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de los Santos C, Pastor JC, Calonge M. Mercury intoxication and ophthalmic involvement: An update review. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2023; 5:1148357. [PMID: 37063600 PMCID: PMC10102333 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1148357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Human intoxication after mercury exposure is a rare condition that can cause severe damage to the central nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, skin, and visual systems and represents a major public health concern. Ophthalmic involvement includes impaired function of the extraocular muscles and the eyelids, as well as structural changes in the ocular surface, lens, retina, and optic nerve causing a potential irreversible damage to the visual system. Although, there are many pathways for poisoning depending on the mercury form, it has been suggested that tissue distribution does not differ in experimental animals when administered as mercury vapor, organic mercury, or inorganic mercury. Additionally, visual function alterations regarding central visual acuity, color discrimination, contrast sensitivity, visual field and electroretinogram responses have also been described widely. Nevertheless, there is still controversy about whether visual manifestations occur secondary to brain damage or as a direct affectation, and which ocular structure is primarily affected. Despite the use of some imaging techniques such as in vivo confocal microscopy of the cornea, optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the retina and optic nerve, and functional tests such as electroretinography has helped to solve in part this debate, further studies incorporating other imaging modalities such as autofluorescence, OCT angiography or adaptive optics retinal imaging are needed. This review aims to summarize the published structural and functional alterations found in the visual system of patients suffering from mercury intoxication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian de los Santos
- Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Cristian de los Santos,
| | - J. Carlos Pastor
- Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- Centro en Red de Medicina Regenerativa y Terapia Celular. Junta de Castilla y León, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Margarita Calonge
- Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- Centro en Red de Medicina Regenerativa y Terapia Celular. Junta de Castilla y León, Valladolid, Spain
- CIBER-BBN, Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
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2
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Chen Z, Wang F, Zhang W, Zhou S, Wen D, Mu R. Polysaccharides from Bletilla striata protect against mercury-induced gastrointestinal toxicology in adult Drosophila melanogaster via modulation of sestrin. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 253:114693. [PMID: 36848760 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Oxidative stress was one of the major causes of heavy metal-induced toxicity in organisms. The polysaccharide from Bletilla striata (Orchidaceae) (BSP) has been recently recognized as a novel player in the management of oxidative stress response in organisms. Here, we took the midgut of adult Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae) (D. melanogaster), a functional equivalent to the mammalian intestine and stomach, as a model to evaluate the protective effects of BSP (50 μg/mL) on mercuric chloride-induced gastrointestinal toxicology in insects. As a result, BSP exposure significantly improved the survival rates and climbing ability of adult flies exposed to mercury. Further study demonstrated that BSP significantly alleviated the mercury-induced oxidative injury to midgut epithelium, at least partly, through increasing antioxidant enzyme activity (glutathione-S-transferase and superoxide dismutase), decreasing reactive oxidative species production, inhibiting cell death, restoring intestinal epithelial barrier and regulating intestinal stem cell-mediated tissue regeneration. Additionally, sestrin, an oxidative-stress gene, was required in mediating the protection of BSP against mercury-induced oxidative damage to midgut. This study suggested that BSP has great potential for future application in the treatment and prevention of heavy metal-induced gastrointestinal adversities in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Chen
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun 558000, China.
| | - Fen Wang
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun 558000, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun 558000, China
| | - Shuangshuang Zhou
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun 558000, China
| | - Di Wen
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun 558000, China.
| | - Ren Mu
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun 558000, China.
