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	P 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	0.031*
>5	114	8.47	1.09
PPEs uses
Mask
Yes	110	7.19	0.89	<0.001*
No	14	16.84	1.28
Glove
Yes	30	6.91	1.25	<0.001*
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	0.036*
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	0.022*
≥3 times/month	71	9.85	0.88

*Significant at P value < 0.05.