Vroom FQ & Greer M. Mercury vapor intoxication. Brain 95:305-318 (1972)

Abstract: "Industrial neglience in a thermometer manufactoring company resulted in widespread symptoms of mercury intoxication. Nine patients were studied in detail up to twenty months after mercury intoxication was recognized. All patients had most of the commonly recognized signs and symptoms of mercury intoxication. Irritability and poor concentration were temporarily noted in all patients. All had some defect in recent memory which was moderate in 5 and severe in 2 and was relatively permanent. The defect in memory observed in these patients is similar to the memory defect with temporal lobe lesions. This memory defect has been neglected in the past; it could readily explain much of the psychic symptoms such as anxiety, depression, irritability, insecurity, decreased socialization, and lack of concentration so prominent in these patients. In addition, abnormalities in other neyropsychological tests suggest more generalized cerebral cortical dysfunction. The electroencephalograms demonstrated diffuse slowing in patients and abnormalities were more marked temporally in 3 patients. Parkinsonian symptoms were noted in 4 but persistent in only one patient. Tremor was severe in all patients, incapaciting in most but improved dramatically after exposure to mercury was terminated. Four patients had signs or symptoms suggesting involvement of the peripheral nervous system. Electromyographic examination demonstrated abnormalities consistent with denervation in 8 of 9 patients. All of our patients improved. The rapidity and degree of recovery was not apparently influenced by BAL. The clinical syndromes of organic and inorganic mercury poisoning differ in degree, organic mercury producing the more severe involvement."

Zander D, Ewers U, Freier I, Westerweller S Jermann E & Brockhaus A. Untersuchungen zur Quecksilberbelastung der Bevolkerung II. Quecksilberfreisetzung aus Amalgamfüllungen. (Studies on Human Exposure Mercury II. Mercury Concentrations in Urine in Relation to the Number of Amalgam Fillings.) Zbl Hyg 190:325-334 (1990)

Abstract: "Urinary levels of mercury (HgU) were measured in 93 males and females aged 18-63 years. Subjects with amalgam fillings (n=72) had, on average, significantly higher levels of mercury in urine (x = 0.57 ug Hg/l and 0.79 ug Hg/g creatinine, respectively) than subjects without amalgam fillings (n = 0.21; x = 0.18 ug Hg/l and 0.24 ug Hg/g creatinine, respectively). Urinary mercury excretion was significantly correlated with the number of amalgam surfaces (log HgU (ug/l) vs. number of amalgamfillings: r = 0.435, P < 0.001; log HgU (ug/ g creatinine) vs. number of amalgam fillings; r = 0.575, p < 0.001). These results indicate that internal mercury exposure from amalgam fillings is, on average, higher than internal exposure to mercury from food and other sources."

Title: Mercury clearance from human plasma during in vitro dialysis:screening systems for chelating agents [see comments] Title Abreviation: JToxicol Clin Toxicol Date of Pub: 1992 Author: Ferguson CL; Cantilena LRJr; Issue/Part/Supplement: 3 Volume Issue: 30 Pagination: 423-41 MESHHeadings: Chelating Agents (*ME); Comparative Study; Dialysis; DrugScreening (*MT); Hemodialysis; Human; Mercuric Chloride (*PK); Plasma(*ME); Spectrophotometry, Atomic Absorption; -RN-; Journal Title Code: KANPublication Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date of Entry: 920929NEntry Month: 9212Country: UNITED STATES Index Priority: 1 Language: Eng Unique Identifier:92381774 Unique Identifier: 92381774 ISSN: 0731-3810

Abstract: Two in vitro systems were evaluated as potential screening methods for determining the most effective chelating agents for use in patients with inorganic mercury poisoning undergoing hemodialysis. The first system consisted of an invitro clinical hemodialysis unit and the second system consisted of an in vitro equilibrium dialysis procedure. Both systems utilized pooled human plasma. Ten chelating agents were evaluated in these systems to determine their ability to enhance mercury clearance from human plasma. In the absence of chelators, plasma clearance of mercury was negligible. Of the chelating agents tested, 2,3-dimercaptopropanolol, which enhances biliary and fecal excretion of mercury poisoning, and dithiothreitol did not enhance mercury clearance at 90 min in the hemodialysis system. N-acetylcysteine appeared to be the most effective chelating agent of those tested in the hemodialysis system. N-acetylcysteine produced a 73% decreasein perfusate mercury concentration at 90 min. The results of equilibriumdialysis mirrored those of the hemodialysis in that N-acetylcysteine significantly enhanced mercury transfer across the dialysis membrane into the dialysate whereas dithiothreitol did not. If in vivo experiments confirm the present findings, then in vitro dialysis from pooled human plasma either using a standard clinical hemodialyzer or equilibrium dialysis system will be useful screening tools. Our results suggest that equilibrium dialysis may be a convenient and cost effective method to screen potential chelating agents as complementary to hemodialysis for the treatment of inorganic mercury poisoning.

NAC in preventing mercuric chloride-induced nephrotoxicity

Title: Effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine in protecting against mercuricchloride-induced nephrotoxicity. Title Abreviation: Toxicology Date of Pub:1991 Apr 8 Author: Girardi G; Elias MM; Issue/Part/Supplement: 2 VolumeIssue: 67 Pagination: 155-64 MESH Headings: gamma-Glutamyltransferase (UR); Acetylcysteine (*PD); Animal; Glutathione (AN/ME); Kidney (CH/*DE/PH);Lipid Peroxidation; Liver (CH/DE/ME); Male; Maleates (PD); MercuricChloride (*TO); Mercury (AN); Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; SulfhydrylCompounds (AN/ME); Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; -RN-; Journal Title Code: VWRPublication Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date of Entry: 910614NEntry Month: 9108Country: NETHERLANDS Index Priority: 2 Language: Eng Unique Identifier:91233479 Unique Identifier: 91233479 ISSN: 0300-483X

Abstract: Mercuricchloride (HgCl2)-induced nephrotoxicity, as measured by functional and biochemical parameters was evaluated in rats at different kidneynon-protein sulfhydryls (NPS) levels. Diethylmaleate (DEM) induced a 75% of NPS diminution 1 h after the administration. Renal function (clearance) and biochemical measurements (gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity in urine,and lipoperoxides in kidney tissue) were impaired when the animals were HgCl2-treated. Values were highly impaired when the kidneys were NPS-depleted and were improved when NPS pools were previously increased although they were not similar to control values. DEM treatment promoted a higher accumulation of HgCl2 in both kidney and liver while NAC-treatment reduced significantly the metal content in these organs. These data are in favour of a positive relationship among mercury content and organ injury. On the other hand, mercury content increased while NPS levels diminished. NPS might play a role in the HgCl2 detoxification and thus avoids mercury accumulation and mercury effects.

Also make sure to read these books: Poison in Your Teeth: Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings...Hazardous to Your Health! and Mercury Detoxification by Tom McGuire