Mercury, selenium, and cadmium in human autopsy samples from Idrija residents and mercury mine workers

Total Hg and Se concentrations were determined in autopsy samples of retire d Idrija mercury mine workers, Idrija residents living in a Hg-contaminated environment, and a control group with no known Hg exposure from the enviro nment. In selected samples we also checked the presence of MeHg. The highes t Hg concentrations were found in endocrine glands and kidney cortex, regar dless of the group. MeHg contributed only to a negligible degree to the tot al mercury concentrations in all analyzed samples. In the Hg-exposed groups the coaccumulation and retention of mercury and selenium was confirmed. Se lenium coaccumulation with a Hg/Se molar ratio near 1 or higher was notable only in those tissue samples (thyroid, pituitary, kidney cortex, nucleus d entatus) where the mercury concentrations were > 1 mug/g. After tissue sepa ration of such samples the majority of these elements were found in the cel l pellet. Because the general population is continuously exposed to Cd and possibly also to Pb from water, food, and/or air, in some samples the level s of these elements were also followed. In all examined control tissue samp les the average values of Cd (kidney cortex, thyroid, hippocampus, cortex c erebellum, nucleus dentatus) and Pb (thyroid, hippocampus) exceeded the ave rage values of Hg. Cd concentrations were the highest, particularly in kidn ey cortex and thyroids (mug/g), but no relationship between Cd and Se conce ntration was evident at the tissue level. Regarding the results in the cont rol group, it is debatable which element is the more hazardous for the gene ral population as concerns neurotoxicity. (C) 2000 Academic Press.