Toxicological profile for arsenic

Mercury-induced H2O2 production and lipid peroxidation in vitro in rat kidney mitochondria

Agriculture, consumption of fossil fuels and, to a lesser extent, industry, are the main sources of pollution by mercury which is discharged into the environment as metallic mercury, as inorganic mercury compounds, or as organic compounds. Once in the environment, mercury compounds are capable of a variety of transformations. Some professional or accidental mercury poisonings have been reported in human populations, but they can easily be minimized by appropriate preventive measures. Production of C-mitosis in plant material is the most noticeable genetic effect of mercury compounds. No positive report that mercury could be carcinogenic in man has appeared up to now and animal experiments have also provided negative results. Although placenta may represent a certain barrier to mercury, embryotoxicity and teratogenicity of organic mercury compounds have been observed in numerous systems such as fish, birds and mammals.

Mutagenicity and Teratogenicity of Mercury-compounds

Although a large number of epidemiological, clinical, and pathological studies on methylmercury intoxication have been published, these investigations have not been able to elucidate the detailed mechanisms by which the metal alkyl causes a wide variety of biological dysfunctions. Thus, the cultured cells which are free from the influence of whole body complexities, such as absorption, distribution, metabolism, etc., which complicate the interpretation of in vivo experimental results, attract the attention of many scientists who are interested in clarifying the mode of toxic action of methylmercury. The aim of this article is to review the recent studies on the toxicity of methylmercury at the cellular level and to outline the mechanisms which have been proposed to be responsible for cell injuries.

Mechanism of methylmercury cytotoxicity

This investigation was undertaken to further delineate the subcellular manifestations of arsenic toxicity following chronic exposure using combined ultrastructural and biochemical techniques. Male ...

Fowler Ba

Papers

The transplacental toxicity of methyl mercury to fetal rat liver mitochondria. Morphometric and biochemical studies.