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Zhang B, Pethybridge H, Sutton C, Virtue P, Li Y. Total mercury concentrations in Tasman Sea mesopelagic fish: Exploring biotic and abiotic drivers. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 206:116676. [PMID: 38991610 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Understanding mercury (Hg) concentrations in mesopelagic and mid-trophic fishes is important for assessing Hg accumulation in oceanic ecosystems and higher-order predators. This study measured total Hg (THg) concentrations in the whole body of 16 abundant mesopelagic fish species sampled in two distinct sites within the Tasman Sea. Across all species, total Hg concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 0.48 μg g-1 dry weight (0.01 to 0.15 μg g-1 wet weight). Total Hg concentrations varied with vertical migration patterns, with shallower migrators exhibiting higher THg. Females typically had statistically higher THg concentrations than males. Positive correlations between THg concentration and standard length were observed for some but not all species. At the community level, THg concentrations correlated positively with estimated trophic position and foraging habitat, as inferred by stable isotope values. These findings contribute to our understanding of Hg cycling in oceanic ecosystems and the potential for biomagnification in oceanic top-order predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Zhang
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tasmania 7004, Australia; CSIRO Environment, Battery Point, Tasmania 7004, Australia.
| | | | | | - Patti Virtue
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tasmania 7004, Australia; CSIRO Environment, Battery Point, Tasmania 7004, Australia
| | - Yunkai Li
- College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
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2
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Spence T, Zavez A, Allsopp PJ, Conway MC, Yeates AJ, Mulhern MS, van Wijngaarden E, Strain JJ, Myers GJ, Watson GE, Davidson PW, Shamlaye CF, Thurston SW, McSorley EM. Serum cytokines are associated with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and not with methylmercury measured in infant cord blood in the Seychelles child development study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112003. [PMID: 34492279 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal fish consumption increases infant methylmercury (MeHg) exposure and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations. The n-3 PUFA are regulators of inflammation while MeHg may impact the cord cytokine profile and, subsequently, contribute to immune mediated outcomes. This study aimed to investigate associations between infant MeHg exposure and cord cytokine concentrations while adjusting for cord PUFA. METHODS We studied participants in the Seychelles Child Development Study (SCDS) Nutrition Cohort 2 (NC2), a large birth cohort in a high fish-eating population. Whole blood MeHg, serum PUFA and serum cytokine concentrations (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-12p70, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, IL-6 and IL-8) were measured in cord blood collected at delivery (n = 878). Linear regression examined associations between infant MeHg exposure and cord cytokines concentrations, with and without adjustment for cord PUFA. An interaction model examined cord MeHg, cytokines and tertiles of the n-6:n-3 ratio (low/medium/high). RESULTS There was no overall association between cord MeHg (34.08 ± 19.98 μg/L) and cytokine concentrations, with or without adjustment for PUFA. Increased total n-3 PUFA (DHA, EPA and ALA) was significantly associated with lower IL-10 (β = -0.667; p = 0.007) and lower total Th2 (IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13) (β = -0.715; p = 0.036). In the interaction model, MeHg and IL-1β was positive and significantly different from zero in the lowest n-6:n-3 ratio tertile (β = 0.002, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION Methylmercury exposure from fish consumption does not appear to impact markers of inflammation in cord blood. The association of cord n-3 PUFA with lower IL-10 and total Th2 cytokines suggests that they may have a beneficial influence on the regulation of the inflammatory milieu. These findings are important for public health advice and deserve to be investigated in follow up studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni Spence
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1SA, UK.
| | - Alexis Zavez
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
| | - Philip J Allsopp
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1SA, UK
| | - Marie C Conway
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1SA, UK.
| | - Alison J Yeates
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1SA, UK.
| | - Maria S Mulhern
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1SA, UK.
| | - Edwin van Wijngaarden
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
| | - J J Strain
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1SA, UK.
| | - Gary J Myers
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
| | - Gene E Watson
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
| | - Philip W Davidson
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
| | | | - Sally W Thurston
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
| | - Emeir M McSorley
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1SA, UK.
