-
Journal of Hazardous Materials May 2024Mercury (Hg) is one of the most widespread pollutants that pose serious threats to public health and the environment. People are inevitably exposed to Hg via different...
Mercury (Hg) is one of the most widespread pollutants that pose serious threats to public health and the environment. People are inevitably exposed to Hg via different routes, such as respiration, dermal contact, drinking or diet. Hg poisoning could cause gingivitis, inflammation, vomiting and diarrhea, respiratory distress or even death. Especially during the developmental stage, there is considerable harm to the brain development of young children, causing serious symptoms such as intellectual disability and motor impairments, and delayed neural development. Therefore, it's of great significance to develop a specific, quick, practical and labor-saving assay for monitoring Hg. Herein, a mitochondria-targeted dual (excitation 700 nm and emission 728 nm) near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe JZ-1 was synthesized to detect Hg, which is a turn-on fluorescent probe designed based on the rhodamine fluorophore thiolactone, with advantages of swift response, great selectivity, and robust anti-interference capability. Cell fluorescence imaging results showed that JZ-1 could selectively target mitochondria in HeLa cells and monitor exogenous Hg. More importantly, JZ-1 has been successfully used to monitor gastrointestinal damage of acute mercury poisoning in a drug-induced mouse model, which provided a great method for sensing Hg species in living subjects, as well as for prenatal diagnosis.
Topics: Fluorescent Dyes; Mitochondria; Humans; Animals; HeLa Cells; Mercury Poisoning; Mercury; Optical Imaging; Mice; Gastrointestinal Tract; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Rhodamines
PubMed: 38613952
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134269 -
Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine... May 2024Cinnabaris (α-HgS), a mineral traditional Chinese material medica, has been used in combination with other herbs manifesting some definite therapeutic effects for...
BACKGROUND
Cinnabaris (α-HgS), a mineral traditional Chinese material medica, has been used in combination with other herbs manifesting some definite therapeutic effects for thousands of years. But the currently reported mercury poisoning incidents raised the doubts about the safety of Cinnabaris-containing traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). Baizi Yangxin Pills (BZYXP) is a Cinnabaris-containing TCM widely used in clinical practice. This study evaluated the health risk of mercury exposure from BZYXP in healthy volunteers based on the total mercury and mercury species analysis of blood and urine after single and multiple doses of BZYXP.
METHODS
Blood pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion studies of mercury were compared between single (9 g, once daily) and multiple doses (9 g, twice daily, continued for 7 days) of BZYXP. The whole blood and urine samples were collected at the specific points or periods after the administration of BZYXP. The total mercury and mercury species in blood and urine samples were determined by cold vapor-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CV-AFS) and HPLC-CV-AFS, respectively.
RESULTS
The mercury was excreted slowly and accumulated obviously after continuous exposure of BZYXP. Moreover, the well-known neurotoxin methylmercury (MeHg) was detected in blood samples after 7 days' administration of BZYXP. In the urine samples, only Hg(II) was detected. Therefore, long-term use of BZYXP will cause mercury poisoning due to mercury's high accumulative properties and MeHg formation.
CONCLUSION
Cinnabaris-containing TCMs such as BZYXP should be restricted to cases in which alternatives are available, and the blood mercury species profile should be monitored during the long-term clinical medication.
Topics: Humans; Healthy Volunteers; Mercury; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Methylmercury Compounds; Mercury Poisoning; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 38245934
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2024.127398 -
Analytica Chimica Acta Mar 2024Heavy metal pollution has become one of the world's most important environmental pollution, especially Hg is enriched, it is easy to enter the human body through the...
An innovative fluorescent probe based on dicyanoisoflurone derivatives for differential detection of Hg and Cu and its applications in bacteria, cell imaging and food analysis.
BACKGROUND
Heavy metal pollution has become one of the world's most important environmental pollution, especially Hg is enriched, it is easy to enter the human body through the food chain, bind to the sulfhydryl group in the protein, cause mercury poisoning. Traditional methods for detecting Hg have obvious drawbacks, such as poor selectivity and long detection time. Fluorescence detection has attracted attention because of its good sensitivity and specificity detection ability. In previously reported probes for detecting Hg, Cu often interferes. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to synthesize a fluorescent probe that can distinguish between Hg and Cu.
