The effect of ethanol on the fate of mercury vapor inhaled by man.

Author: Hursh JB, Greenwood MR, Clarkson TW, Allen J, Demuth S.

Source: J Pharmacol Exp Ther.

Year: 1980

Comment:

While this study is about the effect of alcohol in consumption in reducing mercury in certain body burdens and collecting it in the liver, dental amalgam is not a specific focus.

Abstract / Excerpt:

“Three human subjects ingested 1065 ml of beer equivalent to 65 ml of ethanol 30 min before exposure (12-20 min) to mercury vapor. An additional two subjects were exposed to mercury vapor without ethanol pretreatment. The results show that alcohol brings about: 1) reduced mercury retention, 2) an increase in the rapid phase of vapor loss by expiration, 3) an increased mercury storage in the liver, 4) a marked reduction in mercury uptake by the red blood cells and 5) the abolition of vapor exposure experiments were performed by using control and ethanol-pretreated mice and rats. Sacrifice occurred at 1 hr and 3 days. The results support and extend the human data.”

Citation:

Hursh JB, Greenwood MR, Clarkson TW, Allen J, Demuth S.  The effect of ethanol on the fate of mercury vapor inhaled by man.  J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1980; 214(3):520-7.