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Your Environment. Your Health.

Publication Detail

Title: Early biochemical effects of an organic mercury fungicide on infants: "dose makes the poison".

Authors: Gotelli, C A; Astolfi, E; Cox, C; Cernichiari, E; Clarkson, T W

Published In Science, (1985 Feb 08)

Abstract: Phenylmercury absorbed through the skin from contaminated diapers affected urinary excretion in infants in Buenos Aires. The effects were reversible and quantitatively related to the concentration of urinary mercury. Excretion of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, an enzyme in the brush borders of renal tubular cells, increased in a dose-dependent manner when mercury excretion exceeded a "threshold" value. Urine volume also increased but at a higher threshold with respect to mercury. The results support the threshold concept of the systemic toxicity of metals. gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidase is a useful and sensitive marker for preclinical effects of toxic metals.

PubMed ID: 2857500 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: No MeSH terms associated with this publication

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