METHYLMERCURY COMPOUNDS IN EGGS FROM HENS AFTER ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF MERCURY COMPOUNDS

White leghorn hens were fed for 140 days with wheat treated with methylmercury hydroxide, phenylmercury hydroxide, methoxyethylmercury hydroxide, and mercury(II) nitrate. The daily administration was 400 or 1600 μg. of mercury. After administration of phenylmercury hydroxide, methoxyethylmercury hydroxide, or mercury(II) nitrate, a proportion of the mercury was transformed to methylmercury compounds. The organs of the hens and the eggs contained different levels of methylmercury compounds. Since the methylation of mercury in the hen is neither rapid nor complete, the level of mercury concentration in the organism of the hen and in the eggs is mainly determined by the rate of excretion of the actual mercury compound administered. © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.