Mercury distribution

Wangberg I, Munthe J, Pirrone N, Iverfeldt A, Bahlman E, Costa P, Ebinghaus R, Feng X, Ferrara R, Gardfeldt K, Kock Ft, LanziUotta E, Mamane Y, Mas F, Melamed E, Osnat Y, Prestbo E, Sommar J, Schmolke S, Spain G, Sprovieri F, Tuncel G. 2001. Atmospheric mercury distributions in North Europe and in the Mediterranean Region. Atmos Environ 35 3019-3025. 

Campbell KR, Ford CJ, Levine DA. 1998. Mercury distribution in Poplar Creek, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. Environ Toxicol Chem 17 1191-1198. 

Heaton-Jones TG, Homer BE, Heaton-Jones DL, Sundlof SF. 1997. Mercury distribution in American aUigators Alligator mississippiensis) in Florida. J Zoo Wildl Med 28 62-70. 

Gill, G.A. and Fitzgerald, W.F. (1988) Vertical mercury distributions in the oceans. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 52, 1719-1728. 

An ancillary test involved examining discharge residue particles from the ammunition used in the mercury distribution tests. Approximately 260 particles were examined of which 8 contained mercury (about 3%) at minor or trace level. 

R. P. Gambrell, R. D. DeLaune, W. H. Patrick Jr., A. Jugsujinda, Mercury distribution in sediment profiles of six Louisiana lakes, J. Environ. Sci. Health, Pt A Toxic/ Hazard. Substances Environ. Engng, A36 (2001), 661-676. 

Figure 2, Elemental mercury distribution in the intestine, (reproduced from Diner and Brenner [20], with permission)...

Ryall, W.R., 1979b. Mercury distribution in the Woodlawn massive sulphide deposit. New South Wales. Econ Geol., 74 1471-1484. 

Ryall, W.R., 1980. Mercury distribution in and around zinc-lead silver deposits of the McArthur area. Northern Territory. Unpubl. Restricted Inv. Report, I lOlR, Institute of Earth Resources, CSIRO. 

Ryall, W.R. and Binns, R.A., 1980. Mercury distributions in the Jabiluka Two ore body and its host rocks. In J. Ferguson and A.B. Goleby (eds.), Proc. Int. Uranium Symposium on the Pine Creek Gcosynclinc. IAEA, Vienna, pp. 469-476. 

Metallic Mercury. The lipophilic nature of metallic mercury results in its distribution throughout the body. Metallic mercury in solution in the body is highly lipophilic, thereby allowing it to cross blood-brain and placental barriers with ease (Clarkson 1989). Mercury distributes to all tissues and reaches peak levels within 24 hours, except in the brain where peak levels are achieved within 2-3 days (Hursh et al. 1976). The longest retention of mercury after inhalation of mercury vapor occurs in the brain (Takahata et al. 1970). Japanese workers who died 10 years after their last exposure to metallic mercury vapors still had high residual levels of mercury in their brains (Takahata et al. 1970). Autopsies of 3 dentists revealed 0.945-2.110 mg Hg/kg in the renal cortex, compared to 0.021-0.810 mg Hg/kg for unexposed controls (Nylander et al. 1989). 

Organic Mercury. Distribution of organic mercury compounds in humans and animals is similar to that of metallic mercury. Methylmercury distributes readily to all tissues, including the brain and fetus, after absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. The uniform tissue distribution is due to methylmercury s ability to cross diffusion barriers and penetrate all membranes without difficulty (Aberg et al. 1969 Miettinen 1973). Thus, tissue concentrations tend to remain constant relative to blood levels. About 90% of the methylmercury in blood is found in the red blood cells (Kershaw et al. 1980). The mean mercury concentrations in red blood cells were 27.5 ng/g and 20.4 ng/g in males and females, respectively, exposed to mercury, primarily from mercury-contaminated fish (Sakamoto et al. 1991). Because of this uniform distribution in tissues, blood levels are a good indicator of tissue concentrations independent of dose (Nordberg 1976). 

