Study in pigs of the protective effect against mercury of anion exchange resin in chloride form

Abstract

This experiment was performed on castrated boars of 16 to 18 kg live weight, with HgCh labelled with Hg-203 isotope and VARION AD anion exchange resin in the form of Cl (NIKE, Balatonfűzfő). The mercury was administered to the pigs in a single dose (2.5 mg Hg per animal), while the resin was consumed continuously, mixed in with the diet (20 g or 40 g resin per kg feed). This experimental feeding proceeded for 10 days. The results obtained indicate that in the digestive system the resin bound the greater part of the Hg (II) ions, which were then excreted in the faeces together with the resin. Although, owing to the inhibiting of mercury absorption, the excretion of mercury in the urine was also reduced, there was a substantial increase in total mercury excretion. This was of course accompanied by slight accumulation of mercury in the various organs. The protective effect for which evidence was provided by the above findings can be attributed to the fact that Hg (II) ions form fairly stable chloro-complexes with CF ions, and therefore VARION AD (Cl) also probably acts as a complex-forming entity in the digestive tract. With respect to the selectivity and effectiveness of the protective agent used, it is highly favourable that the ions of the alkali metals and the alkaline earth metals do not form chloro-complexes, thus restricting somewhat the range of competing metal ions present in the alimentary canal.