Radioactive mercury distribution in biological fluids and excretion in human subjects after inhalation of mercury vapor

Journal Article · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1978.10667318· OSTI ID:5556974

Cherian, M G ^[1]; Hursh, J B; Clarkson, T W; Allen, J

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1. Univ. of Western Ontario, London

The distribution of mercury in red blood cells (RBCs) and plasma, and its excretion in urine and feces are described in five human subjects during the first 7 days following inhalation of radioactive mercury vapor. A major portion (98%) of radioactive mercury in whole blood is initially accumulated in the RBCs and is transferred partly to the plasma compartment until the ratio of mercury in RBCs to plasma is about 2 within 20 h. The cumulative urinary and fecal excretion of mercury for 7 days is about 11.6% of the retained dose, and is closely related to the percent decline in body burden of mercury. There is little correlation between either the urinary excretion and plasma radioactivity of mercury, or the specific activities of urine and plasma mercury, suggesting a mechanism other than a direct glomerular filtration involved in the urinary excretion of recently exposed mercury. These studies suggest that blood mercury levels can be used as an index of recent exposure, while urinary levels may be an index of renal concentration of mercury. However, there is no reliable index for mercury concentration in the brain.

• OSTI ID: 5556974
• Journal Information: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States); ISSN AEHLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BLOOD PLASMA
BODY FLUIDS
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ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ERYTHROCYTES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXCRETION
FECES
HEAVY NUCLEI
INHALATION
INTAKE
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
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MERCURY 197
MERCURY 203
MERCURY ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
URINE
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