1: J Trace Elem Med Biol 1995 Jul;9(2):82-7 Related Articles, Books  

Silver concentrations in human tissues. their dependence on dental amalgam and
other factors.

Drasch G, Gath HJ, Heissler E, Schupp I, Roider G.

Institut fur Rechtsmedizin der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen, Germany.

Human tissue samples (liver, kidney cortex, 5 brain regions: grey matter of
cerebrum, white matter of cerebrum, nucleus lentiformis, cerebellum, brain
stem) from 173 decreased persons were analysed for silver (Ag) by GF-AAS
(Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry) and the results compared with
the number of teeth with amalgam fillings and the concentration of inorganic
mercury (Hg), which had been determined in the same tissue samples in a
previous study. It was found that the mean Ag concentrations in liver and brain
of {*filter*} females are approximately twice that of males. Moreover, the Ag
concentrations, especially in the brain, depend possibly on age. To exclude
these confounding factors as far as possible, the influence of dental amalgam
and the correlation of Ag and Hg were evaluated only in a sub-group of 93
males, aged 11-50 years. In this sub-group statistically significant
correlations were found between the number of teeth with dental amalgam and the
Ag concentrations in the cerebral cortex and the liver. No such correlation was
found for the kidney. Ag and inorg. Hg correlate well in this sub-group in the
liver, but not in the cerebral cortex or the kidney. Individuals from this
sub-group with (i) 0-2 and with (ii) more than 9 teeth with amalgam fillings
show mean Ag concentrations (micrograms/kg in tissue wet weight, geom. mean) of
1.59 and 5.41 in the grey matter of cerebrum, 1.42 and 4.25 in the white matter
of cerebrum, 1.53 and 4.89 in the nucleus lentiformis, 1.95 and 5.02 in the
cerebellum, 1.05 and 3.27 in the brain stem, 3.40 and 8.15 in the liver and
0.42 and 0.44 in the kidney cortex. In contrast, comparing all individuals
under investigation with only 0-2 teeth with amalgam no correlation between Ag
and inorg. Hg could be found in liver, kidney cortex or cerebral cortex. These
results show that amalgam fillings release Ag as well. Considering the
different toxicokinetics of Ag and Hg it can be concluded that Ag is a reliable
marker for the fact that the elevated concentrations of inorg. Hg found in
tissues of individuals with amalgam fillings derive mainly from these fillings
and not from other theoretically possible sources.

PMID: 8825980 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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