In vitro oxidation of mercury by the blood

A method is described for studying the in vitro oxidation of mercury vapour by red blood cells at short times and with diminishing mercury vapour concentrations. It is found that for 40% red blood cell suspensions and 37 degrees at concentrations greater than about 6 ng mercury vapour/ml, the oxidat...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inPharmacology & toxicology Vol. 63; no. 4; p. 266
Main Authors Hursh, J B, Sichak, S P, Clarkson, T W
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Denmark 01.10.1988
Subjects
Erythrocytes - metabolism
Hematocrit
Humans
Hydrogen Peroxide - metabolism
Hydrogen Peroxide - pharmacology
In Vitro Techniques
Mercury - metabolism
Oxidation-Reduction
Temperature
Volatilization
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:A method is described for studying the in vitro oxidation of mercury vapour by red blood cells at short times and with diminishing mercury vapour concentrations. It is found that for 40% red blood cell suspensions and 37 degrees at concentrations greater than about 6 ng mercury vapour/ml, the oxidation rate is zero order, and that at lower concentrations the rate changes to first order. The effect of temperature and of added hydrogen peroxide are studied. Results are considered in terms of the generally accepted belief that the catalase-compound I system is the main path of oxidation. If the results obtained in vitro in these experiments apply in vivo to man, it follows that inhaled mercury is carried in the blood to the brain and other organs primarily as dissolved vapour rather than as inorganic mercury ions.
ISSN:0901-9928
DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0773.1988.tb00952.x