.
Bobaker1, Sukiman. B. Sarmani2
1Department
of Chemistry,
Benghazi
University, Benghazi, Libya
2School of Chemical Sciences and
Food Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology,
Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia
*Corresponding author: mneimm@hotmail.com
Abstract
The measurements of mercury, zinc,
chromium and silver in hair samples of dentists and control group were carried
out by neutron activation analysis. Our results showed that, the level of
mercury (mean ± standard deviation) in hair samples of dentists were 5.99 ±
2.64 mg/kg (range of 3.44 – 776 mg/kg) and for control group were 2.45 ± 0.62
mg/kg (range of 1.70 – 3.48 mg/kg) and the difference between the two groups
was significant. A high level of zinc in hair samples of dentist and control
group was also observed. The level of zinc in dentist was 1081.14 ± 495.36
mg/kg (range of 315 – 1770 mg/kg) while the mean level of zinc was
1862±1581.76mg/kg for the control group (ranged from 688 to 5256 mg/kg) which
was found to be significantly higher than those for dentists. The mean levels
of chromium and silver show no significant difference between dentists and
control group. The hair mercury level of dentists was correlated to the number
of weekly working hours, experience in years and age while gender, fish
consumption and the number of dental amalgam in mouth of dentists were found to
be uncorrelated to the level of mercury.
Keywords: dental amalgam, mercury, hair, dentist
References
1.
WHO (1994). Recommendation for Epidemiological Research on Mercury. Geneva:
World Health Organisation.
2. Sarmani, S & Alakili, I. (
2004). Determination of total
mercury and methylmercury in hair samples from residents of Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia by neutron activation analysis. Journal of
Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 259(2):
261-264
3.
Khoo, K.
S., Sarmani, S.B., & Abugassa, I. O.
(2007). Determination of thermal to epithermal neutron flux ratio (f),
epithermal neutron flux shape factor (alpha) and comparator factor (Fc) in the
TRIGA Mark II Reactor. Journal of
Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry (271)2: 419-424.
4.
Abugassa, I. O.,
Khrbish, Y.S., Ben Faid, N., Basir, A. T., & Sarmani,S. B. (2007).
Installation of Kayzero-INAA standardization in the TNRC and its applications
for trace elements determination in different materials. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 271(1): 27-33.
5.
Yavar Alireza,
Sukiman Sarmani, Abdul Khalik Wood, Nurul Syakireen Zainal, Kok Siong Khoo,(
2012). Development and implementation of Høgdahl convention and Westcott
formalism for k0-NAA application at Malaysian Nuclear Agency reactor. Journal of
Radioanalytical and Nuclear
Chemistry 291:521–527.
6.
Scarlett, J.M., Gutenmann, W. H., &
Lisk, D., J. (1988). A study of mercury in the hair of dentists and dental-
related professionals in 1985 and subcohort comparison of 1972 and1985 mercury
hair levels. Journal of Toxicology
and Environmental Health. 25(3):
373-81.
7.
Harakeh,S., Sabra, N., Kassak, K., &
Doughan, B. (2002). Factors influencing
total mercury levels among Lebanese dentists. Science of Total Environment 297:153 - 160
8. Duncan, A.,
O'Reilly, D. S., McDonald, E. B.,
Watkins, T. R., & Taylor, M. (2011). Thirty-five year review of a mercury monitoring
service for Scottish dental practices. British Dental
Journal 12(3): 210.
9.
Ott, K., H., Grimmeisen, J., Alt, F., Messerschmidt, J., &
Tölg, G. (1991). Mercury in the hair of
dentists and dental personnel. Dtsch Zahnarztl Z. 46(2):154-8.
10.
Tabatabaei, M., Golbabaei, F., &
Shariatei, B. (2006). Evaluation
of urine mercury level of dentists in Tehran and its influencial factors. Journal of Dental Medicine 19(3): 66 –
75.