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J.Health Sci., 51(2), 220-223, 2005
Simple Method for Methylmercury Estimation in Biological Samples Using
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
Akira Yasutake,*, a Masaaki
Nagano,a and Atsuhiro Nakanob
aBiochemistry Section, and
bDepartment of Basic Medical Science, National Institute for Minamata Disease, 4058-18 Hama,
Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, Japan
Total mercury level in biological samples have
often been analyzed using atomic absorption
spectroscopy (AAS), following the conversion of all the
mercury to atomic mercury vapor. On the other hand,
analysis of methylmercury (MeHg) using an electron
capture detector-gas chromatography (ECD-GC) has well been established. For ECD-GC analysis, the MeHg
in samples must be extracted in toluene as its complex
with chloride or dithizone. Here, we attempted to
analyze MeHg content in rat tissues by the oxygen
combustion-gold amalgamation method using AAS,
following toluene extraction and back extraction to an
aqueous medium. Since all the processes were carried out
in a microtube using a micro homogenizing system, microtube mixer and a micro centrifuge, the time
required to prepare 12 samples was as short as 30 min.
Recoveries of MeHg added to rat brain, kidney and liver homogenates were 83.6-86.7%. Accordingly, a
recovery factor of 0.85 was necessary to calculate
MeHg content from the analytically obtained value.
Using the present method and the previously
established method for inorganic mercury quantification,
the sum of methyl and inorganic mercury contents in
MeHg-treated and non-treated control rat tissues
fitted well the total mercury contents. The present
method would be useful to estimate, at least roughly,
MeHg content in biological samples using the same instrument as total mercury analysis.
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