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Lee A, Mondon J, Merenda A, Dumée LF, Callahan DL. Surface adsorption of metallic species onto microplastics with long-term exposure to the natural marine environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 780:146613. [PMID: 34030302 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are ubiquitous in most biomes and environments, representing one of the most pressing global environmental challenges. This study investigated the ability of pre-production microplastic pellets to accumulate metals from the marine environment. An accidental ocean discharge of poly(propylene) pellets occurred via a wastewater treatment centre at the coastal city of Warrnambool, Victoria - Australia. These pellets were collected routinely from Shelly Beach, adjacent to the ocean discharge site over a period of 16-months following the spill. This collection formed a unique time-series that accurately represented the degree to which metal ions in the coastal marine environment accumulate on plastic debris. Elemental analysis indicated an increase in concentration over time of rare earth elements and a selection of other metals supporting the hypothesis that microplastics selectively adsorb metals from the environment. A subset of the poly(propylene) pellets contained a surfactant coating which significantly increased the adsorption capacity. The surface properties in relation to adsorption were further explored with surface imaging and these results are also discussed. This study shows how microplastics act as nucleation points and carriers of trace metal ions in marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Lee
- Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, (Burwood Campus), 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Julie Mondon
- Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, (Warrnambool Campus), Princes Hwy, Sherwood Park, PO Box 423, Warrnambool, VIC 3280, Australia
| | - Andrea Merenda
- Deakin University, Geelong, Institute for Frontier Materials, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia, 3216
| | - Ludovic F Dumée
- Deakin University, Geelong, Institute for Frontier Materials, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia, 3216; Khalifa University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and Hydrogen, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Center for Membrane and Advanced Water Technology, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Damien L Callahan
- Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, (Burwood Campus), 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia.
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4
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Camsari C, Folger JK, Rajput SK, McGee D, Latham KE, Smith GW. Transgenerational Effects of Periconception Heavy Metal Administration on Adipose Weight and Glucose Homeostasis in Mice at Maturity. Toxicol Sci 2020; 168:610-619. [PMID: 30629257 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfz008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that periconception maternal administration (2 mg/kg body weight each) of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) plus methylmercury (II) chloride (CH3HgCl) impaired glucose homeostasis and increased body weights and abdominal adipose tissue weight of male offspring in the F1 generation. However, transgenerational effects of this exposure have not been studied. Therefore, the effects of periconception Cd+Hg administration on indices of chronic diseases at adulthood in F2-F4 generations were examined. Male and female progeny of Cd+Hg periconceptionally treated females, and offspring of vehicle control females were bred with naïve CD1 mice to obtain F2 offspring, with additional crosses as above to the F4 generation (F1-F4 animals were not administered Cd+Hg). Birth weights and litter size were similar in all generations. Indices of impaired glucose homeostasis were observed in matrilineally descended F2 male offspring, including reduced glucose tolerance, along with increased basal phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) at serine 307 suggesting altered insulin signaling. Reduced glucose tolerance was also seen in F4 males. Increased body weight and/or abdominal adiposity were observed through the F4 generation in males descended matrilineally from the treated female progenitors. Patrilineally derived F2 females displayed reduced glucose tolerance. Females (F2) patrilineally and matrilineally derived displayed significant kidney enlargement. Periconception administration of cadmium and mercury caused persistent transgenerational effects in offspring through the F4 generation in the absence of continued toxicant exposure, with persistent transgenerational effects inherited specifically through the matrilineal germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cagri Camsari
- Laboratory of Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Genomics.,Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824.,Innovative Food Technologies Development Application and Research Center, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu 14030, Turkey
| | - Joseph K Folger
- Laboratory of Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Genomics.,Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Sandeep K Rajput
- Laboratory of Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Genomics.,Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Devin McGee
- Laboratory of Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Genomics.,Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Keith E Latham
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824.,Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - George W Smith
- Laboratory of Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Genomics.,Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
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Buriak I, Fleck RA, Goltsev A, Shevchenko N, Petrushko M, Yurchuk T, Puhovkin A, Rozanova S, Guibert EE, Robert MC, de Paz LJ, Powell-Palm MJ, Fuller B. Translation of Cryobiological Techniques to Socially Economically Deprived Populations—Part 1: Cryogenic Preservation Strategies. J Med Device 2020. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4045878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Use of cold for preservation of biological materials, avoidance of food spoilage and to manage a variety of medical conditions has been known for centuries. The cryobiological science justified these applications in the 1960s increasing their use in expanding global activities. However, the engineering and technological aspects associated with cryobiology can be expensive and this raises questions about the abilities of resource-restricted low and middle income countries (LMICs) to benefit from the advances. This review was undertaken to understand where or how access to cryobiological advances currently exist and the constraints on their usage. The subject areas investigated were based on themes which commonly appear in the journal Cryobiology. This led in the final analysis for separating the review into two parts, with the first part dealing with cold applied for biopreservation of living cells and tissues in science, health care and agriculture, and the second part dealing with cold destruction of tissues in medicine. The limitations of the approaches used are recognized, but as a first attempt to address these topics surrounding access to cryobiology in LMICs, the review should pave the way for future more subject-specific assessments of the true global uptake of the benefits of cryobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Buriak
