Desquamation of Renal Epithelial Cells as a Route of Mercury Excretion in Man: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Urine of mercury-exposed workers in a chlorine manufacturing factory and of staffs of our laboratory was separated in the supernatant solution and the precipitate by a centrifugation of 105,000 Xg for 60 min. The ratio of the amount of inorganic mercury in the precipitate to that in the supernatant solution ranged from 0.23 to 4.84, and was dependent upon the level of urinary mercury. The role of the desquamation of tubular cells is suggested as a possible route of urinary excretion of mercury.