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3
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Pastor-Idoate S, Coco-Martin RM, Zabalza I, Lantigua Y, Fernández I, Pérez-Castrillón JL, Cuadrado R, de Lazaro JA, Morejon A, Dueñas-Laita A, Pastor JC. Long-term visual pathway alterations after elemental mercury poisoning: report of a series of 29 cases. J Occup Med Toxicol 2021; 16:49. [PMID: 34772411 PMCID: PMC8590381 DOI: 10.1186/s12995-021-00341-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are few clinical data on retinal involvement after acute exposure to high concentrations mercury and the available reports are based on a small number of patients suffering chronic exposure. The purpose of this paper is to report findings in workers acutely exposed to very high concentrations of mercury vapor with the aim of providing data on a possible direct retinal involvement. METHODS Twenty-nine patients and 16 controls were evaluated in a comparative case series. Mercury levels in blood and urine samples, visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity (CS), visual field (VF), color discrimination and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were recorded. The pattern reversal visual-evoked potentials (PRVEP), full-field and multifocal electroretinography (ffERG/mfERG), pattern electroretinography (PERG), systemic symptoms, presence of erethism, and electromyography (EMG) were also gathered. A descriptive analysis was performed. The correlations between variables also were studied. In addition, electrophysiological data from those patients with deeper VF defects (group 1) were compared with a normal control group. RESULTS Twenty-six workers exhibited symptoms of erethism. The EMG showed sensorimotor polyneuropathy and multiple mononeuropathy. The VA was slightly affected in 48.27% (n = 14) of subjects. Loss of CS in at least one of four spatial frequencies and color vision alterations occurred in 96.5% (n = 28) and 44.8% (n = 13), respectively. VF alterations were identified in 72.4% (n = 21) patients. No morphologic changes were seen in the OCT scans. Latencies over 100 milliseconds and reduced amplitudes of P100 were found in the PRVEP (p < 0.05). The reduced amplitude of the b wave at the ffERG, of the P50 at the PERG and of the P1 wave at the mfERG results (p < 0.05) suggested that the outer retina was involved. Significant negative correlations among blood mercury levels, VA, and ffERG were observed. CONCLUSIONS In this case series, showed that acute exposure to mercury vapor had a hazardous effect on the visual system. Although neurologic and visual pathway involvement was clearly demonstrated, the differences found compared to control support the existence of a direct functional retinal damage and participation in impaired vision in mercury poisoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvador Pastor-Idoate
- Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), Eye Institute, University of Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, P° de Belén n° 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain.,Cooperative Health Network for Research in Ophthalmology Oftared, National Institute of Health Carlos III, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Clinic University Hospital of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Rosa M Coco-Martin
- Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), Eye Institute, University of Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, P° de Belén n° 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain. .,Cooperative Health Network for Research in Ophthalmology Oftared, National Institute of Health Carlos III, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Iratxe Zabalza
- Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), Eye Institute, University of Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, P° de Belén n° 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain.,Puerta del Mar University Hospital of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Yrbani Lantigua
- Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), Eye Institute, University of Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, P° de Belén n° 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain.,University Hospital of Burgos, Burgos, Spain
| | - Itziar Fernández
- Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), Eye Institute, University of Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, P° de Belén n° 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain.,Cooperative Health Network for Research in Ophthalmology Oftared, National Institute of Health Carlos III, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose L Pérez-Castrillón
- Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), Eye Institute, University of Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, P° de Belén n° 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain.,Department of Internal Medicine, Río Hortega University Hospital, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Ruben Cuadrado
- Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), Eye Institute, University of Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, P° de Belén n° 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Jose A de Lazaro
- Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), Eye Institute, University of Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, P° de Belén n° 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Angela Morejon
- Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), Eye Institute, University of Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, P° de Belén n° 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Antonio Dueñas-Laita
- Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), Eye Institute, University of Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, P° de Belén n° 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain.,Unit of Clinical Toxicology, Río Hortega University Hospital, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Jose C Pastor
- Institute of Applied Ophthalmobiology (IOBA), Eye Institute, University of Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, P° de Belén n° 17, 47011, Valladolid, Spain.,Cooperative Health Network for Research in Ophthalmology Oftared, National Institute of Health Carlos III, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Clinic University Hospital of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