- Department of Cryomicrobiology, Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 23, Pereyaslavska str, Kharkiv 61016, Ukraine
| | - Roland A. Fleck
- Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging, Kings College London, New Hunts House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1 UL, United Kingdom
| | - Anatoliy Goltsev
- Department of Cryopathophysiology and Immunology, Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine, National Academy of Sciences, 23, Pereyaslavska str, Kharkiv 61016, Ukraine
| | - Nadiya Shevchenko
- Laboratory of Phytocryobiology, Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 23, Pereyaslavska str, Kharkiv 61016, Ukraine
| | - Maryna Petrushko
- Department for Cryobiology of Reproduction System, Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 23, Pereyaslavska str, Kharkiv 61016, Ukraine
| | - Taisiia Yurchuk
- Department for Cryobiology of Reproduction System, Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 23, Pereyaslavska str, Kharkiv 61016, Ukraine
| | - Anton Puhovkin
- Department for Cryobiology of Reproduction System, Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 23, Pereyaslavska str, Kharkiv 61016, Ukraine
| | - Svitlana Rozanova
- Department of Cryobiophysics, Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 23, Pereyaslavska str, Kharkiv 61016, Ukraine
| | - Edgardo Elvio Guibert
- Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Centro Binacional (Argentina-Italia) de Investigaciones en Criobiología Clínica y Aplicada, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Avda. Arijon 28BIS, Rosario 2000, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Avda. Arijon 28BIS, Rosario 2000, Argentina
| | - Maria Celeste Robert
- Centro Binacional (Argentina-Italia) de Investigaciones en Criobiología Clínica y Aplicada, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Avda. Arijon 28BIS, Rosario 2000, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Avda. Arijon 28BIS, Rosario 2000, Argentina
| | - Leonardo Juan de Paz
- Centro Binacional (Argentina-Italia) de Investigaciones en Criobiología Clínica y Aplicada, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Avda. Arijon 28BIS, Rosario 2000, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Avda. Arijon 28BIS, Rosario 2000, Argentina
| | - Matthew J. Powell-Palm
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California Berkeley, 6124 Etcheverry Hall, Hearst Ave, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Barry Fuller
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL Medical School, Royal Free Hospital, London NW3 2QG, United Kingdom
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6
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Joubert BR, Mantooth SN, McAllister KA. Environmental Health Research in Africa: Important Progress and Promising Opportunities. Front Genet 2020; 10:1166. [PMID: 32010175 PMCID: PMC6977412 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization in 2016 estimated that over 20% of the global disease burden and deaths were attributed to modifiable environmental factors. However, data clearly characterizing the impact of environmental exposures and health endpoints in African populations is limited. To describe recent progress and identify important research gaps, we reviewed literature on environmental health research in African populations over the last decade, as well as research incorporating both genomic and environmental factors. We queried PubMed for peer-reviewed research articles, reviews, or books examining environmental exposures and health outcomes in human populations in Africa. Searches utilized medical subheading (MeSH) terms for environmental exposure categories listed in the March 2018 US National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, which includes chemicals with worldwide distributions. Our search strategy retrieved 540 relevant publications, with studies evaluating health impacts of ambient air pollution (n=105), indoor air pollution (n = 166), heavy metals (n = 130), pesticides (n = 95), dietary mold (n = 61), indoor mold (n = 9), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs, n = 0), electronic waste (n = 9), environmental phenols (n = 4), flame retardants (n = 8), and phthalates (n = 3), where publications could belong to more than one exposure category. Only 23 publications characterized both environmental and genomic risk factors. Cardiovascular and respiratory health endpoints impacted by air pollution were comparable to observations in other countries. Air pollution exposures unique to Africa and some other resource limited settings were dust and specific occupational exposures. Literature describing harmful health effects of metals, pesticides, and dietary mold represented a context unique to Africa. Studies of exposures to phthalates, PFASs, phenols, and flame retardants were very limited. These results underscore the need for further focus on current and emerging environmental and chemical health risks as well as better integration of genomic and environmental factors in African research studies. Environmental exposures with distinct routes of exposure, unique co-exposures and co-morbidities, combined with the extensive genomic diversity in Africa may lead to the identification of novel mechanisms underlying complex disease and promising potential for translation to global public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie R Joubert
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | | | - Kimberly A McAllister
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
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7
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Schofield K. An Important Need to Monitor from an Early Age the Neurotoxins in the Blood or by an Equivalent Biomarker. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16183425. [PMID: 31527390 PMCID: PMC6766009 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16183425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
An overwhelming amount of evidence now suggests that some people are becoming overloaded with neurotoxins. This is mainly from changes in their living environment and style, coupled with the fact that all people are different and display a broad distribution of genetic susceptibilities. It is important for individuals to know where they lie concerning their ability to either reject or retain toxins. Everyone is contaminated with a certain baseline of toxins that are alien to the body, namely aluminum, arsenic, lead, and mercury. Major societal changes have modified their intake, such as vaccines in enhanced inoculation procedures and the addition of sushi into diets, coupled with the ever-present lead, arsenic, and traces of manganese. It is now apparent that no single toxin is responsible for the current neurological epidemics, but rather a collaborative interaction with possible synergistic components. Selenium, although also a neurotoxin if in an excessive amount, is always present and is generally more present than other toxins. It performs as the body’s natural chelator. However, it is possible that the formation rates of active selenium proteins may become overburdened by other toxins. Every person is different and it now appears imperative that the medical profession establish an individual’s neurotoxicity baseline. Moreover, young women should certainly establish their baselines long before pregnancy in order to identify possible risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith Schofield
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5121, USA.
