Mercury Screening

A comprehensive confidential service to assess occupational exposure to mercury for Dentists and Dental Care Professionals.

Occupational Health

Mercury is a toxic element and is included in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) document EH 40. By law the occupational exposure to mercury must be assessed and controlled, as described by CoSHH.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (1989). From January 1996 the OES (occupational exposure standard) for mercury vapour in air was reduced from 50 µg/m3 to 25 µg/m3. The HSE guidance note MS12 relates this
OES to a urinary health guidance value (HGV) for mercury of 20 mmol Hg / mol creatinine.

The Health and Safety Executive recommends that, as part of a risk assessment, regular urinary mercury determinations be undertaken for staff occupationally exposed to mercury. Where these measurements exceed the advised level then working practices and controls should be reviewed to ensure compliance with the OES.

The Service

The postal service developed by the UK Mercury Screening Service (UKMSS) operates from Sheffield Analytical Services, a division of Sheffield Assay Office.

Personal mercury is determined through the analysis of a urine sample. Samples are forwarded directly for analysis and our consultant confidentially assesses the results.

Analysis is by either cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry, or ICP-MS, for mercury and ultra violet visible radiation for creatinine. Creatinine is a constant biological marker, related to the individual, which is used to adjust mercury results to a comparable level.

UKMSS strongly recommends the screening of a potential employee as part of the enrolment process.

Interpretation of Results

Where results are higher than would normally be expected, an initial consultation is included. This is generally an explanation of the results and advice on occupational house keeping. Should further consultation, assessment of premises or mercury spillage containment kits be needed, these are available.

Summary

• Personal mercury analysis
• Confidential service
• High accuracy
• First stage of risk assessment
• Compliance with CoSHH
• Consultation, advice and follow up
  services are available

The DBG has negotiated DBG members discounted
price of £20.30 plus VAT per sample