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Santos-Sacramento L, Arrifano GP, Lopes-Araújo A, Augusto-Oliveira M, Albuquerque-Santos R, Takeda PY, Souza-Monteiro JR, Macchi BM, do Nascimento JLM, Lima RR, Crespo-Lopez ME. Human neurotoxicity of mercury in the Amazon: A scoping review with insights and critical considerations. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 208:111686. [PMID: 33396018 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Human exposure to mercury is a major public health concern, causing neurological outcomes such as motor and visual impairment and learning disabilities. Currently, human exposure in the Amazon is among the highest in the world. A recent systematic review (doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2018.12.001), however, highlighted the lack of high-quality studies on mercury-associated neurotoxicity. There is, therefore, a need to improve research and much to still learn about how exposure correlates with disease. In this review, we discuss studies evaluating the associations between neurological disturbances and mercury body burden in Amazonian populations, to generate recommendations for future studies. A systematic search was performed during July 2020, in Pubmed/Medline, SCOPUS and SCIELO databases with the terms (mercury*) and (Amazon*). Four inclusion criteria were used: original article (1), with Amazonian populations (2), quantifying exposure (mercury levels) (3), and evaluating neurological outcomes (4). The extracted data included characteristics (as year or origin of authorship) and details of the research (as locations and type of participants or mercury levels and neurological assessments). Thirty-four studies, most concentrated within three main river basins (Tapajós, Tocantins, and Madeira) and related to environmental exposure, were found. Mercury body burden was two to ten times higher than recommended and main neurological findings were cognitive, vision, motor, somatosensory and emotional deficits. Important insights are described that support novel approaches to researching mercury exposure and intoxication, as well as prevention and intervention strategies. As a signatory country to the Minamata Convention, Brazil has the opportunity to play a central role in improving human health and leading the research on mercury intoxication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Santos-Sacramento
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - Gabriela P Arrifano
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - Amanda Lopes-Araújo
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - Marcus Augusto-Oliveira
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - Raquel Albuquerque-Santos
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - Priscila Y Takeda
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA 66075-110, Brazil.
| | | | - Barbarella M Macchi
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica Molecular e Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - José Luiz M do Nascimento
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica Molecular e Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA 66075-110, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Amapá (UNIFAP), 68903-419 Macapá, AP, Brazil.
| | - Rafael R Lima
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - Maria Elena Crespo-Lopez
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA 66075-110, Brazil.
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5
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Bocca B, Forte G, Pisano A, Farace C, Giancipoli E, Pinna A, Dore S, Madeddu R. A pilot study to evaluate the levels of aqueous humor trace elements in open-angle glaucoma. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2020; 61:126560. [PMID: 32485500 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2020.126560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common form of chronic, progressive optic neuropathies characterized by slow degeneration of the retinal ganglion cells and their axons, resulting in visual field loss. Risk factors for this disease are elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), increased age, European and African ethnicity, family history, myopia and decreased corneal thickness. In addition, studies indicated that levels of trace elements are also significantly related to the POAG. METHOD The association between toxic and essential elements and POAG was explored in a population-based case-control study in the Sardinia Island (Italy). The aqueous humor levels of Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured in 25 POAG patients compared to 20 age- and gender-matched healthy controls by sector field inductively coupled mass spectrometry. Risk factors as gender, age and increased IOP were also explored. RESULTS The concentrations of Fe, Hg and Zn were significantly higher in POAG patients than in control subjects, showing these elements as possible determinants in POAG development or degeneration. Other findings were the increased Cu and Fe levels in glaucomatous patients with age less than 70 years. Levels of Ni were found elevated in POAG females. Mercury accumulated more in POAG females, in patients over 70 years and in those with higher levels of IOP in the left eye. Moreover, the positive associations CuFe and Mn-Zn may indicate synergistic effects of elements. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, these findings suggested a multifactorial role in the risk for POAG disease. The present study documented the levels of trace elements in aqueous humor of Sardinian POAG patients for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Bocca
- Department of Environment and Health, Italian National Institute for Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Forte
- Department of Environment and Health, Italian National Institute for Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Andrea Pisano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences-Histology, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/B, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Cristiano Farace
- Department of Biomedical Sciences-Histology, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/B, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Ermete Giancipoli
