Partitioning and kinetics of methylmercury among organs in captive mink ( Neovison vison ): A stable isotope tracer study

Highlights • Double spiking with stable isotopes of methylHg was used to simultaneously measure uptake and elimination in different organs. • The isotope data demonstrate clearly both the uptake and loss of methylHg across the blood–brain barrier. • There was a lag time between peak blood concentration and peak brain of methylHg. • Irrespective of blood concentration the partition coefficient between blood and brain was approximately 2.5. • Half-lives for methylHg in brain, liver and kidney ranged between 10 and 15 days.