Hydrogen Water Protects Against Mercury Poisoning in Study
- Authors
- Mine Köktürk, Mehmet Nuri Atalar, Arzu Odunkıran, Menekşe Bulut, Duried Alwazeer
- Journal
- Environmental Science and Pollution Research
- Year
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11356-021-17230-x
- Study Type
- Earthworm (Octochaetus pattoni)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Turkey
- Health Condition
- Mercury Poisoning
- Body System
- Cellular
TL;DR
Earthworms exposed to mercury showed less damage when treated with hydrogen-rich water, suggesting it might help protect against mercury toxicity.
Key Finding
Earthworms exposed to mercury in hydrogen-rich water showed reduced oxidative DNA damage and better preservation of proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides compared to those exposed to mercury in regular water.
Summary
Researchers exposed earthworms to mercury at different concentrations, with some groups receiving mercury dissolved in hydrogen-rich water and others receiving mercury in regular water. Using specialized laboratory analysis methods, they measured changes in proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in the earthworm tissues, as well as DNA damage markers. Earthworms treated with hydrogen-rich water showed less damage to these biological molecules compared to those exposed to mercury alone, suggesting hydrogen-rich water may offer some protective effect against mercury toxicity.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage study in earthworms, not humans, so its relevance to human health is unclear. While the results suggest hydrogen-rich water may help protect against mercury-induced damage at the cellular level, much more research—including human studies—would be needed before drawing any conclusions about its use as a protective agent. The researchers note that longer treatment periods may be necessary to see clearer effects.
Abstract (excerpt)
The toxic effects of mercury in earthworms and the potential alleviation effect of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) using ATR-FTIR and LC-MS analysis methods were investigated. Different concentrations of mercury chloride (H1: 5 µg/mL, H2: 10 µg/mL, H3: 20 µg/mL, H4: 40 µg/mL, and C1: control) and mercury…