Mercury is a naturally occurring element found in rocks, soil, water and air.  It conducts electricity, is sensitive to changes in temperature and pressure and acts as a biocide and catalyst.  Primary uses are batteries, vapor discharge lamps, rectifiers, fluorescent bulbs, thermometers and industrial control instruments.  Much of the general population is exposed to mercury as a dental and/or medical treatment.   Deposition of mercury in bottom sediments leads to bioaccumulation in the food chain. Both inorganic and organic forms of mercury are neurotoxicants, with methyl mercury being particularly toxic to humans. 

PRINCIPLES OF THE TEST

The laboratory determines mercury in urine and blood samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).  The method detects total mercury in these specimen types.  The specimens are combined with a diluent then automatically pumped to the instrument nebulizer.  This atomizes the solution into radio frequency plasma where ionization takes place.  A vacuum interface pulls the ions through a series of cones and a focusing lens.  At this point the positively charged ions enter the quadrupole where the ions are separated by their mass to charge ratio.  The ions transmitted through the quadrupole are detected by an electron multiplier, and processed by the data handling system.

Contact:

Jeffrey Dupler at 517-335-8244, duplerj@michigan.gov or

Dr. Kevin Cavanagh, 517-335-9490, cavanaghk@michigan.gov