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Ursinyova M, Masanova V, Uhnakova I, Murinova LP, Patayova H, Rausova K, Trnovec T, Stencl J, Gajdos M. Prenatal and Early Postnatal Exposure to Total Mercury and Methylmercury from Low Maternal Fish Consumption. Biol Trace Elem Res 2019; 191:16-26. [PMID: 30499063 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-018-1585-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of low fish consumption on prenatal and early postnatal exposure to mercury species. The samples of umbilical cord blood and maternal milk as well as interviewer-administered questionnaires were collected from 142 Slovak mother-child pairs. The mean total mercury (THg) concentrations in cord blood and milk were 0.949 μg/L and 0.376 μg/kg, respectively. The mean methylmercury (MeHg) concentration in cord blood was 0.504 μg/L. Fish eaters had significantly higher cord blood MeHg concentrations than non-fish eaters (p = 0.030); no difference was found in milk or cord blood THg concentrations. The bivariate analysis showed a positive correlation between cord blood MeHg and consumption of sea fish and shellfish (rs = 0.320, p < 0.001); after adjustment for the potential confounders, the association was weakened (β = 0.173, p = 0.059). Nevertheless, the decision tree method showed sea fish and shellfish consumption to be the best predictor of cord blood MeHg. Furthermore, a negative association was found between THg concentrations in maternal milk and freshwater fish consumption (β = - 0.193, p = 0.017), which might indicate a beneficial effect of freshwater fish consumption. The results suggest there is a need for future research to investigate the benefits versus the adverse effects of low maternal fish consumption on child development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Ursinyova
- Department of Metallomics, Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbova 12, 833 03, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
| | - Vlasta Masanova
- Department of Metallomics, Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbova 12, 833 03, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Iveta Uhnakova
- Department of Metallomics, Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbova 12, 833 03, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Lubica Palkovicova Murinova
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbova 12, 833 03, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Henrieta Patayova
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbova 12, 833 03, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Katarina Rausova
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbova 12, 833 03, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Tomas Trnovec
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbova 12, 833 03, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Jan Stencl
- Honorary Rector, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbova 12, 833 03, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Martin Gajdos
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbova 12, 833 03, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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9
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Kobayashi S, Kishi R, Saijo Y, Ito Y, Oba K, Araki A, Miyashita C, Itoh S, Minatoya M, Yamazaki K, Ait Bamai Y, Sato T, Yamazaki S, Nakayama SF, Isobe T, Nitta H. Association of blood mercury levels during pregnancy with infant birth size by blood selenium levels in the Japan Environment and Children's Study: A prospective birth cohort. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 125:418-429. [PMID: 30743147 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.01.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is necessary to determine whether there are adverse health effects of prenatal exposure to long-term, low levels of mercury and selenium. However, there are limited that reports on the association between mercury levels by selenium levels and birth size. Therefore, we examined whether maternal mercury levels during pregnancy had any effect on infant birth size, and size, and whether selenium levels influenced this relationship. OBJECTIVES To examine the association between mercury and selenium levels during pregnancy with infant birth size. METHODS The Japan Environment and Children's Study is a prospective birth cohort conducted between 2011 and 2014. Total mercury levels and total selenium levels in maternal blood during the second and third trimesters were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. Birth weight and small-for-gestational-age were confirmed by medical records. Small-for-gestational-age was defined as birth weight below the 10th percentile according to standard percentile for gender, parity, and gestational age. