PTX 301 : Mercury Exam II

What are 4 forms of mercury?

Hg⁰, Hg²⁺, CH₃Hg⁺, metal ore

How does mercury mines enter into fish advisories?

Mercury runoff

Superfund site

long-term clean up in order to return to use

What act funds the cleanup of a superfund site?

Liability Act of 1980

What is the medical use of thiomersal?

Vaccine preservative

What is the danger of dimethylmercury?

High lipid solubility

What is a organometallic/organomercy compound?

carbon-Hg molecules

What makes organometallic compounds dangerous?

Their stability against biological systems degradation

Define octanol-water partition coefficient

ratio of mercury conc : aqueous phase of mercury

what does a high octanol-water ratio suggest?

high toxicity

What is environmental fates?

The distribution of mercury in the environment

What are the 4 compartments of environment fates?

water, atmosphere, soils, organismal 

What is the role of bacteria in environmental fate of mercury?

Transfer between Hg⁰ and Hg²⁺

Bioconcentration

absorption of chemicals into organism from environment

Bioaccumulation

absorption of chemicals into organism from environment and food chain

Biomagnification

Increased conc. of persistent chemicals the higher organism is on the food chain

What 2 properties aid in biomagnification of chemicals?

lipophilic and persistent

Where in the body does enterohepatic recirculation occur?

GI tract

What resulted in the poison grain diseaster?

Identified kids as high risk of mercury toxicity

What resulted in the minamata convention?

decreased mercury use in industry

Is CH₃Hg⁺ or Hg²⁺ have higher distribution?

Hg²⁺

How is mercury promiscuous?

Ability to mimic biological systems

Nephrotoxicity

kidney damage

Neurotoxicity

Neurological signs from crossing of blood-brain barriers

Teratogenesis

birth defects

Genetic polymorphisms

genetic variation of ABC transporters

How does p-glycoproteins aid in drug resistance?

Molecular inhibitions, lack of binding, or overload of molecules

What are 3 ways mercury alters cellular function?

Disruption of microtubules, calcium homeostasis, and cell stress to trigger apoptosis

superoxide dismutase

result of leaking electron transport chain

what amino acid does methylmercury bind to?

cystine

how does ABC transporters affect methylmercury?

movement and removal of the chemical