Correlation between amalgam restorations and mercury concentrations in urine.

The creatinine-adjusted urinary concentration of mercury in 73 schoolchildren with a mean age of 12 years was determined. In addition, the number of amalgam restorations and their size, prevalence of allergy, and days absent from school due to illness were recorded for each individual. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.55) was found between urine Hg and extent of amalgam restorations, but no correlation existed between urine Hg and allergy or between urine Hg and absence from school due to illness. Neither could any correlation be found between extent of amalgam restorations and either allergy or absence from school.