he total mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se)
concentrations were determined in kidney cortex samples of 195 deceased,
non-occupationally burdened individuals. Mercury was determined by means
of Cold-vapor Atomic ABSORPTION Spectroscopy. And selenium by
GraphitemFurnace Atomic Absorptrion Spectrometry. The molar Se/Hg ratio is
high in cases with relative low mercury concentrations (Hg). The ratio
with increasing Hg. At 700-1000 ng/g it unity, where it remains constant
even at larger (Hg(\). Since in vitro mercury and selenium from relatively
stable adducts, the result of this study suggests the formation of a !:!
Hg-Se compound that may explain mercury detoxification by selenium. This
effect also results in the trapping of available selenium by mercury too.
Decreasing the reserve of free (i.e. not Hg-bound) selenium. The effect of
this decrease of free selenium is under investigation. G Drasch, E
Wanghofer, G Roider, S Strobach J Trace Elem Med Biol
1996;10:251-254.
Copyright © 2003 Anamol Laboratories Ltd.
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