Interaction of inorganic to organic mercury in their metabolism in human body

Summary Selective determinations of inorganic and organic mercury in red blood cells, hair and urine were made in samples collected from control persons (laboratory staffs and medical school students) and workers exposed to low levels of elemental and/or inorganic mercury.Inorganic mercury levels in red blood cells, plasma and urine were higher in the workers than in the control as a natural result of mercury exposure, but only some workers showed elevated inorganic mercury levels in hair, which suggested external contamination.Organic mercury levels in red blood cells, plasma and urine were elevated in the workers, but the hair values did not differ between the control and the workers. The blood cells-to-plasma ratio of organic mercury, and the relation of hair to blood cells values of organic mercury resulted in being different between the workers and the control.Supported by the grant from the Japanese Ministry of Education