Table 3

Neurological symptoms among 40 dental assistants with probable previous exposure to mercury during work, compared with 64 assistant nurses

Neurological symptom

Dental assistants (%)

Assistant nurses (%)

OR (95%CI)*

Unintentionally dropping things

60

19

9.0 (2.5–32.3)

Felt weak in your arms and legs

78

55

3.0 (1.0–9.2)

Felt less in your arms and legs

60

38

2.1 (0.8–5.7)

Felt numbness or heaviness in your arms and legs

66

56

2.6 (0.9–7.8)

Felt tingling in your arms and legs

64

34

4.0 (1.3–12.0)

Had problems with balance

53

13

7.7 (2.2–27.1)

Noticed changes in sense of smell or taste

29

6

8.6 (1.7–43.2)

Noticed less sensation in your face

17

2

8.5 (0.9–85.6)

Had difficulty controlling hand movements

39

8

5.5 (1.2–20.5)

Felt slow in carrying out your daily activities

32

38

0.8 (0.3–2.6)

Felt shakiness in your hands

44

16

6.8 (1.9–24.6)

*OR (95%CI) = Odds ratio with 95 percent confidence interval, calculated by logistic regression analyses, adjusting for age, education, alcohol consumption, smoking and personality traits (anxiety and general health).

Moen et al. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 2008 3:10   doi:10.1186/1745-6673-3-10