Date: May 11, 2010 11:35:28 AM EDT
Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L] 3 re: Hg
response
It is well-known that the uptake of metallic mercury
orally is low (<0.01%) and normally without toxic
effects.
Methyl
mercury is mainly a vehicle for Hg2+ crossing the membranes reaching
into, for instance, the brain. Hg2+ cannot pass. In the brain both Hg0
and MeHg will transform to the toxic Hg2+ which reacts with sensitive
-SH groups in proteins. A good reference is: Ishitobi et al. Organic
and inorganic mercury in neonatal rat brain after prenatal exposure to
methylmercury and mercury vapour. EHP 2010;118: 242-248.
There are
many publications reporting high indoor concentrations after mercury
spills and what to do to clean-up; for instance TA Baughman: Elemental
mercury spills. EHP 2006; 114: 147-152; you could also look in www.mercurypolicy.org.
I am
co-author of a report to the Danish EPA to be finished soon, and an
information campaign is planned in Denmark to tell the public what to do
when light bulb breaks.
Yours
truly,
Allan Astrup Jensen
Technical
Vice President
Secretariat for Metrology, Chemical analysis and
Management Systems
FORCE
Technology, Br=F8ndby
Park All=E9 345
2605 Br=F8ndby
Denmark
Phone:
+45 43 26 70 00
Direct: +45 43 26 70 81
Mobile: +45 40 94 10 22
Fax: +45 43 26 70 11
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