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between maternal mercury exposure and birth weight or small-for-gestational-age adjusted for confounders (including maternal age and body mass index pregnancy). RESULTS Overall, 15,444 pregnant women were included in this study. Median (inter-quartile range) of blood mercury and selenium levels were 3.66 (2.59-5.18) ng/g and 170.0 (158.0-183.0) ng/g, respectively. Compared to infants of mothers with the highest blood selenium level, those of mothers with the lowest blood selenium level had neither a significant birth weight increase (9 g, 95% confidence interval: -6, 25) nor a significant odds ratio for small-for-gestational-age (0.903, 95% confidence interval: 0.748, 1.089). Compared to infants of mothers with the lowest blood mercury level, those of mothers with the highest blood mercury level had neither a significant birth weight reduction (-12 g, 95% confidence interval: -27, 4) nor a significant odds ratio for small-for-gestational-age (0.951, 95% confidence interval: 0.786, 1.150). Compared to infants of mothers with the lowest quartile of maternal blood mercury level, all infants of mothers with the highest quartile of maternal blood mercury level had a reduced birth head circumference of 0.073 cm (95% confidence interval: -0.134, -0.011). CONCLUSIONS There was no association between maternal blood mercury levels and small-for-gestational-age and birth weight among 15,444 pregnant women. In a Japanese population, which has a relatively higher blood mercury level than reported in Western population, reduced birth size was not found to be associated with blood mercury levels, with the exception of birth head circumference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumitaka Kobayashi
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Reiko Kishi
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Yasuaki Saijo
- Department of Social Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan
| | - Yoshiya Ito
- Japanese Red Cross Hokkaido College of Nursing, 664-1 Akebono-cho, Kitami 090-0011, Japan
| | - Koji Oba
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Atsuko Araki
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Chihiro Miyashita
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Sachiko Itoh
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Machiko Minatoya
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Keiko Yamazaki
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Yu Ait Bamai
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Tosiya Sato
- Department of Biostatistics, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Shin Yamazaki
- National Center for the Japan Environment and Children's Study, National Institute for Environmental Sciences, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
| | - Shoji F Nakayama
- National Center for the Japan Environment and Children's Study, National Institute for Environmental Sciences, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Isobe
- National Center for the Japan Environment and Children's Study, National Institute for Environmental Sciences, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nitta
- National Center for the Japan Environment and Children's Study, National Institute for Environmental Sciences, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan.
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Basu N, Eng JWL, Perkins M, Santa-Rios A, Martincevic G, Carlson K, Neitzel RL. Development and application of a novel method to characterize methylmercury exposure in newborns using dried blood spots. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 159:276-282. [PMID: 28825981 PMCID: PMC6309537 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methylmercury (MeHg) is a pollutant of global concern. While there is a need to gauge early-life exposures, there remain outstanding ethical, financial, and practical challenges with using the preferred biomarker, whole blood, notably in pregnant women, infants, toddlers, and children. Dried bloodspots (DBS) may help overcome some of these challenges. Notably DBS are collected from newborns in many jurisdictions offering an institutionalized platform to efficiently characterize exposures. OBJECTIVE To develop, validate, and apply a new method to measure MeHg levels in DBS with a specific aim to use this method to increase understanding of newborn exposures. METHODS Method development and validation was pursued by consulting U.S. EPA Method 1630 and other resources. The method was applied to measure MeHg levels in DBS from newborns (n = 675) from the Michigan BioTrust for Health program. RESULTS The assay's detection limit (0.3μg/L), accuracy (96-115% of expected), precision, linearity, and range met performance criteria guidelines. In the newborn DBS samples, the mean (SD) and geometric mean values of MeHg were 1.46 (0.90) and 1.25μg/L respectively, and ranged from 0.09 to 9.97μg/L. The values we report here are similar to cord blood mercury values reported elsewhere. CONCLUSIONS This is the first characterization of MeHg exposure in newborns, and thus fills an important data gap as prior studies have focused on pregnant women, cord blood, or toddlers. This method helps overcome technical challenges associated with other proposed approaches, and moving ahead there is great promise for applying this DBS-based method for population-level surveillance, particularly in resource-limited settings and for children's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Jenny W L Eng
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marie Perkins
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Andrea Santa-Rios
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gordana Martincevic
