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In Vivo Measurements of Mercury Using X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2019

J. Börjesson
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Physics, University of Göteborg, Sahlgren Hospital, S-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden Department of Radiation Physics, Lund University, Malmö University Hospital, S-214 01 Malmö, Sweden
L. Barregård
Affiliation:
Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Göteborg, Sahlgren Hospital, S-413 45, Göteborg, Sweden
G. Sällsten
Affiliation:
Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Göteborg, Sahlgren Hospital, S-413 45, Göteborg, Sweden
A. Schütz
Affiliation:
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, University Hospital, S-221 85 Lund, Sweden
R. Jonson
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Physics, University of Göteborg, Sahlgren Hospital, S-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden
M. Apsten
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Physics, University of Göteborg, Sahlgren Hospital, S-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden
S. Mattsson
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Physics, Lund University, Malmö University Hospital, S-214 01 Malmö, Sweden
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Abstract

In this study we present the results of in vivo measurements of the mercury concentration in organs of occupationally exposed persons by the use of X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF). The mercury concentration in the right kidney was measured in 20 occupationally exposed workers and 12 referents. The detection limit for the individual persons varied with the kidney depth (mean 26 μg/g, range 12-45 μg/g), was exceeded in nine of the exposed workers but in none of the referents. The mean kidney mercury concentration (including estimated concentration values below the detection limit) was 24 μg/g in the group of exposed workers (group MDC 5 μg/g) and for the group of referents no detectable concentration (mean 1 μg/g) was found (group MDC 6 μg/g). The mean urinary mercury excretions for the two groups were 34 and 1.7 μg per g creatinine. X-ray fluorescence measurements made on liver (n = 10) and thyroid (n = 8), in some of the exposed workers, revealed no measurable mercury concentrations.

Type
VIII. In Vivo Applications of XRS
Copyright
Copyright © International Centre for Diffraction Data 1994

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