• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.344-352
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• 2012

Mercury is a toxic and non-essential metal in the human body. Mercury is ubiquitously distributed in the environment, present in natural products, and exists extensively in items encountered in daily life. There are three forms of mercury, i.e., elemental (or metallic) mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, and organic mercury compounds. This review examines the toxicity of elemental mercury and inorganic mercury compounds. Inorganic mercury compounds are water soluble with a bioavailability of 7% to 15% after ingestion; they are also irritants and cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Upon entering the body, inorganic mercury compounds are accumulated mainly in the kidneys and produce kidney damage. In contrast, human exposure to elemental mercury is mainly by inhalation, followed by rapid absorption and distribution in all major organs. Elemental mercury from ingestion is poorly absorbed with a bioavailability of less than 0.01%. The primary target organs of elemental mercury are the brain and kidney. Elemental mercury is lipid soluble and can cross the blood-brain barrier, while inorganic mercury compounds are not lipid soluble, rendering them unable to cross the blood-brain barrier. Elemental mercury may also enter the brain from the nasal cavity through the olfactory pathway. The blood mercury is a useful biomarker after short-term and high-level exposure, whereas the urine mercury is the ideal biomarker for long-term exposure to both elemental and inorganic mercury, and also as a good indicator of body burden. This review discusses the common sources of mercury exposure, skin lightening products containing mercury and mercury release from dental amalgam filling, two issues that happen in daily life, bear significant public health importance, and yet undergo extensive debate on their safety.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.215-220
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• 2012

The effects of inorganic mercury on hematological parameters and hepatic oxidative stress enzyme activity were studied in olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Fish were injected twice intraperitoneally with mercuric chloride (2, 4, or 8 mg Hg/kg BW). The major hematological findings were significant decreases in the red blood cell count, hematocrit value, and hemoglobin level in olive flounder exposed to 8 mg Hg/kg BW. Remarkably low levels of calcium and chloride, and reduced osmolality, were also observed at 8 mg Hg/kg BW. In hepatic tissue, significant increases in glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity were observed above 4 mg Hg/kg BW Inorganic mercury also increased glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase activity at 8 mg Hg/kg BW in hepatic tissue. The present findings suggest that exposure to a low concentration (${\geq}4$ mg Hg/kg BW) of inorganic mercury can cause significant changes in hematological and antioxidant parameters.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.559-564
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• 2004

The effects of intra-peritoneal injection of inorganic mercury on haemato-logical parameters and hepatic oxidative stress enzyme activities were studied in common carp, Cyprinus carpio. The fish were injected thrice intra-peritoneally with mercuric chloride TEX>$(5,\;10mg\;Hg\;kg\;b.W.^{-1})$. After exposure of three different mercury concentrations a physiological stress response was exerted on C. carpio by causing changes in the blood status such as erythropenia in blood and oxidative stress in liver. Red blood cell counts, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit level were reduced in most cases by inorganic mercury. Remarkable low level of serum chloride, calcium and osmolality were also observed in the mercury- exposed fish. However, serum magnesium and phosphate were not altered by exposure to mercury. An increased activity of hepatic glutathione peroxidase was observed in the lowest treatment group of carp $(1mg\;Hg\;mg\;b.w.^{-1})$, hence, hepatic catalase and glutathione peroxidase of carp exposed to higher concentration of mercury $(5,\;10mg\;Hg\;kg\;b.W.^{-1})$ showed significant reduction in such activities.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.392-398
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• 1997

A method of selective determination of inorganic and organic mercury compounds has been described. The $CHCl_3$ solution of a high molecular quaternary alkylammonium salt, Aliquat 336 was used for the simultaneous preconcentration of both inorganic, $Hg^{2+}$ as its thiocyanate complex, and organic mercury compounds, $CH_3HgCl$ and $C_2H_3O_2$ $HgC_6H_5$ by extraction from their aqueous solution. Selective separation of the inorganic mercury from the extract was followed by stripping with 3 M $HClO_4 $ solution for the subsequent determination by CVAAS. Organic mercury was also determined by CVAAS after removal of $CHCl_3solvent$ from the extract and decomposition of the residue with 4% $KMnO_4 $-1 MH_2$S0_4$. The mixtures of inorganic and organic mercury compounds contained 1.0 $\mug$ as Hg in 50 mL of sample solution(0.02 ${\mu}gHg/mL$) were analysed within ${\pm}6%$ by absolute errors.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.206-208
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• 2002

Methylmercury (MeHg; $CH_{3}HgCl$) is, second only to cadmium as being, the most toxic on the earth. Inorganic mercury from various waste sources can be easily methylated by bacteria in water and subsequently ingested by fishes and then highly accumulated in human. Although toxicity from mercury exposure occurs with both organic and inorganic forms, organic mercury is more potently toxic to central nervous system. Minamata disease is an example of organic mercury toxicity. (omitted)

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1719-1723
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• 2002

