Genetic influences on the retention of inorganic mercury.

• Mercury is eliminated as glutathione (GSH) conjugates. GSH production is mediated by glutamyl-cysteine ligase (GCL), and conjugation by glutathione S-transferases (GST). This study tested if polymorphisms in GCL and GST genes modify mercury retention in humans exposed to elemental mercury vapor. Total mercury concentrations in whole blood, plasma and urine, and genotypes for GCLC, GCLM, GSTA1, GSTM1, GSTP1, and GSTT1 were determined in 309 gold miners, gold buyers and controls. The presence of the GCLM-588T allele was associated with increased blood, plasma and urine mercury levels. These results indicate that genotypes with decreased GSH availability for mercury conjugation affect the metabolism of inorganic mercury.

Nyckelord

Adolescent

Adult

Aged

Air Pollutants

Occupational

blood

toxicity

urine

Ecuador

Genotype

Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase

genetics

metabolism

Glutathione Transferase

genetics

metabolism

Gold

Humans

Male

Mercury

blood

toxicity

urine

Middle Aged

Mining

Occupational Exposure

adverse effects

Polymorphism

Genetic

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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