Speciation of mercury excreted in feces from individuals with amalgam fillings.
Investigators established methods for the analysis of total mercury (Hg-total), oxidized mercury and mercury bound to sulfhydryl groups (Hg-S), mercury vapor (Hg0), and mercury from amalgam particles (APs) in fecal samples. Two individuals consumed mercury as a mercury-cysteine complex mercury vapor, and mercury from amalgam particles, and the cumulative excretion of mercury in feces was followed. Investigators found that 80% of the mercury from amalgam particles and mercury bound to sulfhydryl groups was excreted, but only 40% of the mercury vapor was excreted. Speciation of mercury excreted in feces from 6 individuals with a moderate loading of amalgam fillings showed that most of the mercury originating from the fillings consisted of oxidized mercury, which was probably bound to sulfhydryl-containing compounds. The proportion of amalgam particles in fecal samples from these individuals was low, and it did not exceed 26% of the total amount of mercury excreted.
Engqvist
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A
Department of Toxicology and Chemistry, National Institute for Working Life, Solna, Sweden.
Colmsjö
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A
Skare
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I
D000328:Adult; D001822:Body Burden; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008628:Mercury / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate / Q000502:physiology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D003723:Dental Amalgam; D008628:Mercury