Absorption and excretion of mercury in man. XIV. Salivary excretion of mercury and its relationship to blood and urine mercury.

Abstract

The relationships among the mercury contents of salivary (parotid gland) secretions and simultaneously obtained blood and urine specimens were examined quantitatively among a group occupationally exposed to several mixed mercurials. Mercury concentrations in saliva averaged 1/4 and 1/10 of the blood and urinary concentrations, respectively. A high correlation was observed between blood and parotid fluid mercury contents, inferring that the readily obtainable parotid secretion may be of diagnostic value as an indirect monitor of blood mercury as well as other other foreign substances in the blood.