The mechanism of absorption for metallic mercury vapors is rapid diffusion across alveolar membranes (Berlin et al. 1969 Clarkson 1989). Mercury distribution in the brains of mercury-sensitive SJL/N mice exposed for 10 weeks (5 days per week) to relatively high concentrations (0.5-1.0 mg/m3) of mercury vapor was found to be affected by the magnitude of exposure (Warfvinge 1995). In animals exposed to 0.5 mg/m3 for 19 hours a day or 1 mg/m3 for 3 hours a day, mercury was found in almost the entire brain, whereas in those exposed to 0.3 mg/m3 for 6 hours a day, mercury was primarily found in the neocortical layer V, the white matter, the thalamus, and the brain stem. In mice exposed to 1 mg/m3 for just... 

Cherian MG, Hursh JG, Clarkson TW, et al. 1978. Radioactive mercury distribution in biological fluids and excretion in human subjects after inhalation of mercury vapor. Arch Environ Health 33 190-214. 

Nater EA, Grigal DF. 1992. Regional trends in mercury distribution across the Great Lakes states, north central USA. Nature (London) 358(6382) 139-141. 

WarfVinge K. 1995. Mercury distribution in the mouse brain after mercury vapour exposure. Int J Exp Path 76 29-35. 

Warfvinge K, Hua J, Berlin M. 1992. Mercury distribution in the rat brain after mercury vapor exposure. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 117(l) 46-52. 

Besides the decreasing trend of Hg contents in surface sediments, this hot spot is still active, that is, serving as a source for Hg-rich suspensions participating in a basinwide natural tracer experiment. The 2005 mapping shows a very vivid example of a mercury distribution pattern (geochemical aureole) reflecting the sediment dynamics, including the effects of near-bottom currents. 

Charleston JS, Body RL, Mottet NK, Vahter ME, Burbacher TM. (1995) Autometallographic determination of inorganic mercury distribution in the cortex of the calcarine sulcus of the monkey Macaca fascicularis following long-term subclinical exposure to ethylmercury and mercuric chloride. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 132 325-333. 

Hirayama, K. 1985. Effects of combined a ninislration of thiol compounds and methylmercury chloride on mercury distribution in rats. Biochem. Pharmacol. 34(11) 2030-2032. 

Rose J, Hutcheson S, West CR, et al. 1999. Fish mercury distribution in Massachusetts, USA lakes. Environ Toxicol Chem 18(7) 1370-1379. 

Wallschiagfr D, Hintflmann H, Evans RD, WiLKFN RD (1995) Volatilization of dimethylmer-cury and elemental mercury from river Elbe flood plain soils. Water Air Soil Pollut 80 1325-1329. Warfvingf K (2000) Mercury distribution in the neonatal and adult cerebellum after mercury vapor exposure of pregnant squirrel monkeys Environ Res 83 93-101. 

Blood samples are best obtained in metal-free evacuated tubes containing heparin (without mercury as a preservative). Cells and plasma may be separated in order to determine the mercury distribution between plasma and blood cells and, thus, get a picture of which type of mercury compound the subject has been exposed to. The samples may be stored for a couple of days before significant hemolysis occurs. The samples may be refrigerated at 4°C or frozen until analysis. As the levels in cells and plasma may differ, it is essential to shake whole blood samples before analysis. 

Barghigiani, C., Bargagli, R., Siegel, B.Z., Siegel, S.M., 1990. A comparative study of mercury distribution on the Aeolian volcanoes, Vulcano and Stromboli. Water Air Soil Pollut. 53, 179-188. 

Figure 15 Bismuth, cadmium, lead, and mercury distribution ratios versus the molar concentration of NH,)X in the salt stock solution.

Ruelas-Inzunza J, Horvat M, Pdrez-Cortds H, Paez-Osuna F (2003a) Methylmercury and total mercury distribution in tissues of gray whales Eschrichtius robustus) and spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) stranded along the lower Gulf of CaUfomia, Mexico. Cienc Meu-29(l) l-8... 

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