VACCINE

Biological Trace Elements Research • June 2011
Automated speciation of mercury
in the hair of breastfed infants exposed to ethylmercury
from thimerosal-containing vaccines
Author information
Dórea JG1, Wimer W, Marques RC, Shade C.
Universidade de Brasília, C.P.04322, 70919-970
Brasília, Federal District, Brasil
dorea@rudah.com.br
Abstract
A simplified thiourea-based chromatography method, originally developed for methyl
and inorganic mercury, was adapted to separate methylmercury (MeHg), ethylmercury
(EtHg), and inorganic mercury (Hg(II)) in infants’ hair. Samples were weighed and
leached with an acidic thiourea solution. Leachates were concentrated on a polymeric
resin prior to analysis by Hg-thiourea liquid chromatography/cold vapor atomic fluorescence
spectrometry. All but one sample showed small amounts of EtHg, and four
of the six analyzed samples had proportionally higher Hg(II) as a percent of total Hg.
Breastfed infants from riverine Amazonian communities are exposed to mercury in
breast milk (from high levels of maternal sources that include both fish consumption
and dental amalgam) and to EtHg in vaccines (from thimerosal). The method proved
sensitive enough to detect and quantify acute EtHg exposure after shots of thimerosalcontaining
vaccines. Based on work with MeHg and Hg(II), estimated detection limits
for this method are 0.050, 0.10, and 0.10 ng g−¹ for MeHg, Hg(II), and EtHg, respectively,
for a 20-mg sample. Specific limits depend on the amount of sample extracted
and the amount of extract injected.
“The method proved
sensitive enough to detect
and quantify acute Ethyl Mercury
exposure after shots of
thimerosal-containing vaccines.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=20419397