Toxicity of chelated mercury
Friedman, C.D.; Harbision, R.D.; Jones, M.M.; Weaver, A.D.; Hurwitz, G.
Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology 2(6): 1529-1537
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0146-4779 PMID: 528856 Document Number: 152701
The oral and i.v. acute toxicities of several Hg chelates were determined in mice in a search for relationships bearing on the effectiveness of various chelating agents [Met, Cys, EDTA, cyclohexyldiamine tetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, iminodiacetic acid and penicillamine] in therapy. Toxicity was independent of the stability constant for the Hg chelate when the toxicity was expressed on a molar basis. For the Hg chelates of sulfhydryl containing chelating agents, the oral toxicity was unexpectedly low, presumably due to the poor absorption of these materials from gastrointestinal tract. The toxicities of Hg complexes are probably independent of the stability constant of the complex over the range of stability constant from 1023 and lower, provided chelation does not drastically alter the distribution of the complex in the body.