Fecal excretion of methyl mercury was confirmed in four Japanese male subjects. Perhaps the methyl mercury detected in feces is dependent on (a) the unabsorbed methyl mercury in diet, (b) exfoliation of intestinal cells, (c) hepatic bile, and (d) intestinal methylation of inorganic mercury. The calculated amounts of methyl mercury excreted daily in feces were similar to those found in urine.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Circadian rhythms in the urinary excretion of metals and organic substances in "healthy" men.

Circadian rhythms in the urinary excretion of metals and organic substances were examined in ten "healthy" men under conditions of water loading and restriction. Four characteristic rhythms were observed: (1) decreased excretion during the night for lead and urinary flow rate; (2) decreased excretion of hippuric acid, delta-aminolevulinic acid, coproporphyrin, creatinine, and total urinary solutes during the night and morning hours; (3) increased excretion of mercury and zinc during the morning hours; and (4) no significant variation for copper. Excretion of lead, hippuric acid, delta-aminolevulinic acid, and total urinary solutes was significantly correlated with urinary flow rate and creatinine excretion, which suggested that their circadian rhythms were the consequence of reduced glomerular filtration and increased reabsorption by the distal tubule and collecting duct during the night and morning hours. Similarly, it was suggested that the mercury and zinc rhythms resulted partly from increased reabsorption during the night hours; the coproporphyrin rhythm reflected reduced glomerular filtration of coproporphyrinogen during the night and morning hours.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Biliary and urinary excretion of metals in humans.

Fifteen metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, inorganic mercury, organic mercury, iron, manganese, magnesium, chromium, zinc, copper, nickel, cobalt, tin, and aluminum) were determined in the hepatic bile and urine collected simultaneously from three Japanese individuals (2 males, 1 female). The presence of these metals was classified as follows: hepatic biliary concentrations were higher than urinary concentrations (lead, arsenic, and iron); urinary concentrations were higher than hepatic biliary concentrations (cadmium, inorganic mercury, tin, cobalt, magnesium, chromium, copper, zinc, and nickel); hepatic biliary concentrations were almost equal to urinary concentrations (manganese and organic mercury); and relationship between hepatic biliary and urinary concentrations changed occasionally (aluminum). Eight essential metals (iron, manganese, magnesium, zinc, chromium, copper, nickel, and cobalt) were detected at considerable concentrations in hepatic bile. Accounting for the daily flow volume of hepatic bile and the reabsorption of these metals, the supplementation of these metals should occur during treatment of diseases accompanied by loss of hepatic bile.

Aged↗