In vitro investigation of the possible influence of inorganic mercury and hydrogen peroxide on the formation of peroxides in a polyunsaturated fatty acid system (linoleic acid)

Abstract

In vitro there was no indication that either inorganic mercury (vapor or metallic) or hydrogen peroxide catalyzed a rapid formation of peroxides in a polyunsaturated fatty acid as linoleic acid. When mercury and hydrogen peroxide were combined in a solution of linoleic acid, a notable amount of peroxide was registered by thin layer chromatography. As hydrogen peroxide is an inevitable intermediate product of oxygen metabolism and also a component of the immunologic defense system, the interaction between mercury and hydrogen peroxide must be considered an important fact in knowledge of the mechanisms of mercury toxicity. When natrium selenite was added to a linoleic acid containing mercury, an initial rise in peroxidation was observed. In a few days, however, the increase in peroxidation turned to a decrease. We consider dental amalgam as a source of mercury, and, therefore, toxicologically unsuitable as a tooth filling material.