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Krystin Carlson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Richard L Neitzel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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11
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Tatsuta N, Kurokawa N, Nakai K, Suzuki K, Iwai-Shimada M, Murata K, Satoh H. Effects of intrauterine exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls, methylmercury, and lead on birth weight in Japanese male and female newborns. Environ Health Prev Med 2017; 22:39. [PMID: 29165117 PMCID: PMC5664926 DOI: 10.1186/s12199-017-0635-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of prenatal exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), methylmercury, and lead on birth weight remain disputable. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these chemicals affect birth weight of Japanese newborns, with special emphasis on determining whether these effects differ between males and females. METHODS The subjects from Tohoku Study of Child Development, which was designed to examine the developmental effects of prenatal exposures to such hazardous chemicals, were 489 mother-newborn pairs with complete data including smoking habit during pregnancy. RESULTS The mean birth weight of all newborns was 3083 (range, 2412-4240) g. The median values of biomarkers in cord blood were 46.0 (5th and 95th percentiles, 18.6-113.8) ng/g-lipid for total PCBs, 10.1 (4.3-22.4) ng/g for total mercury (THg), and 1.0 (0.6-1.7) μg/dL for lead. The birth weight was significantly heavier in the 252 male newborns than in the 237 female ones. A negative association between total PCBs and birth weight was observed in both male and female newborns, even after adjusting for possible confounders. However, a negative association of THg with birth weight was found only in the male newborns. There was no significant relationship between lead and birth weight in both groups. CONCLUSION Birth weight appears to be affected by prenatal PCB exposure in Japanese male and female newborns, and the effect of methylmercury exposure on male fetal growth may be stronger than that for females. This implication is that the effects on fetal growth should be assessed in males and females separately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nozomi Tatsuta
- Development and Environmental Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | | | - Kunihiko Nakai
- Development and Environmental Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. .,, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan.
| | - Keita Suzuki
- Faculty of Education, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan
| | | | - Katsuyuki Murata
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Akita, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Satoh
- Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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12
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Tatsuta N, Kurokawa N, Nakai K, Suzuki K, Iwai-Shimada M, Murata K, Satoh H. Effects of intrauterine exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls, methylmercury, and lead on birth weight in Japanese male and female newborns. Environ Health Prev Med 2017. [PMID: 29165117 DOI: 10.1186/sl2199-017-0635-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of prenatal exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), methylmercury, and lead on birth weight remain disputable. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these chemicals affect birth weight of Japanese newborns, with special emphasis on determining whether these effects differ between males and females. METHODS The subjects from Tohoku Study of Child Development, which was designed to examine the developmental effects of prenatal exposures to such hazardous chemicals, were 489 mother-newborn pairs with complete data including smoking habit during pregnancy. RESULTS The mean birth weight of all newborns was 3083 (range, 2412-4240) g. The median values of biomarkers in cord blood were 46.0 (5th and 95th percentiles, 18.6-113.8) ng/g-lipid for total PCBs, 10.1 (4.3-22.4) ng/g for total mercury (THg), and 1.0 (0.6-1.7) μg/dL for lead. The birth weight was significantly heavier in the 252 male newborns than in the 237 female ones. A negative association between total PCBs and birth weight was observed in both male and female newborns, even after adjusting for possible confounders. However, a negative association of THg with birth weight was found only in the male newborns. There was no significant relationship between lead and birth weight in both groups. CONCLUSION Birth weight appears to be affected by prenatal PCB exposure in Japanese male and female newborns, and the effect of methylmercury exposure on male fetal growth may be stronger than that for females. This implication is that the effects on fetal growth should be assessed in males and females separately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nozomi Tatsuta
- Development and Environmental Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- , 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | | | - Kunihiko Nakai
- Development and Environmental Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
- , 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan.
