• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.121-133
• /
• 1989

To study on the effect of selenium and garlic on the toxicity of MMC(methylmercury chloride), the change of body, liver, kidney and brain weight and the concentration of mercury in liver, kidney, brain and blood are measured to each group between male and female. Results obtained are as follows: 1. In female, the body weight of MMC(5mg/kg) single treatment group and MMC(5mg/kg) and selenium (0.3mg/kg) combined treatment group and significantly lower than that of control group from the 4th week, but the body weight of MMC(5mg/kg), selenium (0.3mg/kg) and garlic(1g/kg) combined treatment group is similar to that of control group. 2. For the relative weight of kidney, only MMC(5mg/kg), selenium(0.3mg/kg) and garlic(1g/kg) combined treatment female group is lower than control femal group. For the relative weight of brain, MMC, selenium and garlic combined treatment male and female groups are lower than control group, respectively. 3. When male and female mice were injected with single MMC, the concentrations of mercury in kidney, brain, blood and liver are 4.721 ppm, 4.079 ppm, 1.946 ppm and 1.196. ppm for male and 7.715 ppm, 4.527 ppm, 2.657 ppm and 1.994 ppm for female, respectively, on the 5th week. 4. When male and female mice were injected with MMC, selenium and.garlic, the accumulations of mercury in kidney, brain, blood and liver are 29.04%, 33.91%, 54.47% and 12.12% for male and 25.74%, 22.64%, 24.31% and 36.21% for female lower than that of MMC single treatment group, respectively, on the 5th week. 5. When male and female mice were injected with MMC and selenium, the accumulation of mercury in brain is 16.55% about male and 11.86% about'female higher than that of MMC single treatment group, respectively, on the 5th week.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.17-27
• /
• 1996

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the decreasing effects of Korean garlic against the accumulation of mercury levels in maternal and fetal organs in pregnant Fischer 344 rats, based on the theory and information that neutral amino acids have protective effects against mercury poisoning and garlic contains a large of neutral amino acids. The results obtained are as follows: 1. On the 20th day of gestation, the maternal body weight in 20 mg/wt$\cdot$kg methyl mercuric chloride groups was 76.1% of those in control group, but those recovered to be 81.2% and 93.6% by treating with garlic (0.5 g/wt$\cdot$kg and 1.0 g/wt$\cdot$kg). 2. The mercury levels in maternal organs were reduced 6.2% and 47.2% (p<0.05) in kidney, 8.2% and 42.1% (p<0.05) in spleen, 9.7% and 40.9% (p<0.05) in blood, 35.6% (p<0.05) and 67.2% (p<0.05) in liver, 38.0% (p<0.05) and 57.6% (p<0.05) in brain, by treating with garlic (0.5 g/wt$\cdot$kg and 1.0 g/wt$\cdot$kg). 3. The mercury levels were reduced 22.4% and 44.3% (p<0.05) in placenta, and 34.7% (p<0.05) and 54.9% (p<0.05) in fetal body, by treating with garlic (0.5 g/wt$\cdot$kg and 1.0 g/wt$\cdot$kg). 4. The mercury levels in fetal organs were reduced 17.5% and 46.7% (p<0.05) in kidney, 15.1% and 37.0% (p<0.05) in brain, 30.2% (p<0.05) and 46.7% (p<0.05) in liver, by treating with garlic (0.5 g/wt$\cdot$kg and 1.0 g/wt$\cdot$kg). 5. Mercury levels in maternal kidney were 6.73~7.71 times higher than those in fetal kidney, but those in fetal liver and brain were 1.67~2.25 times and 1.98~2.93 times higher than those in maternal liver and brain, respectively. In conclusion, Korean garlic decrease the accumulation of mercury levels in maternal and fetal organs in pregnant Fischer 344 rats as increasing the dose.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.69-75
• /
• 1994

Pregnant CD-1 mice were exposed to methylmercury in the drinking water at concentration of 20ppm with subcutaneous treatment of thiaminHCl(vitamin $B_1$) (100mg, 200mg or 300mg/ kg b.w.) or BAL(5.0 mg/kg b.w.) under the alone or combined base at the therapeutic agents from day 6 to 15 of gestation. Fetal growth parameters, including body weight and crown-rump length in the mice exposed to mercury, were reduced as placental weight compared to those in the control group(no treatment). The incidence of dead fetuses/resorption and malformed fetuses(especially cleft palate) was also increased even in the group treated with thrapeutic agents as well as in the mercury only treated group. However, all kinds of alteration indicated above, possibly induced by mercury, reduced/or decreased significantly compared to those of control. A subtle indication of maternal toxicity was noted in most experimental animals as evidenced by decreased water consumption and increased relative liver weight. The present study confirmed that methylmercuric chloride is embrytoxic and teratogenic in CD-1 mice when administered during organogenesis and that thiamin administration may have therapeutic application for the treatment or prevention against of deleterious effects induced by mercury during gestation period.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.211-216
• /
• 2017

