Toxicokinetics and methyl mercury in pigs.

Toxicokinetics of methyl mercury were studied in pigs after intravenous (i.v.) administration of the compound. The distribution of methyl mercury was slow taking 3-4 days to be completed. Blood elimination half-life was found to be 25 days. The apparent volume of distribution was 9.8 l/kg indicating pronounced tissue accumulation of methyl mercury. Highest mercury levels were found in kidney and liver, with lower contents in muscle and brain and very little in adipose tissue. The results indicate that from organs like liver and kidney methyl mercury is eliminated much more slowly than from the blood. Over a period of 15 days 16% of the dose administered was excreted with faeces and 0.9% in the urine.