INTERACTION OF ETHANOL AND INORGANIC MERCURY - GENERATION OF MERCURY-VAPOR INVIVO

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 216  (1) , 19-23
Abstract
Mercury exhalation increased after parenteral administration of ethanol to mice injected with a single dose of mercuric chloride (0.5 mg Hg/kg). Increased output of the metal was ethanol dose-dependent (blood EC50 [median effective concentration] = 215 mg/dl) and maximal rates (0.2% of the body burden/30 min) were about 10-fold higher than controls. The chemical form of exhaled Hg was determined to be the elemental vapor (Hgo) indicating an ethanol-sensitive reduction pathway for ionic Hg (Hg2+) in the body. Ethanol appeared to selectively affect Hg exhalation inasmuch as no large differences in whole-body Hg retention times or in the distribution of the metal in organs could be detected even after repeated daily doses of ethanol. At least a portion of the ionic Hg in the body can be mobilized via reduction and Hg2+ in tissues is more labile than generally recognized.

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