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Kumar S, Sharma A, Sedha S. Occupational and environmental mercury exposure and human reproductive health - a review. J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc 2022; 23:199-210. [PMID: 36065987 PMCID: PMC9450922 DOI: 10.4274/jtgga.galenos.2022.2022-2-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Mercury is a toxic heavy metal. Humans are exposed to mercury through several sources including environmental, occupational, contaminated food and water and from mercury-containing dental amalgam. Mercury exposure is known to harm the nervous system profoundly, and have a negative impact on digestive and immune systems, and other organs. To review and discuss the effect of mercury exposure through environmental or occupational routes on human reproduction, pregnancy, and its outcome. Published information about the potential toxic effects of mercury on human reproduction were collected and summarized. Literature was identified by systematic search using relevant keywords. Literature review revealed a number of negative impacts of mercury on human reproduction. These included effects on semen quality, including reduced sperm count, motility, and changes in morphology that may reduce fertility potential. There may also be an effect in changing reproductive hormone levels. Mercury exposure might also affect pregnancy but the data concerning mercury effects on female reproduction are limited except for some data about mercury exposure and poor pregnancy outcomes. Available data indicate that mercury exposure may have a toxicity effect on reproductive potential, especially in males. Prenatal mercury exposure may affect pregnancy or its outcome and this appears to be dependent upon dose, duration, and timing of exposure. Nutritional status of exposed individual might also influence the impact of mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar
- National Institute of Occupational Health, Gujarat, India
| | - Anupama Sharma
- National Institute of Occupational Health, Gujarat, India
| | - Sapna Sedha
- Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, Madhya Pradesh, India
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Association of Blood Mercury Levels with the Risks of Overweight and High Waist-to-Height Ratio in Children and Adolescents: Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 8:children8121087. [PMID: 34943283 PMCID: PMC8700710 DOI: 10.3390/children8121087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
A previous study in adults demonstrated the substantial role of mercury exposure in the development of overweight and obesity. Although children and adolescents are more susceptible to the toxic effects of mercury than adults, studies on the association of overweight and obesity with mercury exposure is limited. This study aimed to investigate the association of blood mercury levels with the body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) as obesity indices in Korean children and adolescents. The analyzed cross-sectional data were obtained from 1327 participants (age: 10–18 years; 672 male and 655 female) who completed the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2013. The covariates included sociodemographic factors (age, sex, and household income), dietary factors (fish, shellfish, and seaweed consumption), lifestyle factors (alcohol consumption, smoking status, and exercise), and blood hematocrit levels. The adjusted geometric mean blood mercury level was 2.19 µg/L, and the level of mercury was significantly higher in the overweight (BMI ≥ 85th gender and age-specific percentiles) and high WHtR (cutoff: ≥0.5) groups than in the normal group. In all the participants, the blood mercury levels were significantly positively associated with the BMI and WHtR after adjusting for all covariates (p < 0.05). All the participants in the highest blood mercury level quartile were at a higher risk for overweight and a high WHtR than those in the lowest quartile after adjusting for all covariates (p < 0.05). Our study suggests a significant association between mercury exposure and the risks of overweight and high WHtR in Korean children and adolescents.
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Lee S, Yoon JH, Won JU, Lee W, Lee JH, Seok H, Kim YK, Kim CN, Roh J. The Association Between Blood Mercury Levels and Risk for Overweight in a General Adult Population: Results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Biol Trace Elem Res 2016; 171:251-261. [PMID: 26458904 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-015-0530-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The primary objective of this study was to estimate the association between blood mercury levels and overweight in Korean adults. We analyzed cross-sectional data from 9228 participants (4283 men and 4945 women) who completed the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 2007-2013. The population was divided into two groups according to the body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Blood mercury levels were analyzed using a gold amalgam method with a DMA-80 instrument, categorized into quartiles, and stratified by sex. After adjusting for all covariates, blood mercury was significantly associated with overweight in all subjects. According to the BMI criteria, the adjusted odds ratio of being in the highest blood mercury quartile was 1.75 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.53-2.01) overall, 2.09 (95 % CI, 1.71-2.55) in men, and 1.58 (95 % CI, 1.32-1.89) in women. According to the WC criteria, the adjusted odds ratio of being in the highest blood mercury quartile was 1.85 (95 % CI, 1.49-2.30) in men and 1.96 (95 % CI, 1.62-2.36) in women compared to the lowest quartile. Additionally, a trend in overweight across increasing blood mercury levels was observed by the p for trend test in the multiple diagnostic criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seunghyun Lee
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Ha Yoon
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Uk Won
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Incheon Worker's Health Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Wanhyung Lee
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Incheon Worker's Health Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - June-Hee Lee
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Incheon Worker's Health Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hongdeok Seok
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Incheon Worker's Health Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeong-Kwang Kim
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Incheon Worker's Health Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Chi-Nyon Kim
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaehoon Roh
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Incheon Worker's Health Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
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