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
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 chloride prepared in hydrogen-rich water (H5: 5 µg/mL, H6: 10 µg/mL, H7: 20 µg/mL, H8: 40 µg/mL, and C2: control) were injected into earthworms. The changes and reductions in some bands representing proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides (3280 cm-1, 2922 cm-1, 2855 cm-1, 1170 cm-1, and 1047 cm-1) showed that protective effects could occur in groups prepared with hydrogen-rich water. In the FTIR results, it was found that these bands in the H3 group were more affected and decreased by the influence of mercury on earthworms than the H7 group prepared with hydrogen. LC-MS analysis showed that the changes in some ions of the highest dose groups (H4 and H8) were different, and mercury caused oxidative DNA damage in earthworms. When the high-level application groups of mercury, i.e., H4 and H8 were compared with the controls, the ion exchange ([M + H] + ; m/z 283.1) representing the 8-Oxo-dG level in earthworms was higher in the H4 group than the H8 group. This reveals that HRW exhibited the potential ability to alleviate the toxic effects of mercury; however, a longer period of HRW treatment may be necessary to distinguish an obvious effect. The ATR-FTIR spectroscopy provided a rapid and precise method for monitoring the changes in biological tissues caused by a toxic compound at the molecular level.