Normal and lethal mercury levels in human beings

Hilmy, M. I.; Rahim, S.A.; Abbas, Abdulla

doi:10.1016/0300-483x(76)90017-2

Cited by 23 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Comparison of the clinical signs in methyl mercury 88,89 and ethyl mercury epidemics 90 indicates that while the kidney was not a¡ected by methyl mercury, ethyl mercury exerted renal toxicity, and that ethyl mercury was less neurotoxic than methyl mercury. Moreover, in two victims who died from ethyl mercury poisoning, blood mercury concentrations were 15.0 and 15.5 mg/ L, 91 which is three times the 5 mg Hg/L level found in fatal cases of methyl mercury intoxication in the same country. 89 The di¡erence between the kinetics of the two alkylmercurials has been demonstrated in animal experiments.…”

Section: Toxicologymentioning

confidence: 74%

“…Comparison of the clinical signs in methyl mercury 88,89 and ethyl mercury epidemics 90 indicates that while the kidney was not a¡ected by methyl mercury, ethyl mercury exerted renal toxicity, and that ethyl mercury Treatment schedule: mouse 1: seven days after 27 mg Hg 82 ; mouse 2: two days after 40 mg Hg/kg 83 ; rat 1: one day after 10 daily doses of 1 mg Hg/ kg 84 ; rat 2: four days after 100 mg Hg/kg 85 ; rat 3: three days after five daily doses of 8 mg Hg/kg 86 ; monkey: seven days after 4 of 20 mg Hg/kg given one weeks apart 87 was less neurotoxic than methyl mercury. Moreover, in two victims who died from ethyl mercury poisoning, blood mercury concentrations were 15.0 and 15.5 mg/ L, 91 which is three times the 5 mg Hg/L level found in fatal cases of methyl mercury intoxication in the same country. 89 The di¡erence between the kinetics of the two alkylmercurials has been demonstrated in animal experiments.…”

Section: Toxicologymentioning

confidence: 74%

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Overview of the clinical toxicity of mercury

Magós¹,

2006

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Mercury is ubiquitous in the environment and therefore every human being, irrespective of age and location, is exposed to one form of mercury or another. The major source of environmental mercury is natural degassing of the earth's crust, but industrial activities can raise exposure to toxic levels directly or through the use or misuse of the liquid metals or synthesized mercurial compounds. The aim of this review is to survey differences in human exposure and in the toxicology of different forms of mercury. It covers not only symptoms and signs observed in poisoned individuals by a clinician but also subclinical effects in population studies, the final evaluation of which is the domain of statisticians.

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“…Comparison of the clinical signs in methyl mercury 88,89 and ethyl mercury epidemics 90 indicates that while the kidney was not a¡ected by methyl mercury, ethyl mercury exerted renal toxicity, and that ethyl mercury was less neurotoxic than methyl mercury. Moreover, in two victims who died from ethyl mercury poisoning, blood mercury concentrations were 15.0 and 15.5 mg/ L, 91 which is three times the 5 mg Hg/L level found in fatal cases of methyl mercury intoxication in the same country. 89 The di¡erence between the kinetics of the two alkylmercurials has been demonstrated in animal experiments.…”

Section: Toxicologymentioning

confidence: 74%

“…Comparison of the clinical signs in methyl mercury 88,89 and ethyl mercury epidemics 90 indicates that while the kidney was not a¡ected by methyl mercury, ethyl mercury exerted renal toxicity, and that ethyl mercury Treatment schedule: mouse 1: seven days after 27 mg Hg 82 ; mouse 2: two days after 40 mg Hg/kg 83 ; rat 1: one day after 10 daily doses of 1 mg Hg/ kg 84 ; rat 2: four days after 100 mg Hg/kg 85 ; rat 3: three days after five daily doses of 8 mg Hg/kg 86 ; monkey: seven days after 4 of 20 mg Hg/kg given one weeks apart 87 was less neurotoxic than methyl mercury. Moreover, in two victims who died from ethyl mercury poisoning, blood mercury concentrations were 15.0 and 15.5 mg/ L, 91 which is three times the 5 mg Hg/L level found in fatal cases of methyl mercury intoxication in the same country. 89 The di¡erence between the kinetics of the two alkylmercurials has been demonstrated in animal experiments.…”

Section: Toxicologymentioning

confidence: 74%

Overview of the clinical toxicity of mercury

Magós¹,

2006

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“…Inorganic mercury levels in the kidneys of thimerosal-exposed mice were 3-4 times higher than in those exposed to methyl mercury. Elevated mercury levels in kidneys were also observed in an ethyl mercury poisoning episode in Iraq in the 1960s (Hilmy et al, 1976). Magos et al (1985) also observed higher inorganic mercury levels after ethyl than after methyl mercury administration.…”

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 88%

Thimerosal distribution and metabolism in neonatal mice: comparison with methyl mercury

Zaręba

Cernichiari

Hojo

et al. 2007

J of Applied Toxicology

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Thimerosal, which releases the ethyl mercury radical as the active species, has been used as a preservative in many currently marketed vaccines throughout the world. Because of concerns that its toxicity could be similar to that of methyl mercury, it is no longer incorporated in many vaccines in the United States. There are reasons to believe, however, that the disposition and toxicity of ethyl mercury compounds, including thimerosal, may differ substantially from those of the methyl form. The current study sought to compare, in neonatal mice, the tissue concentrations, disposition and metabolism of thimerosal with that of methyl mercury. ICR mice were given single intramuscular injections of thimerosal or methyl mercury (1.4 mg Hg kg(-1)) on postnatal day 10 (PND 10). Tissue samples were collected daily on PND 11-14. Most analysed tissues demonstrated different patterns of tissue distribution and a different rate of mercury decomposition. The mean organic mercury in the brain and kidneys was significantly lower in mice treated with thimerosal than in the methyl mercury-treated group. In the brain, thimerosal-exposed mice showed a steady decrease of organic mercury levels following the initial peak, whereas in the methyl mercury-exposed mice, concentrations peaked on day 2 after exposure. In the kidneys, thimerosal-exposed mice retained significantly higher inorganic mercury levels than methyl mercury-treated mice. In the liver both organic and inorganic mercury concentrations were significantly higher in thimerosal-exposed mice than in the methyl mercury group. Ethyl mercury was incorporated into growing hair in a similar manner to methyl mercury. The data showing significant kinetic differences in tissue distribution and metabolism of mercury species challenge the assumption that ethyl mercury is toxicologically identical to methyl mercury.

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“…mercury concentration found in the blood sample (0.867±0.033.tg/1) was within the reference range. 20 The mercury concentration in mushroom samples varied from 0.042±0.002 to 0.060±0.002 µg/g. It is noted that the concentration of mercury in mushroom increased from the first harvest to the third harvest.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%