Humans ; Mercury ; urine ; Microwaves ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; methods

Humans ; Mercury ; blood ; urine ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; methods ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; methods

The determination of adjustment method of urinary mercury in spot urine is one of the important issues in assessing the health risks of mercury workers. But there have been debates about whether creatinine or other forms of correction for urinary concentration are better in reducing the variation of urinary mercury. We evaluated four adjustment methods-specific gravity, creatinine, log creatinine and excretion rate-by correlation between values adjusted by the four methods and individual exposure levels which were the geometric mean of daily air mercury level for 2 or 5 days, and mercury concentrations in 24 hour urine were also investigated to compare the results of spot urine. The correlation between values of spot urine and mercury exposure level was over 0.8 in all adjustment methods for workers who worked over 1 year. All four adjustment methods for urinary mercury were found to be similar in assessing the exposure, log creatinine and excretion rate method however were not practical to use due to lack of reference values, and variable standard values of specific gravity. And the creatinine adjusted values were more sensitive in low mercury exposure level. We therefore recommend the creatinine adjustment method for adjustment of urinary mercury.
Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational/*urine ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Mercury/*urine ; Middle Age ; Risk Assessment ; Time Factors

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mercury ; urine ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic

OBJECTIVETo develop the certified reference material of mercury in lyophilized human urine.

METHODSHuman urine samples from normal level mercury districts were filtered, homogenized, dispensed, lyophilized and radio-sterilized. Homogeneity test, stability inspection and certification were conducted using a atom fluorescence spectrophotometric method. The physical and chemical stability of the certified reference material were assessed for 18 months. The certified values are based on analysis made by three independent laboratories.

RESULTSThe certified values are as follows: low level was (35.6 ± 2.1) µg/L, high level was (50.5 ± 3.0) µg/L.

CONCLUSIONThe certified reference material of mercury in lyophilized human urine in this research reached the national certified reference material requirements and could be used for the quality control.

Freeze Drying ; standards ; Humans ; Mercury ; urine ; Reference Standards ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Urinalysis ; standards

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnostic method for early renal injury in the workers exposed to mercury (Hg).

METHODSThe contents of urinary Hg were determined by chemical method. Urinary microalbumin (mALB), beta(2)-microglodulin (beta(2)-MG) and retinol binding protein (RBP) levels were measured with total quantitative enzyme immunoassay. The activities of urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) were determined by rate methods. Urinary creatinine (Cr) was measured by using picric acid method.

RESULTSThe levels of urinary BRP, beta(2)-MG, NAG and gamma-GT in exposed workers [(439.7 +/- 201.4), (141.4 +/- 56.3) micro g/g Cr and (12.3 +/- 5.7), (60.3 +/- 18.5) U/g Cr respectively] were significantly higher than those in controls (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The levels were increased gradually with the increasing contents of urinary Hg. The positive detection rate for single or two combined indexes was rather lower whereas that for 4 combined indexes was as high as 85.5%. A positive correlation was noted between the contents of urinary Hg and urinary BRP, beta(2)-MG, NAG and gamma-GT (r: 0.466, 0.379, 0.323, 0.311, P < 0.05). Urinary RBP was correlated to urinary beta(2)-MG, NAG and gamma-GT (r: 0.362, 0.354, 0.332, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCombined detection of urinary RBP, beta(2)-MG, NAG and gamma-GT is a sensitive method for the diagnosis of early renal injury in the workers exposed to Hg.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Adult ; Albuminuria ; urine ; Creatinine ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; urine ; Male ; Mercury Poisoning ; complications ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Retinol-Binding Proteins ; urine ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; urine

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; adverse effects ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Industry ; Male ; Mercury ; urine ; Mercury Poisoning ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Thermometers

OBJECTIVE: To establish an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method for determination of Hg in biological samples. METHODS: The samples were digested with microwave digestion instrument. ICP-MS was applied to detect Hg in blood, urine and hair specimens by using 115In as an internal marker. The ability of gold to eliminate the memory effect of mercury was investigated with the gold amalgamate produced by gold and mercury. RESULTS: The limits of detection were in the 0.01 microg/L, and the accuracy of the method ranged from 97.0% to 107.1%. The concentration of gold was 10 microg/L and the memory effect of mercury was resolved. CONCLUSION The method is accurate, rapid, sensitive and suitable for the cases of mercury poisoning and the clinical diagnosis and monitoring for patients with mercury poisoning.
Forensic Toxicology ; Hair/chemistry* ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Mercury/urine* ; Mercury Poisoning/diagnosis* ; Microwaves ; Reference Standards ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Specimen Handling/methods*

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the factors that have an influence on the residents exposed to heavy metals, and we utilized the findings to establish the proper management of abandoned metal mines in the future. METHODS: For a total of 258 residents who lived close to abandoned mines in Gangwon-province and Gyeonggi-province, the exposure factors and biomarkers in their blood and urine were comparatively analyzed via multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The blood levels of lead and mercury and the cadmium levels in urine were found to be higher in the study group than that in the average Korean. For the blood levels of heavy metals according to each exposure factor, all of them were found to be significantly higher in both of the group residing for a longer period of time and the group living closer to the source of pollutants. Multiple regression analysis disclosed that all the heavy metals, except lead, in their blood were significantly reduced in proportion to the increased distance of inhabitancy from the mines. Their other biomarkers were within the normal ranges. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the distance between the residential village and the mines was a factor that affects the blood level of heavy metals in the villagers. This finding could be an important factor when developing a management model for the areas that surround abandoned metal mines. (ED note: I much like this important study.)
Biological Markers/blood/urine ; Cadmium/blood/urine ; Cluster Analysis ; Environmental Exposure/*adverse effects ; Humans ; Lead/blood/urine ; Mercury/blood/urine ; Metals, Heavy/*blood/*urine ; Mining ; Republic of Korea ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; Water Supply/analysis

Mercury is a toxic and non-essential metal in the human body. Mercury is ubiquitously distributed in the environment, present in natural products, and exists extensively in items encountered in daily life. There are three forms of mercury, i.e., elemental (or metallic) mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, and organic mercury compounds. This review examines the toxicity of elemental mercury and inorganic mercury compounds. Inorganic mercury compounds are water soluble with a bioavailability of 7% to 15% after ingestion; they are also irritants and cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Upon entering the body, inorganic mercury compounds are accumulated mainly in the kidneys and produce kidney damage. In contrast, human exposure to elemental mercury is mainly by inhalation, followed by rapid absorption and distribution in all major organs. Elemental mercury from ingestion is poorly absorbed with a bioavailability of less than 0.01%. The primary target organs of elemental mercury are the brain and kidney. Elemental mercury is lipid soluble and can cross the blood-brain barrier, while inorganic mercury compounds are not lipid soluble, rendering them unable to cross the blood-brain barrier. Elemental mercury may also enter the brain from the nasal cavity through the olfactory pathway. The blood mercury is a useful biomarker after short-term and high-level exposure, whereas the urine mercury is the ideal biomarker for long-term exposure to both elemental and inorganic mercury, and also as a good indicator of body burden. This review discusses the common sources of mercury exposure, skin lightening products containing mercury and mercury release from dental amalgam filling, two issues that happen in daily life, bear significant public health importance, and yet undergo extensive debate on their safety.
Biological Availability ; Biological Markers/blood/urine ; Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism ; Body Burden ; Dental Amalgam/chemistry/metabolism ; *Environmental Exposure ; Humans ; Mercury/chemistry/*metabolism ; Mercury Compounds/chemistry/*metabolism ; Skin Lightening Preparations/chemistry/metabolism