Molecular Fates of Organometallic Mercury in Human Brain
- Ashley K. JamesAshley K. JamesToxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, CanadaDepartment of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, CanadaMore by Ashley K. James
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- Natalia V. DolgovaNatalia V. DolgovaDepartment of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, CanadaMore by Natalia V. Dolgova
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- Susan NehzatiSusan NehzatiDepartment of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, CanadaMore by Susan Nehzati
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- Malgorzata KorbasMalgorzata KorbasCanadian Light Source, 44 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 2V3, CanadaMore by Malgorzata Korbas
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- Julien J. H. CotelesageJulien J. H. CotelesageDepartment of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, CanadaMore by Julien J. H. Cotelesage
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- Dimosthenis SokarasDimosthenis SokarasStanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, California 94025, United StatesMore by Dimosthenis Sokaras
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- Thomas KrollThomas KrollStanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, California 94025, United StatesMore by Thomas Kroll
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- John L. O’DonoghueJohn L. O’DonoghueDepartment of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14642, United StatesMore by John L. O’Donoghue
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- Gene E. WatsonGene E. WatsonDepartment of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14642, United StatesEastman Institute for Oral Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14642, United StatesMore by Gene E. Watson
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- Gary J. MyersGary J. MyersDepartment of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14642, United StatesDepartments of Neurology and Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14642, United StatesMore by Gary J. Myers
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- Ingrid J. Pickering*Ingrid J. Pickering*Email: [email protected]Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, CanadaToxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5C9, CanadaMore by Ingrid J. Pickering
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- Graham N. George*Graham N. George*Email: [email protected]Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, CanadaToxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5C9, CanadaMore by Graham N. George
Abstract
Mercury is ubiquitous in the environment, with rising levels due to pollution and climate change being a current global concern. Many mercury compounds are notorious for their toxicity, with the potential of organometallic mercury compounds for devastating effects on the structures and functions of the central nervous system being of particular concern. Chronic exposure of human populations to low levels of methylmercury compounds occurs through consumption of fish and other seafood, although the health consequences, if any, from this exposure remain controversial. We have used high energy resolution fluorescence detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy to determine the speciation of mercury and selenium in human brain tissue. We show that the molecular fate of mercury differs dramatically between individuals who suffered acute organometallic mercury exposure (poisoning) and individuals with chronic low-level exposure from a diet rich in marine fish. For long-term low-level methylmercury exposure from fish consumption, mercury speciation in brain tissue shows methylmercury coordinated to an aliphatic thiolate, resembling the coordination environment observed in marine fish. In marked contrast, for short-term high-level exposure, we observe the presence of biologically less available mercuric selenide deposits, confirmed by X-ray fluorescence imaging, as well as mercury(II)-bis-thiolate complexes, which may be signatures of severe poisoning in humans. These differences between low-level and high-level exposures challenge the relevance of studies involving acute exposure as a proxy for low-level chronic exposure.
Cited By
This article is cited by 2 publications.
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, 496-577. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3JA90008H
- Miantai Ye, Yunhui Xiang, Jiankang Gong, Xiaoyu Wang, Zhiqiang Mao, Zhihong Liu. Monitoring Hg2+ and MeHg+ poisoning in living body with an activatable near-infrared II fluorescence probe. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2023, 445 , 130612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130612