- Department of Medical Surgical and Experimental Sciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/C, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonio Pinna
- Department of Medical Surgical and Experimental Sciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/C, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Stefano Dore
- Department of Medical Surgical and Experimental Sciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/C, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Roberto Madeddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences-Histology, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/B, 07100 Sassari, Italy; I.S.R.C.T.--International Society for Research on Cadmium Toxicity, Viale San Pietro 43/B, 07100 Sassari, Italy
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6
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Lacerda EMDCB, Souza GDS, Cortes MIT, Rodrigues AR, Pinheiro MCN, Silveira LCDL, Ventura DF. Comparison of Visual Functions of Two Amazonian Populations: Possible Consequences of Different Mercury Exposure. Front Neurosci 2020; 13:1428. [PMID: 32038136 PMCID: PMC6985551 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study investigated the visual perimetry and color vision of two Amazonian populations differently exposed to mercury. Ten riverines environmentally exposed to mercury by fish eating and 34 gold-miners occupationally exposed to mercury vapor. The visual perimetry was estimated using the Förster perimeter and the color vision was evaluated using a computerized version of Farnsworth-Munsell test. Riverine and gold-miners' hair mercury concentrations were quantified. Mercury hair concentration of the riverines was significantly higher than that from gold-miners. Riverines had lower perimetric area than the gold-miners. The errors in the hue ordering test of both Amazonian populations were larger than the controls (non-exposed subjects), but there was no difference between themselves. Riverines had significant multiple association between the visual function and hair mercury concentration, while the gold-miners has no significant association with the exposure. We concluded that the different ways of mercury exposure led to similar visual outcomes, with greater impairment in riverines (organic mercury exposed subjects).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Givago da Silva Souza
- Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil.,Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Luiz Carlos de Lima Silveira
- Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil.,Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Dora Fix Ventura
- Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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7
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Martins ICVDS, Souza GDS, Brasil A, Herculano AM, Lacerda EMDCB, Rodrigues AR, Rosa AAM, Ventura DF, Castro AJDO, Silveira LCDL. Psychophysical Evaluation of Visual Functions of Ex-Alcoholic Subjects After Prolonged Abstinence. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:179. [PMID: 30894798 PMCID: PMC6414438 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to a brain damages, and the health status of alcoholics even after a long-term alcohol abstinence is a public health concern. The present study investigated the color vision and spatial luminance contrast sensitivity of a group of 17 ex-alcoholics (46.3 ± 6.7 years old) in long-term alcohol abstinence after having been previously under alcohol dependence for many years. We also investigated the association of impaired psychophysical performance in different tests we applied. The mean time of alcohol consumption was 16.9 ± 5.1 years and the mean abstinence period was 12.4 ± 8.5 years. Achromatic vision of all subjects was evaluated using spatial luminance contrast sensitivity function (CSF) test and color vision was evaluated using Mollon-Reffin color discrimination test (MR) and the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue arrangement test (FM100). Relative to controls, the spatial luminance contrast sensitivity was lower in 10/17 of the ex-alcoholic subjects. In the color vision tests, 11/16 ex-alcoholic subjects had impaired results compared to controls in the FM100 test and 13/14 subjects had color vision deficits measured in the MR test. Fourteen subjects performed all visual tests, three subjects had impaired results for all tests, seven subjects had impaired results in two tests, three subjects had visual deficit in one test, and one had normal results for all tests. The results showed the existence of functional deficits in achromatic and chromatic vision of subjects with history of chronic alcoholism after long abstinence. Most subjects had altered result in more than one test, especially in the color vision tests. The present investigation suggests that the damage in visual functions produced by abusive alcohol consumption is not reversed after long term alcohol abstinence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Christine Vieira da Silva Martins
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Givago da Silva Souza
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Alódia Brasil
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Dora Fix Ventura
- Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Luiz Carlos de Lima Silveira
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Biomedical School, Universidade Ceuma, São Luís, Brazil
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8