| | - Keita Suzuki
- Faculty of Education, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan
| | | | - Katsuyuki Murata
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Akita, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Satoh
- Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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Wang A, Padula A, Sirota M, Woodruff TJ. Environmental influences on reproductive health: the importance of chemical exposures. Fertil Steril 2016; 106:905-29. [PMID: 27513554 PMCID: PMC5158104 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.07.1076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Chemical exposures during pregnancy can have a profound and life-long impact on human health. Because of the omnipresence of chemicals in our daily life, there is continuous contact with chemicals in food, water, air, and consumer products. Consequently, human biomonitoring studies show that pregnant women around the globe are exposed to a variety of chemicals. In this review we provide a summary of current data on maternal and fetal exposure, as well as health consequences from these exposures. We review several chemical classes, including polychlorinated biphenyls, perfluoroalkyl substances, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, phenols, phthalates, pesticides, and metals. Additionally, we discuss environmental disparities and vulnerable populations, and future research directions. We conclude by providing some recommendations for prevention of chemical exposure and its adverse reproductive health consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aolin Wang
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Amy Padula
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Marina Sirota
- Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Tracey J Woodruff
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
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Gworek B, Bemowska-Kałabun O, Kijeńska M, Wrzosek-Jakubowska J. Mercury in Marine and Oceanic Waters-a Review. WATER, AIR, AND SOIL POLLUTION 2016; 227:371. [PMID: 27656005 PMCID: PMC5013138 DOI: 10.1007/s11270-016-3060-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Mercury contamination in water has been an issue to the environment and human health. In this article, mercury in marine and oceanic waters has been reviewed. In the aquatic environment, mercury occurs in many forms, which depend on the oxidation-reduction conditions. These forms have been briefly described in this article. Mercury concentrations in marine waters in the different parts of the world have been presented. In the relevant literature, two models describing the fate and behavior of mercury in saltwater reservoirs have been presented, a conceptual model which treats all the oceans as one ocean and the "ocean margin" model, providing that the ocean margins manifested themselves as the convergence of continents and oceans, covering such geological features, such as estuaries, inland seas, and the continental shelf. These two conceptual models have been summarized in the text. The mercury content in benthic sediments usually reflects is level in the water reservoir, particularly in reservoirs situated in contaminated areas (mines, metallurgical plants, chemically protected crops). The concentrations of mercury and its compounds determined in the sediments in surface waters in the different parts of the world have been presented. Due to the fact that the pollution caused by mercury is a serious threat for the marine environment, the short paragraph about mercury bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms has been included. The cited data demonstrated a large scatter of mercury contents both between the fish species and the water areas. Mathematical models, valuable tools which provide information about the possible responses of ecosystems, developed to simulate mercury emissions, both at a small scale, for local water reservoirs, and at a global scale, as well as to model mercury bioaccumulation in the chain web of aquatic systems have been described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Gworek
- Institute of Environmental Protection–National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Marta Kijeńska
- Institute of Environmental Protection–National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
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15
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Al-Saleh I, Elkhatib R, Al-Rouqi R, Abduljabbar M, Eltabache C, Al-Rajudi T, Nester M. Alterations in biochemical markers due to mercury (Hg) exposure and its influence on infant's neurodevelopment. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2016; 219:898-914. [PMID: 27453562 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Revised: 06/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the role of oxidative stress due to mercury (Hg) exposure on infant's neurodevelopmental performance. A total of 944 healthy Saudi mothers and their respective infants (aged 3-12 months) were recruited from 57 Primary Health Care Centers in Riyadh City. Total mercury (Hg) was measured in mothers and infants urine and hair samples, as well as mother's blood and breast milk. Methylmercury (MeHg) was determined in the mothers and infants' hair and mother's blood. Urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and porphyrins were used to assess oxidative stress. The infant's neurodevelopment was evaluated using Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST-II) and Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status. The median total Hg levels in mother's urine, infant's urine, mother's hair, infant's hair, and mother's blood and breast milk were 0.995μg/l, 0.716μg/l, 0.118μg/g dw, 0.101μg/g dw, 0.635μg/l, and 0.884μg/l respectively. The median MeHg levels in mother's hair, infant's hair, and mother's blood were 0.132μg/g dw, 0.091μg/g dw, and 2.341μg/l respectively. A significant interrelationship between mothers and infants Hg measures in various matrices was noted. This suggests that mother's exposure to different forms of Hg (total and/or MeHg) from various sources contributed significantly to the metal body burden of their respective infants. Even though Hg exposure was low, it induced high oxidative stress in mothers and infants. The influence of multiplicative interaction terms between Hg measures and oxidative stress biomarkers was tested using multiple regression analysis. Significant interactions between the urinary Hg levels in mothers and infants and oxidative stress biomarkers (8-OHdG and MDA) were noted. The MeHg levels in mother-infant hair revealed similar interaction patterns. The p-values for both were below 0.001. These observations suggest that the exposure of our infants to Hg via mothers either during pregnancy and/or neonatal life, promoted oxidative stress that might have played a role in infant neurodevelopmental delays that we reported previously. The results confirmed that the interaction between infant's MeHg in hair and 8-OHdG and MDA levels was significantly associated with a delay in DDST-II performance (ß=-0.188, p=0.028). This finding provides an insight into the potential consequences of Hg-induced oxidative stress to infant's cognitive neurodevelopment for the first time. This observation still needs future studies to be validated. Given the low MeHg levels in our population, these findings are of particular importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iman Al-Saleh
