What I’m driving at is that if toxic metals like mercury can trigger
AH, that may explain adult-onset AH in the absense of genetic factors.

For example, http://tuberose.com/Mercury.html says:

"Mercury causes a defect in adrenal steroid biosynthesis by inhibiting the activity of 21a-hydroxylase. The
consequences of this inhibition include lowered plasma levels of corticosterone and elevated concentrations of
progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA is an adrenal male hormone. Because patients with
21-hydroxylase deficiencies are incapable of synthesizing cortisol with normal efficiency, there’s a compensatory rise
in ACTH leading to adrenal hyperplasia and excessive excretion of 17a-hydroxyprogesterone, which, without the
enzyme 21-hydroxylase, cannot be converted to cortisol. The inhibition of the 21-hydroxylase system may be
the mechanism behind the mercury-induced adrenal hyperplasia."

Not having seen this info elsewhere, I’m wondering if it is generally accepted as fact.