Use of mercury isotopes to quantify sources of human inorganic mercury exposure and metabolic processes in the human body

The pathways of human mercury (Hg) exposure are complex and accurate understanding of relative contributions from different pathways are crucial for risk assessment and risk control. In this study, we determined total Hg concentration and Hg isotopic composition of human urine, dietary components, and inhaled air in the Wanshan Hg mining area (MA), Guiyang urban area (UA), and Changshun background area (BA) to understand Hg exposure sources and metabolic processes in human body. At the three studied sites, total gaseous mercury (TGM) showed negative delta Hg-202 (-3.11 parts per thousand to + 1.12 parts per thousand) and near-zero Delta Hg-199 (-0.16 parts per thousand to + 0.13 parts per thousand), which were isotopically distinguishable from Hg isotope values of urine (delta Hg-202: -4.02 parts per thousand to -0.84 parts per thousand; Delta Hg-199: -0.14 parts per thousand to 0.64 parts per thousand). We observed an offset of -1.01 parts per thousand to -1.6 parts per thousand in delta Hg-202 between TGM and urine samples, and an offset of -1.01 parts per thousand to 0.80 parts per thousand in delta Hg-202 between rice and urine samples, suggesting that lighter isotopes are more easily accumulated in the kidneys and excreted by urine. We proposed that the high positive Delta Hg-199 in urine samples of UA was derived from fish consumption. The results of a binary mixing model based on Delta Hg-199 were compared with those from a classic dietary model. The results from the MIF binary model showed that fish consumption accounted for 22% of urine Hg in the families at UA, whereas fish consumption contributed limited Hg to MA and BA. This study highlighted that Hg isotopes can be a useful tracer in understanding the sources and fates of Hg in human bodies.

Automated summary

This study investigated the pathways of human mercury exposure using Hg isotopic analysis, finding isotopic differences between TGM and urine samples, as well as urine and dietary components. The positive Delta Hg-199 in urine samples from the urban area was attributed to fish consumption, with fish contributing 22% of urine Hg in urban families but limited Hg in mining and background areas. The study highlighted the utility of Hg isotopes as tracers for understanding Hg sources and fates in human bodies.