Protection against mercury

Antagonism The effect of mixture is less than that estimated for additivity on the basis of the toxici-ties of the components. The protection against mercury toxicity by selenium is a typical example of this category. This group is further classified into inhibition - a component does not have effect and decreases the effect of another component or other components and masking - one component overrides the effect of other. 

Sugiura, Y., Y. Hojo, Y. Tamai, and H. Tanaka. 1976. Selenium protection against mercury toxicity. Binding of methylmercury by the selenohydryl-containing ligand.. Amer. Chem. 98 2339-2341. 

Interaction of trace metals with one another or with other ions Mg as calcium antagonist, A1 binding phosphate in renal insufficiency, Zn interacting with copper (reduction of copper storage in Wilson s disease) and with cadmium intoxication, Se protecting against mercury intoxication, etc. [43,50,60,64]. 

Penicillamine is reported to be more than 80% bound to plasma protein. The compound is metabolized in the liver. N-acetylpenicillamine is more effective than penicillamine in protecting against the toxic effect of mercury, presumably because it is even more resistant to metabolism [7,2]. 

Kim, J.H., E. Birks, and J.F. Heisinger. 1977. Protective action of selenium against mercury in northern creek chubs. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 17 132-136. 

Sodium Amalgam.—Mercury and sodium react with violence, sparks and flames being produced the amalgam must therefore be made inside a fume chamber and goggles must be worn. In a mortar of moderate size 300 g. of mercury are warmed to 30°—40° and the sodium (6 5 g. in all), cut into small cubes, is introduced on the point of a glass rod about 30 cm. long the pieces are pushed under the surface of the liquid in rapid succession. A porous plate is used as a cover for the mortar in order to provide protection against spurt-... 

Ban M, de Ceaurriz J. 1988. Probenecid-induced protection against acute hexachloro-1,3-butadiene and methyl mercury toxicity to the mouse kidney. Toxicol Lett 40 71-76. 

Fungicides have caused a number of human health disasters. In the late 1950s, approximately 4000 people in Turkey were poisoned by hexachlorobenzene that had been applied to seed grain to protect against soil fungus. Adults and particularly children developed diseases of the skin and bone. In Iraq, a similar incident occurred when people consumed grain coated with a mercury compound. 

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