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Final Report: Studies of Mercury Metabolism and Selenium Physiology
EPA Grant Number: R827649C022Subproject: this is subproject number 022 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R827649
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Center for Air Toxic Metals® (CATM®)
Center Director: Groenewold, Gerald
Title: Studies of Mercury Metabolism and Selenium Physiology
Investigators: Pavlish, John H. , Benson, Steven A. , Galbreath, Kevin C. , Hassett, David J. , Heebink, Loreal V. , Holmes, Michael J. , Kong, Lingbu , Laudal, Dennis L. , Mibeck, Blaise , Miller, Stanley J. , Olson, Edwin S. , Ralston, Nicholas V.C. , Thompson, Jeffrey S. , Timpe, Ronald C. , Zygarlicke, Christopher J.
Institution: University of North Dakota
EPA Project Officer: Stelz, Bill
Project Period: October 15, 1999 through October 14, 2004
RFA: Center for Air Toxic Metals (CATM) (1998)
Research Category: Targeted Research
Description:
Objective:The objective of this research project was to address air toxic trace element emissions, which have become a matter of worldwide concern as well as a regulatory issue in the United States. The specific objective of this research project was to develop and disseminate critical information on air toxic metal compounds to support development and implementation of pollution prevention and control strategies that will reduce effectively air toxic metal emissions and releases to the environment.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):Because of increased interest and awareness of Hg-related health effects, a project was initiated to compare and contrast the influences of dietary Hg and Se on the growth of weanling rats. The objective was to determine the influence of Se status on sensitivity to Hg’s toxic effects. Se is a nutrient that enhances cancer resistance and supports the immune system. Numerous studies indicate that dietary Se has a further beneficial role in providing protection against negative consequences of Hg exposure. The biochemical mechanism for Se’s protective effect against Hg, however, remains unclear. Feeding studies were performed in rats to examine the effect of different levels of methylmercury on weight gain in conjunction with Se-deficient, Se-adequate, and Se-rich diets. One of the more prominent signs of Hg toxicity in experimental animals is depressed growth. During a 9-week study, rats fed Se-deficient diets along with high concentrations of added Hg gained less weight than normal starting at 3 weeks, but no obvious neurological signs of Hg toxicity were observed. For rats fed a Se-adequate diet, growth was only slightly depressed starting at week 5. For rats fed Se-rich diets, there was no indication of Hg-dependent growth depression. These results indicated that Hg is far more toxic when Se status is low, less toxic when Se status is adequate, and without any apparent effect when Se status is supplemented. Because Hg exposure among Americans mainly is a question of dietary fish consumption, it is important to learn the biochemistry involved in the digestive uptake, blood redistribution, tissue incorporation, and cellular physiology involved in Hg’s molecular interactions with Se in humans. This is an area of increased interest to the Center for Air Toxic Metals and will be expanded in future years.
Supplemental Keywords:air, air quality, analysis, control, emissions, environment, hazardous, measurement, mercury, metals, modeling, pollutants, pollution, sampling, species, toxic, transformations,
,
Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Analytical Chemistry, mercury transport, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Monitoring, atmospheric deposition, emissions, mercury chemistry, mercury metabolism, Physicochemical aspects, Selenium
Relevant Websites:
http://www.undeerc.org 
http://www.undeerc.org/catm/index.html
Progress and Final Reports:
2003 Progress Report
Original Abstract
Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R827649 Center for Air Toxic Metals® (CATM®)
Subprojects under this Center:
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R827649C001 Development And Demonstration Of Trace Metals Database
R827649C002 Nickel Speciation Of Residual Oil Ash
R827649C003 Atmospheric Deposition: Air Toxics At Lake Superior
R827649C004 Novel Approaches For Prevention And Control For Trace Metals
R827649C005 Wet Scrubber System
R827649C006 Technology Commercialization And Education
R827649C007 Development Of Speciation And Sampling Tools For Mercury In Flue Gas
R827649C008 Process Impacts On Trace Element Speciation
R827649C009 Mercury Transformations in Coal Combustion Flue Gas
R827649C010 Nickel, Chromium, and Arsenic Speciation of Ambient Particulate Matter in the Vicinity of an Oil-Fired Utility Boiler
R827649C011 Transition Metal Speciation of Fossil Fuel Combustion Flue Gases
R827649C012 Fundamental Study of the Impact of SCR on Mercury Speciation
R827649C013 Development of Mercury Sampling and Analytical Techniques
R827649C014 Longer-Term Testing of Continuous Mercury Monitors
R827649C015 Long-Term Mercury Monitoring at North Dakota Power Plants
R827649C016 Development of a Laser Absorption Continuous Mercury Monitor
R827649C017 Development of Mercury Control Technologies
R827649C018 Developing SCR Technology Options for Mercury Oxidation in Western Fuels
R827649C019 Modeling Mercury Speciation in Coal Combustion Systems
R827649C020 Stability of Mercury in Coal Combustion By-Products and Sorbents
R827649C021 Mercury in Alternative Fuels
R827649C022 Studies of Mercury Metabolism and Selenium Physiology