1,5-diphenylcarbazone was immobilized on sodium dodecyl sulfate coated alumina. The alumina particle was effectively used for collection of mercury(II) and methylmercury cations at sub-ppb level. The adsorbed mercury was eluted with l mol $L^{-1}$ of hydrobromic acid solution. The mercury(II) was then directly measured by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry utilizing tin (II) chloride where as the total mercury was determined after the oxidation of methylmercury into the inorganic mercury. The methylmercury concentration was calculated by the difference between the value of total mercury and mercury (II). Mercury (II) and methylmercury cations were completely recovered from water with a preconcentration factor of 100 (for 1 L solution.) Relative standard deviation at Hg L ${\mu}gL^{-1}$ level 1.7%(n=8) and the limit of detection was 0.11 ${\mu}gL^{-1}$. The procedure was applied to spring water, well water and seawater and accuracy was assessed through recovery experiments.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.241-246
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• 2004

Mercury is a widespread metal and consequently there are large populations that currently exposed to low levels of mercury. Endotoxin is a component of the gram-negative bacteria and promotes inflammatory responses. The present study was designed to determine the impact of mercury on lymphocytes phenotype populations and endotoxin-induced inflammatory cytokine expressions in immune organ, spleen and thymus. Male BALB/c mice were exposed continuously to 0, 0.3, 1.5, 7.5, or 37.5 ppm of mercuric chloride in drinking water for 14 days and at the end of the treatment period, lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 2 h prior to euthanasia. The dose-range of mercury used did not cause hepatotoxicity. Mercury at 7.5 and 37.5 ppm dose-dependently decreased CD3$^{+}$ T lymphocytes in spleen; both CD4$^{+}$ and CD8$^{+}$ single positive lymphocyte populations were decreased. Exposure to 7.5 and 37.5 ppm of mercury decreased the CD8$^{+}$ T lymphocyte population in the thymus, whereas double positive CD4$^{+}$ / CD8$^{+}$ and CD4$^{+}$ thymocytes were not altered. Mercury altered LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine gene expressions such as, tumor necrosis factor $\alpha$, interferon ${\gamma}$, and interleukin-12 in spleen and thymus. Results indicated that decreases in T lymphocyte populations in immune organs and altered cytokine gene expression may contribute to the immune-modulative effects of inorganic mercury.ganic mercury.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.99-107
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• 2016

The adsorption of inorganic mercury, Hg (II), in aqueous solution has been investigated to evaluate the effectiveness of synthesized gold (Au) nanoparticle-coated silica as sorbent in comparison with activated carbon and Au-coated sand. The synthesis of the Au-coated silica was confirmed by x-ray diffraction (Bragg reflections at $38.2^{\circ}$, $44.4^{\circ}$, $64.6^{\circ}$, and $77.5^{\circ}$) and the Au loading on silica surface was $6.91{\pm}1.14mg/g$. The synthesized Au-coated silica performed an average Hg adsorption efficiency of ~96 (${\pm}2.61$) % with KD value of 9.96 (${\pm}0.32$) L/g. The adsorption kinetics of Hg(II) on to Au-coated silica closely follows a pseudo-second order reaction where it is found out to have an initial adsorption rate of $4.73g/{\mu}g/min/$ and overall rate constant of $4.73{\times}10^{-4}g/{\mu}g/min/$. Au-coated silica particles are effective in removing Hg (II) in aqueous solutions due to their relatively high KD values, rapid adsorption rate, and high overall efficiency that can even decrease mercury levels below the recommended concentrations in drinking water.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 1991

Inorganic mercury in urine and airborne was determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Detailed sampling methods and analylical results are as follows : 1. 100~200ml of urine for each person was taken in 250 ml borosilicate bottle and $K_2S_2O_8$ (0.1g/100ml urine) was added to prevent bacterial contamination. About 1001 air of workingplace was absorbed in l0ml of absorbing solution. Urine samples and absorbing solution tubes were stored at $4^{\circ}C$. Dillution solution to prepare standard solution used deionized water (D.W) for urine and absorbing solution (A.S) for air. 2. 1n this procedure deteclion limit was 1ng/ml and mercury contents of blank reagent solution was 1~2ng/ml. 3. Calibration range was $0.02{\sim}0.1{\mu}g/ml$ and in this range r.s.d for each calibration curve in D.W and A.S and ${\pm}7.9%$ and ${\pm}3.7%$, respectively. 4. Repeatability (n=5 times, conc. $0.05{\mu}g/ml$) was ${\pm}5.8%$, in D.W. and ${\pm}4.4%$ in A.S, respectively. 5. Recovery for urine adding spiked concentration ($0.05{\mu}g/ml$) was about 90%. 6. Analytical result of samples was $1{\sim}139{\mu}g/l$ in urine and ${\sim}0.127mg/m^3$ in airborne.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 1988

In this study, the method of adsorption by activated carbon in the removal of Hg(II) ion in waste water was treated. The influence of kinds of activated carbon and effect of temperature and the influence of coexistent salt on adsorption rates, the influence of pH in the adsorption, equilibrium and adsorption of mercury from activated carbon were investigated. From the adsorption on activated carbon of mercury(II) ion in the presence of cyanide or thiocyanate ion was found that mercury(II) was easily adsorved onto the activated carbon in the form of complex artion such as Hg(CN)$_4^{2-}$, Hg(SCN)$_4^{2-}$ respectively. ZnCl$_2$ activation method had a higher adsorptive ability than steam activation method in adsorption of Hg on activated carbon. Activated carbon adsorbed iodide ion is very effective on adsorption of Hg.