title: Relationship between mercury in kidney, blood, and urine in environmentally exposed individuals, and implications for biomonitoring.
abstract: Individuals without occupational exposure are exposed to mercury (Hg) from diet and dental amalgam. The kidney is a critical organ, but there is limited information regarding the relationship between Hg in kidney (K-Hg), urine (U-Hg), blood (B-Hg), and plasma (P-Hg).
  
  
  
  The aim was to determine the relationship between K-Hg, U-Hg, B-Hg, and P-Hg among environmentally exposed individuals, estimate the biological half-time of K-Hg, and provide information useful for biomonitoring of Hg.
  
  
  
  Kidney cortex biopsies and urine and blood samples were collected from 109 living kidney donors. Total Hg concentrations were determined and the relationships between K-Hg, U-Hg, P-Hg, and B-Hg were investigated in regression models. The half-time of K-Hg was estimated from the elimination constant.
  
  
  
  There were strong associations between K-Hg and all measures of U-Hg and P-Hg (rp=0.65-0.84, p<0.001), while the association with B-Hg was weaker (rp=0.29, p=0.002). Mean ratios between K-Hg (in μg/g) and U-Hg/24h (in μg) and B-Hg (in μg/L) were 0.22 and 0.19 respectively. Estimates of the biological half-time varied between 30 and 92days, with significantly slower elimination in women. Adjusting overnight urine samples for dilution using urinary creatinine resulted in less bias in relation to K-Hg or U-Hg/24h, compared with other adjustment techniques.
  
  
  
  The relationship between K-Hg and U-Hg is approximately linear. K-Hg can be estimated using U-Hg and gender. Women have longer half-time of Hg in kidney compared to men. Adjusting overnight urine samples for creatinine concentration resulted in less bias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: magnus.akerstrom@amm.gu.se.
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akerstrom
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barregard
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lundh
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sallsten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000652:urine; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000009:adverse effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D014019:Tissue Donors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Biomonitoring; Blood; Kidney; Mercury; Plasma; Urine