Mercury

Clarkson, Thomas W.

doi:10.1146/annurev.pu.04.050183.002111

Cited by 22 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Mercury is a notorious toxic heavy metal, and its different chemical forms account for the various degrees of toxicities (Clarkson 1983;Liu and Lin-Shiau 1992). For example, methyl mercury (MeHg) is more toxic and more permeable to blood-brain barrier than mercuric chloride (HgCl 2 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurotoxicity of mercury sulfide in the vestibular ocular reflex system of guinea pigs

Chuu

Young

Liu

et al. 2001

Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology

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A traditional Chinese mineral medicine, cinnabar, naturally occurring mercuric sulfide (HgS), is still occasionally prescribed, but the neurotoxic effects of HgS have not been elucidated. In this paper, an animal model of the purified HgS intoxication was established in guinea pigs in order to study neurotoxicity and pathophysiology of the vestibular ocular reflex system (VOR). Guinea pigs were dosed with HgS by gastric gavage (0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 g/kg per day) for 7 consecutive days. By means of caloric testing coupled with the electronystagmographic (ENG) recording in guinea pigs, we have found that HgS at a dose of 0.1 g/kg induced reversible caloric hypofunction pattern and at a higher dose of 1.0 g/kg induced irreversible hypofunction of caloric test. Monitoring the mercury contents of various tissues (blood, kidney, liver and cerebellum) by continuous flow and cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) revealed that a certain amount of HgS could be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and was detectable in these tissues. In addition to the induced dysfunction of VOR system, HgS also caused disturbance of motor performance in guinea pigs. In enzyme assay, Na+/K+-ATPase activity of cerebellum was also significantly inhibited by HgS. Morphological studies showed partial cell loss only in the cerebellar Purkinje cell layer, but not in the granule cell layer, nor in the vestibular labyrinth. All of these findings suggest that cerebellar Purkinje cells are the sensitive target site responsible for HgS-inducing dysfunctions of both VOR system and the motor performance in guinea pigs. Thus, it is concluded that caloric test coupled with ENG recording in VOR system is certainly a sensitive biomarker for monitoring the neurotoxicity of HgS.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurotoxicity of mercury sulfide in the vestibular ocular reflex system of guinea pigs

Chuu

Young

Liu

et al. 2001

Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology

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“…Hair growth and analysis studies assessed hair growth rates and the relationship with concentrations of trace metals between methylmercury intake and hair levels (Clarkson, 1983). Minamata disease sufferers were thought to have extremely high mercury levels in hair.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, metals may be absorbed and bound in hair by different pathways. Endogenously, from circulating blood metals during hair formation in the hair follicles (Clarkson, 1983), semiexogenously by the absorption of metals who are excreted by sebaceous and sweat glands, and finally exogenously by the contact of hair with contaminated ambient air, soil and dust, and cosmetics such as shampoo (Herber et al, 1983). Metals that are not bound chemically with hair may be removed using different washing procedures.…”

Section: Hair As a Bioindicator For Exposure To Trace Metalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between concentrations of heavy metals in children’s scalp hair and the environment. A case study from Kifissos River in Attica, Greece.

2017

Global NEST Journal

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Key Points:• The heavy metal concentrations in hair reflect both the exposure and the absorbed dose. This characteristic, if interpreted properly, is useful in the assessment of exposure in the domestic and occupational environments.• The chemical composition of PM at the Attica basin has a seasonal and a spatial variation and a great percentage of metals fall through the rain at the place of their production. In rain samples, metals like As, Cd, Ni, Cr, and Pb were found, having common sources such as vehicle emissions/oil combustion, re-suspended road dust and industrial activity.• Geographical analysis with G.I.S. and in-situ research in the study area confirms the plethora of industrial activities in the municipality of Kifisia, in contrast with the municipality of Kryoneri.• All trace metals concentrations were observed in children's hair, river water and air in the areas of Kifisia and Kryoneri in Athens, Greece. Lowest heavy metals concentrations in children's hair and river water were observed in the municipality of Kryoneri, in contrast with Kifisia, which suggest that the river is contaminated locally by anthropogenic activities near and along the river banks. These results may confirm the fact that people living in the area of Kifisia (particularly its northern part near the banks of the Kifissos River) are exposed to major environmental pollution, due mainly to the human activities (traffic exhaust and industrial emissions). AbstractIn recent years children's head hair is a biomarker frequently used for monitoring environmental exposure to heavy metals. Blood, plasma, urine and other tissues analysis were the most popular approaches to evaluate the concentrations of trace elements in human body. However, hair sample is easily collected, stored and readily analyzed. As (arsenic), Cd (cadmium), Hg (mercury), Ni (nickel) and Pb (lead) poses a potential threat to humans. The aim of the study is to link the concentrations of heavy metals in children's scalp hair with the environmental pollution by presenting an overview of the measurements that have been done in 12-year-old children's scalp hair living at the municipalities of Kifisia and Kryoneri, in relation with trace metals concentrations in the river water, air and tree leaves at the north zone of Kifissos River in Athens, Greece.

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“…The inhaled Hg vapour in man, its accumulation in the various organs, and the elimination processes are complex, and are not only dose dependent but also influenced by the duration of exposure [32][33][34]. It is estimated that at least 75-80% of inhaled Hg vapour is rapidly absorbed across the pulmonary epithelium into the blood stream where rapid oxidation to divalent ionic Hg takes place, catalysed by the enzyme catalase-hydrogen peroxidase.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of placing, removing and polishing of amalgam restorations on 24-h urinary mercury concentration

Haïkel

Livardjani

Allemann

et al. 1995

J Mater Sci: Mater Med

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Twenty-four-hour urinary mercury concentration were assessed in 43 patients before and after removing old amalgam fillings (8 pts), placing (13 pts), and polishing of amalgam (22 pts). Baseline analyses 8 days before the treatments showed on average 18.5_+7.2 tag mercury mass excreted per 24-h urine samples. The removal of old fillings caused a total excreted mass of 56.34-32.3 tag Hg, the placing of amalgam 45.9_+26.2 lag Hg, and the polishing 56.25_+33.77 tag Hg, respectively, one day after the treatments. When compared with the baseline values, the urinary mass excreted remained significantly elevated during the 8-day follow-up. However, all Hg values measured were below the WHO recommandations for the threshold limits for urinary mercury.

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Mercury

Abstract: Mercury vapor is a monatomic gas, highly diffusible and lipid-soluble. Approximately 80% of the inhaled vapor is retained in humans. From the bloodstream, it rapidly distributes to all the major organs and tissues in the Quick links to online content Further ANNUAL REVIEWS

Cited by 22 publications

References 5 publications

Neurotoxicity of mercury sulfide in the vestibular ocular reflex system of guinea pigs

Neurotoxicity of mercury sulfide in the vestibular ocular reflex system of guinea pigs

Relationship between concentrations of heavy metals in children’s scalp hair and the environment. A case study from Kifissos River in Attica, Greece.

Effect of placing, removing and polishing of amalgam restorations on 24-h urinary mercury concentration

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