Determination of methyl- and ethylmercury in rat blood and tissue samples by capillary gas chromatography with...

A precise and accurate method has been developed for the determination of either methyl- or ethylmercury in the blood and tissue of rats using capillary gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. The biological sample was spiked with an internal standard (methyl- or ethylmercury chloride) and after treatment with sodium thiosulphate and cupric bromide the alkylmercurials were extracted into benzene as their bromide derivatives and analysed on an OV-275 glass capillary column. The sensitivity and selectivity of the method enabled determinations to be made on small volumes of blood and tissue homogenates. The method has been applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats dosed orally with 8 mercury as methylmercury chloride or ethylmercury chloride.