RESULTS
We have successfully synthesized the probe DFS, a fluorescent probe that can differentially detect Hg and Cu, and the probe DFS has good selectivity and anti-interference ability for Hg and Cu. The fluorescence intensity at 530 nm increased rapidly when Hg was detected; during the Cu detection, the fluorescence intensity at 636 nm gradually decreased, fluorescence quenching occurred, and the detection limits of Hg and Cu were 7.29 × 10 M and 2.13 × 10 M, respectively. Through biological experiments, it was found that probe DFS can complete the fluorescence imaging of Hg and Cu in Staphylococcus aureus and HUVEC cells, which has certain research value in the field of environmental monitoring and microbiology, and the probe DFS has low cytotoxicity, so it also has broad application prospects in the field of biological imaging. In addition, the probe DFS also has good applicability for Hg and Cu detection in actual samples.
SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY
This is a fluorescent probe that can distinguish between Hg and Cu, the fluorescence emission peak appears at 530 nm when Hg is detected; when detecting Cu, fluorescence quenching occurs at 636 nm, the fluorescence emission peak distance between Hg and Cu differs by 106 nm. This reduces mutual interference between Hg and Cu during detection, it provides a new idea for the detection of Hg and Cu.
Topics: Humans; Fluorescent Dyes; Food Analysis; Mercury; Sensitivity and Specificity; Bacteria; Spectrometry, Fluorescence
PubMed: 38309842
DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.342259 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Oct 2023Intrauterine exposure to heavy metals may adversely affect the developing fetus and health later in life, while certain trace elements may be protective. There is...
Intrauterine exposure to heavy metals may adversely affect the developing fetus and health later in life, while certain trace elements may be protective. There is limited data on their dynamic fluctuation in circulating concentration of women from preconception to pregnancy and the degree of transplacental passage to fetus. Such information is critically needed for an optimal design of research studies and intervention strategies. In the present study, we profiled the longitudinal patterns and trajectories of metal(loid)s and trace elements from preconception to late pregnancy and in newborns. We measured whole blood metal(loid)s in women at preconception, 16, 24 and 32 weeks of gestation and in cord blood in 100 mother-newborn pairs. Our data showed that the mean concentrations of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), rubidium (Rb), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) were lower during early-, mid-, and late-pregnancy than at preconception. Copper (Cu), and calcium (Ca) concentrations increased after pregnancy (Cu 798 versus 1353, 1488, and 1464 μg/L). Concentrations at preconception were correlated with those during pregnancy for all examined metal(loid)s. Maternal Hg, Pb, and Se concentrations at late-pregnancy were correlated with those in newborn cord blood in various degrees (correlation coefficients: Hg 0.66, Pb 0.29, Se 0.39). The estimated placental transfer ratio for toxic metal(loid)s ranging from 1.68 (Hg) to 0.18 (Cd). Two trajectory groups were identified for Hg, Pb, Cd, Se concentrations. Hg concentrations may be correlated with maternal education levels. The study is the first to present longitudinal circulating concentration trajectories of toxic metal(loid)s and trace elements from preconception to pregnancy stages. A high degree of transplacental passage was observed in toxic metals Pb and Hg which may pose hazards to the developing fetus.
Topics: Female; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Humans; Trace Elements; Cadmium; Lead; Placenta; Metals, Heavy; Mercury; Heavy Metal Poisoning; Fetal Blood
PubMed: 37625333
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115394 -
Food and Chemical Toxicology : An... Nov 2023Smoking has been known to mankind for centuries, but it is only in recent decades that much attention has been paid to the harmfulness of this habit. Mercury inhalation...
Smoking has been known to mankind for centuries, but it is only in recent decades that much attention has been paid to the harmfulness of this habit. Mercury inhalation is particularly dangerous in this respect and smoking creates extremely favorable conditions for the emission and targeted delivery of this element into the lungs. Despite this fact, a lack of a clear method for estimating the exposure of tobacco consumers to mercury was identified. This work shows justification to transfer the approach of estimating food product consumers' exposure to estimate the exposure of combustible tobacco product consumers to this element. In addition, it was noted that researchers' attention is mainly focused on cigarettes, while the tobacco market has a wide range of combustible products. Therefore, in this work, the mercury content of cigars (8.45 ± 0.18-41.02 ± 0.20 μg/kg), pipe tobaccos (8.03 ± 0.52-25.48 ± 0.50 μg/kg), bidis (14.93 ± 0.47-31.79 ± 0.26 μg/kg) and cigarette tobaccos (14.22 ± 0.71-34.5 ± 1.4 μg/kg) was analyzed. This study demonstrates that smoking can contribute significant total mercury exposure to consumers', although it is unlikely to cause mercury poisoning regardless of other exposure sources.
