The oxidation mechanism of metallic mercury in vitro by catalase

Magos et al reported the effect of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole on mercury uptake by in vitro human blood samples and the mercury contents in blood and brain of rats exposed to metallic mercury vapor. The authors described the oxidation of metallic mercury by human blood cells having different catalase activities, hypocatalasemia and acatalasemia, with or without hydrogen peroxide. Kudsk found that ethyl alcohol inhibited the uptake of metallic mercury by blood in vitro and in vivo. These findings raise a question as to whether or not the inhibition by ethyl alcohol of the uptake of mercury by the blood is due to a direct reaction between ethyl alcohol and the catalase-hydrogen peroxide complex. The present report deals with the mechanism of metallic mercury oxidation in vitro by catalase using ethyl alcohol.