Reaction to Metals inWorkers Engaged in Stomatology and the Metal Industry

Overview

Trace amounts of metals are indispensable for normal function of the organism,excessive amounts have however a toxic effect on the organism or can lead in susceptiblesubjects to allergization. Increased exposure to metals is caused also by environmentalcontamination. The objective of the trial was to find out to what extent metals can influencethe immune reaction of exposed subjects as compared with subjects without occupationalcontact with metals. To this end the authors recorded the case-history and subjected to dentalexamination and by the modified test of blastic transformation for metals – method Melisa™– eight dentist, seven dental assistants (group I), four dental technicians, four workers fromthe metal industry (group II) and 13 volunteers without occupational exposure to metals. Ingroup I an undesirable reaction to mercury was frequent, as well as to nickel, palladium,chromium and tin. In group II there was most frequently an undesirable reaction to nickel,followed by mercury, silver, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron and titanium. In the control groupnegative reactions were, mainly in response to cadmium and lead – i.e. metals in the contami-nated atmosphere. Increased exposure to metals on an occupational basis involves an increasedhealth risk also as regards immune reactions and this may lead to a general pathologicalreaction of the organism.

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