Topics: Humans; Smokers; Mercury; Smoking; Tobacco Products; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
PubMed: 37739052
DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.114053 -
Heliyon Jun 2024Mercury poisoning is a rare yet critical toxicological emergency, typically associated with chronic exposure. This case report details the unusual presentation of acute...
Mercury poisoning is a rare yet critical toxicological emergency, typically associated with chronic exposure. This case report details the unusual presentation of acute parkinsonism in a 66-year-old woman who had been ingesting black pills, an unidentified kind of traditional Chinese medicine, obtained from a pirate radio source. The patient displayed symptoms such as acute onset frequent falls, unsteady gait, and slow movements, prompting a detailed medical examination. The patient's neurological assessment revealed classic parkinsonian features, including mask face, cogwheel rigidity, and bradykinesia. Subsequent laboratory investigations disclosed an elevated blood mercury level (47 μg/L), and imaging studies, including 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT, confirmed bilateral putamina dysfunction consistent with secondary parkinsonism. Traditional medications of Parkinsonism provided minimal relief, leading to the introduction of chelation therapy with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), resulting in a significant improvement in symptoms following a 20-day course. The discussion emphasizes the distinctive clinical manifestations of organic and inorganic mercury poisoning, underscoring the delayed onset and central nervous system involvement in organic mercury toxicity. The unidentified black pills, known to exceed mercury standards, were identified as the likely source of mercury poisoning in this case. This report acknowledges the potential reversibility of certain causes of acute parkinsonism and highlights the importance of a thorough drug history and toxicology assessment in patients presenting with acute parkinsonism. This report also contributes to the existing understanding of mercury-induced parkinsonism and emphasizes the significance of timely intervention in managing similar cases.
PubMed: 38845905
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31628 -
The Science of the Total Environment Feb 2024Mercury (Hg) is one of the major pollutants in the environment, which requires effective countermeasures to manage its risk to both human health and the ecosystem. The...
Mercury (Hg) is one of the major pollutants in the environment, which requires effective countermeasures to manage its risk to both human health and the ecosystem. The antagonistic effect of selenium (Se) against methyl mercury (MeHg) and HgCl was evaluated using parent and offspring Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in this study. Through designated acute exposure of 24 h, our results showed that both MeHg and HgCl induced dose-dependent reproductive toxicity, including increased germ cell apoptosis, decrease in the number of oocytes, brood size, and sperm activation. The increased germ cell apoptosis was even higher in F1 and F2 generations, but returned to control level in F3 generation. Pretreatment with Se significantly suppressed the reproductive toxicity caused by Hg in both parental worms and their offspring, but had little influence on Hg accumulation. The protective role of Se was found closely related to the chemical forms of Hg: mtl-1 and mtl-2 genes participated in reducing the toxicity of HgCl, while the gst-4 gene was involved in the reduced toxicity of MeHg. The formation of Se-Hg complex and the antioxidant function of Se were considered as possible antagonistic mechanisms. Our data indicated that pretreatment with Se could effectively protect C. elegans and their offspring against the reproductive toxicity of Hg in different chemical forms, which provided a reference for the prevention of Hg poisoning and essential information for better understanding the detoxification potential of Se on heavy metals.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Male; Mercury; Selenium; Caenorhabditis elegans; Ecosystem; Semen; Methylmercury Compounds
PubMed: 38141982
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169461 -
Journal of Hazardous Materials Feb 2024Mercury ions (Hg) primarily target mitochondria in the cells. Therefore, the development of novel probes that specifically target mitochondria in the presence of Hg is...
