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Decrease in mercury concentration in blood after long term exposure: a kinetic study of chloralkali workers

G Sällsten1, L Barregård, A Schütz

  • 1Department of Occupational Medicine, Sahlgren's University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

British Journal of Industrial Medicine
|September 1, 1993
PubMed
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Long-term mercury (Hg) exposure in chloralkali workers slows down Hg elimination from the blood. This indicates increased Hg accumulation in organs, highlighting potential long-term health risks from occupational mercury exposure.

Area of Science:

  • Occupational Health
  • Environmental Toxicology
  • Pharmacokinetics

Background:

  • Occupational exposure to metallic mercury vapor is a concern in industries like chloralkali production.
  • Understanding mercury (Hg) elimination kinetics is crucial for assessing health risks in exposed populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the elimination of mercury (Hg) from the blood of chloralkali workers with long-term exposure.
  • To characterize the pharmacokinetic model of Hg elimination, differentiating between fast and slow phases.

Main Methods:

  • Blood and urine samples were collected from 14 chloralkali workers over 17-26 days.
  • Mercury concentrations in whole blood (B-Hg), plasma (P-Hg), and erythrocytes (Ery-Hg) were measured.
  • A two-compartment model was used to analyze Hg elimination half-lives and fractions.

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Main Results:

  • The decrease in blood Hg followed a two-compartment model with fast (3.8 days) and slow (45 days) elimination phases.
  • Slow phase half-lives and fractions were significantly longer and higher in long-term exposed workers compared to those with brief exposure.
  • Plasma Hg had a shorter fast-phase half-life than erythrocytes, while the slow-phase half-life was longer in plasma.

Conclusions:

  • Long-term occupational mercury exposure leads to slower Hg elimination, suggesting increased accumulation in organs with long half-lives.
  • The findings indicate the potential presence of additional, even slower elimination compartments for mercury in the body.
  • Urinary Hg concentrations fluctuated and showed only slight decreases, suggesting different elimination dynamics compared to blood Hg.