Table 1. Estimated average daily intake and retention of total mercury and mercury compounds in the general population.

Values given are the estimated average daily intake (µg/day) for adults.
The figures in parentheses represent the estimated amount retained in the body of an adult.

Sources of exposure	Elemental mercury vapour	Inorganic mercury compounds	Methylmercury
Air	0.030 (0.024)	0.002 (0.001)	0.008 (0.0064)
Food
- Fish	0	0.600 (0.042)	2.4 (2.3)
- Non-fish	0	3.6 (0.25)	0
Drinking water	0	0.050 (0.0035)	0
Dental amalgams	3.8 – 21 (3 – 17)	0	0
Total	3.9 – 21 (3 – 17)	4.3 (0.3)	2.41 (2.31)

Source: SCHER, Preliminary report on the environmental risks and indirect health effects of mercury in dental amalgam (2008), 3. Opinion, p.12

Related publication:

Tooth filling materials Dental amalgams & alternative materials

Other Figures & Tables on this publication:

Conventional Dental Amalgam (content by weight)

Table 1. Estimated average daily intake and retention of total mercury and mercury compounds in the general population.

Table 2. Limits for the intake of Hg2+ and methylmercury.

Figure 1. Preliminary estimation of the risk for exceeding the EC proposal for the concentration of methylmercury in aquatic organisms as the result of the direct emissions of methylmercury from the dental use.

Figure 2. Preliminary assessment of the role of environmental methylation when assessing the risk of inorganic mercury emissions from dental amalgams.