Affiliations: [a] B.A.S.E Laboratory, FSM-FSTE, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco
| [b]
Higher Institute of Nursing Profession and Techniques of Health, Kenitra, Morocco | [c]
Higher Institute of Nursing Profession and Techniques of Health, Errachidia, Morocco | [d] P.B.M.B Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco
| [e] R.N.E Laboratory, Multidisciplinary Faculty of Taza, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Dr. Nourdine Attiya, PhD, DMD, B.A.S.E Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Errachidia, BP 509, Boutalamine, Errachidia 52000, Morocco. E-mail: nourdineattiya@gmail.com.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Mercury used in dental amalgams constitutes a significant source of chronic exposure to this heavy metal among dentists. Thus, the safety of dental amalgam remains a controversial issue despite its long history of use. In Morocco, most studies about dental mercury were mainly focused on the environmental risk related to the management of mercury-contaminated waste. OBJECTIVE:In order to evaluate the occupational exposure to mercury among liberal dentists practicing in two Moroccan regions, a multidimensional statistical approach was used to analyze the collected data. The main objective was to help establishing a targeted prevention plan aiming to reduce the mercury exposure among Moroccan dentists. METHODS:Fifteen variables from 146 dentists were elected for a three-step classification procedure: a multiple correspondence analysis followed by a hierarchical ascendant clustering consolidated by the k-Means algorithm. RESULTS:Three homogenous clusters were identified. The most important one includes 57.5% of the population as well as the majority of the risky factors. The characterization of these clusters allows proposing concise guidelines for a targeted preventive plan. CONCLUSIONS:A real mercurial risk has been observed in the studied population. However, its impact on health as well as the efficiency of simple preventive recommendations remains to be unveiled.
