The Relationship between Mercury Exposure and Psychological Health Status of Dentists

Background/Objective: This study was undertaken to address psychological health effects of dentists’ exposure to low ambient levels of mercury. Methods: One hundred and six dentists and 94 general practitioners were randomly selected from clinics in Shiraz city, Iran. Subjects were asked to complete the Persian version of General Health Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using ?2 test, independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney’s U test. Results: Both groups were similar as far as all demographic variables, except age, were concerned. No significant difference was noted between the dentists’ mean total score of GHQ-28 (17.9) and that of referent subjects (16.34). These scores were significantly lower than the cut-off point of 23 (P < 0.01). The mean scores for somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, and depression were significantly higher in dentists than in the referent subjects. The results also showed a significant association between GHQ-28 total scores and length of exposure to mercury (P=0.034); with increase in the job tenure, GHQ-28 total score also increased, indicating a decrement in psychological health status. Conclusion: The current findings revealed that, in general, the dentists’ psychological health status was poorer than the referent subjects. Additionally, in all GHQ subscales, the dentists’ scores were significantly different from those of their counterparts. Given the fact that exposure to mercury is the most important differentiating variable between both groups, and that neuropsychological disorders are the most common toxic effect of mercury, the difference between psychological health status of the two groups is likely to be related to exposure to mercury.