methyl mercury (MeHg, HgCH3)
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Introduction
Methylmercury is a highly toxic substance in humans & in animals. It is neurotoxic, particularly in developing organisms. The placenta is not a barrier to the transfer of methylmercury from the mother to the developing fetus.[1]
Epidemiology
- found in contaminated fish
- king mackerel
- shark
- swordfish
- albacore tuma
- tilefish (Gulf of Mexico)
- found in contaminated grain
- present in dental amalgams?
- used as a fungicide, disinfectant, & in industrial processes
Pharmacokinetics
- readily absorbed following ingestion or inhalation
- metabolized to Hg+2 by the liver & kidneys
- 1/2life is 65 days[3]
- excreted as inorganic mercury, primarily in the feces
Adverse effects
- neurotoxic:
- toxicity may occur at doses as low as 3 ug/kg in humans
- LD50 21-57.6 mg/kg (rodents)
- may also increase risk of MI[1]
- diminished sperm counts
- possible human carcinogen
- possibly nephrotoxic
Laboratory
More general terms
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 US Environmental Protection Agency Integrated Risk Management System http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0073.htm
- ↑ The Risk Assessment Information System Toxicity Profiles: Toxicity Summary for METHYL MERCURY http://risk.lsd.ornl.gov/tox/profiles/methyl_mercury_c_V1.shtml
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Diner BM and Brenner BE eMedicine: Toxicity, Mercury http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/819872-overview
- ↑ Physician's First Watch, June 11 2014 David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, Editor-in-Chief Massachusetts Medical Society http://www.jwatch.org