- Environmental Health Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Rola Elkhatib
- Environmental Health Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reem Al-Rouqi
- Environmental Health Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mai Abduljabbar
- Environmental Health Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Chafica Eltabache
- Environmental Health Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tahreer Al-Rajudi
- Environmental Health Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael Nester
- Department of Neurosciences, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
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Karita K, Sakamoto M, Yoshida M, Tatsuta N, Nakai K, Iwai-Shimada M, Iwata T, Maeda E, Yaginuma-Sakurai K, Satoh H, Murata K. [Recent Epidemiological Studies on Methylmercury, Mercury and Selenium]. Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi 2016; 71:236-251. [PMID: 27725427 DOI: 10.1265/jjh.71.236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
More than sixty years has passed since the outbreak of Minamata disease, and high-level methylmercury contaminations now seem nonexistent in Japan. However, mercury has been continuously discharged from natural sources and industrial activities, and the health effects on children susceptible to methylmercury exposure at low levels, in addition to mercury contamination from mercury or gold mining areas in developing countries, become a worldwide concern. In this article, we provide a recent overview of epidemiological studies regarding methylmercury and mercury. The following findings were obtained. (1) Many papers on exposure assessment of methylmercury/mercury have been published since the Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted in 2013. (2) The most crucial problem is child developmental neurotoxicity resulting from prenatal exposure to methylmercury, but its precise assessment seems to be difficult because most of such effects are neither severe nor specific. (3) Several problems raised in birth cohort studies (e.g., whether IQ deficits due to prenatal methylmercury exposure remain when the children become adults, or whether the postnatal exposure at low levels also causes such adverse effects in children) remain unsolved. (4) Concurrent exposure models of methylmercury, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls, aresenic, and organochlorine pesticides, as well as possible antagonists such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and selenium, should be considered in the study design because the exposure levels of methylmercury are extremely low in developed countries. (5) Further animal experiments and molecular biological studies, in addition to human studies, are required to clarify the mechanism of methylmercury toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanae Karita
- Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Kyorin University School of Medicine
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18
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Al-Saleh I, Abduljabbar M, Al-Rouqi R, Eltabache C, Al-Rajudi T, Elkhatib R, Nester M. The extent of mercury (Hg) exposure among Saudi mothers and their respective infants. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2015; 187:678. [PMID: 26450688 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-015-4858-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A total of 1016 healthy Saudi mothers and their respective infants (aged 3-12 months) were recruited from 57 Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to evaluate the extent of mercury (Hg) exposure and predict its sources in the healthy Saudi population. Total Hg levels were measured in maternal urine, breast milk, blood, and hair and in the infants' urine and hair. Only 1.9% of the mothers had urinary Hg (UHg)>10 μg/l, the limit for asymptomatic adults recommended by the World Health Organization, but the median (0.99 μg/l) was higher than in other countries. Also, 49.3% of the mothers had UHg>1 μg/l, the German reference value for adults. Median infant UHg was 0.729 μg/l, and 77 and 93 % of the infants had levels higher than 0.4 and 0.1 μg/l, the reference values of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and for Germany, respectively. The median Hg level in breast milk was 0.884 μg/l. Even though 43.2% of the milk samples were above the background level for Hg in human milk (1 μg/l), our results were lower than those reported from other countries. Median maternal total Hg in blood was 0.637 μg/l, and only 0.4 and 6.9% of samples were higher than the Hg reference levels of 5.8 μg/l of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and of 2 μg/l for Germany, respectively. Total Hg levels in hair (HHg) varied widely among mothers and infants, but only 3.9% of the mothers and 2.8% of the infants had HHg>1 μg/g (the EPA reference level). Median HHg values were 0.117 μg/g dry weight in mothers and 0.1 μg/g dry weight in infants; both were lower than in other countries. The Hg levels in mothers and their respective infants were relatively low, but our results were consistent with other studies indicating that dental amalgam fillings and fish consumption were the main predictors of maternal Hg exposure. Among the several biomarkers of Hg exposure, Hg levels in maternal hair and urine were the strongest predictors of infant exposure. The lack of an association between Hg in breast milk and Hg in infant urine and hair suggested that the infants were exposed to Hg predominately during pregnancy rather than during breastfeeding. We expect that our data can serve as a baseline for further biomonitoring and follow-up studies, particularly of the long-term impact of Hg on childhood neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iman Al-Saleh
- Environmental Health Section, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mai Abduljabbar
- Environmental Health Section, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reem Al-Rouqi
- Environmental Health Section, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Chafica Eltabache
- Environmental Health Section, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tahreer Al-Rajudi
- Environmental Health Section, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rola Elkhatib
- Environmental Health Section, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael Nester
- Department of Neurosciences, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
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