A total of 100 seafoods commonly consumed in Gyeonggi-do were investigated to determine the concentration of lead (Pb), total mercury (Hg), methyl mercury (MeHg), cadmium (Cd) and selenium (Se). Concentration of heavy metals and selenium was measured by using mercury analyzer, ICP-MS and GC-ECD. The average content (mg/kg) of heavy metals in the seafood samples was as follows; Pb 0.0915 (0.0021-0.4490), Cd 0.0084 (ND-0.1773), and Hg 0.0412 (0.0013-0.3032). All the levels were below the recommended standards of the MFDS in Pb (0.5 mg/kg), Cd (0.2 mg/kg), Hg (0.5 mg/kg). The methylmercury was detected in the hairtail (0.0677 mg/kg) and cod (0.2941 mg/kg). After the average content of heavy metals in seafood was determined, the exposure assessment for heavy metals was conducted. Relative hazardous levels compared to PTWI were lower than the official standards of the JECFA for Pb (0.97%), Hg (3.42%) Cd (0.45%). In conclusion, the levels presented in this study are presumed to be safe for consumption.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.361-368
• /
• 1994

Teratogenic and embryotoxic effects of mercury have been reported, however, there is little information about possible antidotes against mercury exposure during gestation. In order to evaluate therapeutic effects of selenium as an antidote against mercury poisoning, pregnant CD-1 mice were exposed to methylmercury chloride(20ppm) through the drinking water with treatment of sodium selenite (1.0mg, 2.0mg or 3.0mg/kg b.w., subcutaneously) or BAL(5.0mg/kg b.w., subcutaneously) under the single or combination base as the therapeutic agents from day 6 to 15 of gestation. Fetal growth parameters such as body weight and crown-rump length in the mice exposed to mercury, were reduced as was placental weight compared to those in the control. Treatment of selenium(alone, combination with BAL) reduced the harmful effects induced by mercury on the fetal growth parameters even though no specific relationship between dose and therapeutic effect. The incidence of dead fetuses/resorptions and malformed fetuses(especially cleft palate) was also increased in the mercury only treated group. Selenium treatment demonostrated reduced the incidence of abnormal fetuses under the exposure of mercury. Relative maternal organ weights(liver, kidney, spleen) were increased significantly but relative brain weight was decreased as evidenced by decreased in the mercury treated mice compared to that in the control. A subtle indication of maternal mercury toxicity evidenced by changes of relative maternal organ weights, decreased water and feed consumption were also prevented efficiently by selenium treatment. The present study suggests that methylmercuric chloride is embrytoxic and teratogenic in CD-1 mice when exposured during organogenesis and that selenium administration may have therapeutic application for the treatment of mercury poisoning although more applicable study in human should be performed with caution in the future.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.538-552
• /
• 2017

In this study, total mercury (THg) of Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) eggs laid on Baengnyeongdo, West Sea of Korea was analyzed in order to compare the THg concentrations of eggs depending on egg-laying order. The first-laid eggs ($mean{\pm}standard$ error, $234.4{\pm}11.2ng/g\;wet$, n=18, t=8.4, p<0.01) significantly had higher THg concentrations than the second-laid eggs ($182.8{\pm}9.1ng/g\;wet$, n=18). Also, the first-laid eggs had higher values in biometrics (length $63.10{\pm}0.49mm$, t=2.4, p<0.05; width $44.51{\pm}0.19mm$, t=4.3, p<0.01; weight $65.53{\pm}0.87g$, t=4.2, p<0.01) than the second-laid eggs (length $62.37{\pm}0.40mm$, width $43.55{\pm}0.17mm$, and weight $62.48{\pm}0.72g$). These differences might be attributed to the amount of food eaten by females relating to males' courtship feeding pattern (males increase courtship feeding rate before the first eggs are laid, and decrease the rate following the laying of the first eggs). Moreover, the lower food intake of females could diminish the quantities of egg albumen that contains a protein binds to most of methylmercury during the period of egg production. Therefore, it is necessary to consistently apply one of egg selection methods (targeted selection (the first-laid egg or the second-laid egg), random selection, and etc.) in one nest for ensuring comparability of mercury concentrations among monitoring sites and monitoring years.