Determination of Mercury Exposure among Dental Health Workers in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand

Table 4

Descriptive characteristics of urinary mercury levels, PPEs used, and personal hygiene, behaviors, and dietary habit.

Parameter	Number of mercury exposed dental health workers	Urinary mercury mean; (µg/g creatinine)	SD	value
Position
Dentists	16	5.37	1.29	0.182
Dental hygienists	70	8.75	1.95
Dental assistants	38	8.66	1.16
Duration of work (yrs)
≤5	10	3.15	0.02	0.0
>5	114	8.47	1.09
PPEs uses
Mask
Yes	110	7.19	0.89	<0.
No	14	16.84	1.28
Glove
Yes	30	6.91	1.25	<0.
No	94	12.59	1.32
Safety glasses
Yes	10	7.64	1.68	0.223
No	114	5.30	0.87
Ate snacks/drank water during work
Sometimes	88	7.80	1.76	0.252
Always	36	9.46	1.17
Wash hands before lunch
Sometimes	62	9.58	0.97	0.0
Always	62	6.98	1.53
Wash hands before dinner
Sometimes	56	9.26	1.51	0.166
Always	68	7.48	1.25
Clean cloths
Everyday	24	7.64	0.68	0.134
2-3 days	16	5.30	0.87
Week or more	84	9.04	0.08
Dietary habit
≤3 times/month	53	5.23	1.68	0.0
≥3 times/month	71	9.85	0.88

Significant at value < 0.05.