Mercury ions (Hg) primarily target mitochondria in the cells. Therefore, the development of novel probes that specifically target mitochondria in the presence of Hg is of immense importance. Most previously reported probes that utilize the softness of S, Te, O, and/or N atoms for Hg binding often face problems such as fluorescence quenching and off-target signals. In this study, bromide-hydrocarbon pyridinium salts were designed to target the mitochondria and chelate Hg via Hg-Br coordination bonds. As a prototype, four aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorogens, namely TPP-Br, TPP-Cl, R1, and R2, with a similar D-π-A structure but slight differences in their halogen substituents, were designed. Among them, only TPP-Br achieved the highly selective and sensitive detection of Hg by triggering its AIE properties, resulting in remarkable emission enhancement (80-fold), colorimetry, and the Tyndall effect. TPP-Br exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity to Hg with a detection limit of 0.35 μM, rapid response time (<10 s), and large Stokes shift of 185 nm. Their interaction modes were studied using a combination of H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, fluorescent lifetime decay, and theoretical calculations. TPP-Br exhibited a low emission background in cells, whereas in the presence of Hg, mitochondria were lit up with wash-free staining. This study provides a powerful tool for accurately diagnosing mercury poisoning-related diseases in mitochondria.
Topics: Fluorescent Dyes; Bromides; Mercury; Mitochondria; Staining and Labeling; Spectrometry, Fluorescence
PubMed: 37988945
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132999 -
International Journal of Occupational... Nov 2023This study aims to present a case of acute mercuric chloride poisoning at a potentially lethal dose treated with the antidote - 2,3-dimercapto- 1-propanesulfonic acid...
This study aims to present a case of acute mercuric chloride poisoning at a potentially lethal dose treated with the antidote - 2,3-dimercapto- 1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) combined with CytoSorb. A 21-year-old woman was admitted to a hospital with abdominal pain, vomiting, and suspected gastrointestinal bleeding after taking 5000 mg of mercuric chloride for suicidal purposes. Due to the patient deteriorating general condition and multiple organ damage, on the third day she was transported to the Clinic of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (CAaIC), Łódź, Poland. Laboratory tests confirmed features of acute kidney injury and high mercury levels in the blood (1051 μg/l) and urine (22 960 μg/l) - DMPS therapy and CRRT combined with CytoSorb were instituted. Due to nervous system complaints (headache, dizziness), a lumbosacral puncture was performed - the mercury concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was 5.45 μg/l. During a colonoscopy, significant diagnostic abnormalities revealed features of colonic mucosal necrosis. The treatment resulted in a decrease in subjective complaints, decreased mercury levels in biological material, and improved parenchymal organ function. On the 15th day of therapy, the patient was transferred to the primary care center for further treatment. The case confirms the possibility of improvement of patient condition following ingestion of a potentially lethal dose (5 g) as a result of the initiation of appropriate therapy even on the third day. The presence of mercury in CSF confirms that inorganic mercury compounds (mercuric chloride) can pass through the blood-brain barrier after oral ingestion. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(5):685-92.
Topics: Female; Humans; Young Adult; Acute Kidney Injury; Mercuric Chloride; Mercury; Mercury Poisoning
PubMed: 37750691
DOI: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.02235 -
Journal of Environmental Pathology,... 2024Heavy metal toxicity poses a serious danger to the environment and its inhabitants on a global scale. The harmful heavy metals that are not necessary but are still...
Heavy metal toxicity poses a serious danger to the environment and its inhabitants on a global scale. The harmful heavy metals that are not necessary but are still dangerous, such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are frequently linked to pollution and the resulting health problems. Despite several gross ill effects, toxic heavy metals have been found to show beneficial biological activity when applied at very low or trace levels. This article aims to collate such investigations conducted during the last two decades with trace levels of cadmium, mercury and arsenic toxicity against animal systems. There are a total of 13 pre-clinical works demonstrating the protective or beneficial effect of mercury, cadmium and arsenic at trace levels. Such literature reports with lead could not be found. From the outcome of the current literature investigation it is evident that, trace levels of toxic heavy metals namely arsenic, cadmium and mercury possess remarkable protective and beneficial effects chiefly on growth, developmental and reproductive parameters against animal systems pre-clinically, in contrast to their known toxic effects-operated by multiple mechanisms which provided some empirical support for further understanding of the outranged biological functions of the heavy metals. Further mechanistic works on this sphere may pave the way for a better understanding of the protective role of toxic heavy metals for the accomplishment of animals including humans.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Arsenic; Cadmium; Metals, Heavy; Mercury; Heavy Metal Poisoning
PubMed: 37824371
DOI: 10.1615/JEnvironPatholToxicolOncol.2023049292