Absorption and Excretion of Mercury in Man

Using a sensitive method for the quantitative determination of total urinary protein, a mild proteinuria has been demonstrated in a working population chronically exposed to a relatively high concentration of the vapors and dusts of mixed organic (phenyl) and inorganic mercury compounds. The mean urinary protein content (9 mg/100 ml) of this exposed group was significantly higher than the mean urinary protein content (5.3 mg/100 ml) of a control unexposed group. For the exposed group, the urinary protein levels correlated well with the urinary mercury contents (with a statistical probability of such correlation less than 1%, as determined by the Spearman rank order correlation method). For the exposed group, the urinary protein levels showed a weak correlation (significance between 5% and 10%) with blood mercury contents. In both instances the correlation was found only on a group basis.