THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MERCURY CONCENTRATION IN HUMAN ORGANS AND DIFFERENT PREDICTOR VARIABLES

Samples from different tissues were collected from autopsies of indivi duals of the general population of the Stockholm area, Sweden. The sam ples were analysed for total mercury content using radiochemical neutr on activation analysis. Average concentrations of mercury in occipital cort'', abdominal muscle, pituitary gland and kidney cortex were, 10. 6 (2.4-28.7), 3.3 (0.9-5.4), 25.0 (6.3-77) and 229 (211-810) mug/kg we t weight, respectively. Possible predictor variables for mercury conce ntrations were tested in multiple linear regression models. An effect of a number of tooth surfaces with amalgam was seen in occipital lobe cortex, abdominal muscle and pituitary gland, but not in kidney cortex . In occipital lobe cortex and abdominal muscle, concentrations of mer cury increased with age. Explanations discussed include: that a signif icant fraction of the mercury retained from amalgam fillings has a ver y long biological half-life; a decreasing capacity of mercury excretio n with age; or higher fish consumption in the older individuals. In ki dney cortex mercury concentrations decreased with age. The reason for this remains unclear, but it might indicate a decreasing capacity of m ercury excretion with age. Chronic alcohol abuse was associated with d ecreased concentrations of mercury in occipital cortex.