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Sampaio GSA, Oliveira KRHM, Kauffmann N, do Nascimento JLM, Souza GS, Gomes BD, de Lima SMA, Silveira LCL, Rocha FAF, Herculano AM. Methylmercury alters the number and topography of NO-synthase positive neurons in embryonic retina: Protective effect of alpha-tocopherol. Toxicol In Vitro 2018; 53:89-98. [PMID: 30075186 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2018.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Vertebrate retina has been shown to be an important target for mercury toxicity and very studies have shown the effect of mercury on the retinal ontogenesis. The nitrergic system plays an important role in the retinal development. The current work studied the effects of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure on the NO-synthase positive neurons (NADPH-diaphorase neurons or NADPH-d+) of the chick retinal ganglion cell layer at embryonic E15 and postnatal P1 days. Retinal flat mounts were stained for NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry and mosaic properties of NADPH-d + were studied by plotting isodensity maps and employing density recovery profile technique. It was also evaluated the protective effect of alpha-tocopherol treatment on retinal tissues exposed to MeHg. MeHg exposure decreased the density of NADPH-d + neurons and altered cell mosaic properties at E15 but had very little or no effect at P1 retinas. Alpha-tocopherol has a protective effect against MeHg exposure at E15. MeHg alterations and alpha-tocopherol protective effect in embryonic retinas were demonstrated to be at work in experimental conditions. MeHg effect in the early phases of visual system development in natural conditions might use the nitrergic pathway and supplementary diet could have a protective effect. At later stages, this mechanism seems to be naturally protected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela S A Sampaio
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | | | - Nayara Kauffmann
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - José Luiz M do Nascimento
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil; Universidade Ceuma, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Givago S Souza
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil; Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Bruno D Gomes
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | | | - Luiz Carlos L Silveira
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil; Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil; Universidade Ceuma, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
| | | | - Anderson M Herculano
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
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9
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dos Santos Freitas J, da Costa Brito Lacerda EM, da Silva Martins ICV, Rodrigues D, Bonci DMO, Cortes MIT, Corvelo TCO, Ventura DF, de Lima Silveira LC, da Conceição Nascimento Pinheiro M, da Silva Souza G. Cross-sectional study to assess the association of color vision with mercury hair concentration in children from Brazilian Amazonian riverine communities. Neurotoxicology 2018; 65:60-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2018.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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10
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Three Toxic Heavy Metals in Open-Angle Glaucoma with Low-Teen and High-Teen Intraocular Pressure: A Cross-Sectional Study from South Korea. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0164983. [PMID: 27768724 PMCID: PMC5074541 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background To investigate the association between heavy metal levels and open-angle glaucoma (OAG) with low- and high-teen baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) using a population-based study design. Methods This cross-sectional study included 5,198 participants older than 19 years of age who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2008 to 2012 and had blood heavy metal levels available. The OAG with normal baseline IOP (IOP ≤ 21 mmHg) subjects were stratified into low-teen OAG (baseline IOP ≤ 15 mmHg) and high-teen OAG (15 mmHg < baseline IOP ≤ 21 mmHg), and the association between blood lead, mercury, and cadmium levels and glaucoma prevalence was assessed for low- and high-teen OAG. Results The adjusted geometric mean of blood cadmium levels was significantly higher in subjects with low-teen OAG than that of the non-glaucomatous group (P = 0.028), whereas there were no significant differences in blood lead and mercury levels. After adjusting for potential confounders, the low-teen OAG was positively associated with log-transformed blood cadmium levels (OR, 1.41; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03–1.93; P = 0.026). For high-teen OAG, log-transformed blood levels of the three heavy metals were not associated with disease prevalence. The association between log-transformed blood cadmium levels and low-teen OAG was significant only in men (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.10–2.48; P = 0.016), and not in women (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.66–1.85; P = 0.709). Conclusions The results of this study suggest that cadmium toxicity could play a role in glaucoma pathogenesis, particularly in men and in OAG with low-teen baseline IOP.
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Doering S, Bose-O’Reilly S, Berger U. Essential Indicators Identifying Chronic Inorganic Mercury Intoxication: Pooled Analysis across Multiple Cross-Sectional Studies. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0160323. [PMID: 27575533 PMCID: PMC5004870 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The continuous exposure to inorganic mercury vapour in artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) areas leads to chronic health problems. It is therefore essential to have a quick, but reliable risk assessing tool to diagnose chronic inorganic mercury intoxication. This study re-evaluates the state-of-the-art toolkit to diagnose chronic inorganic mercury intoxication by analysing data from multiple pooled cross-sectional studies. The primary research question aims to reduce the currently used set of indicators without affecting essentially the capability to diagnose chronic inorganic mercury intoxication. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is performed on established biomonitoring exposure limits for mercury in blood, hair, urine and urine adjusted by creatinine, where the biomonitoring exposure limits are compared to thresholds most associated with chronic inorganic mercury intoxication in artisanal small-scale gold mining. Methods Health data from miners and community members in Indonesia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe were obtained as part of the Global Mercury Project and pooled into one dataset together with their biomarkers mercury in urine, blood and hair. The individual prognostic impact of the indicators on the diagnosis of mercury intoxication is quantified using logistic regression models. The selection is performed by a stepwise forward/backward selection. Different models are compared based on the Bayesian information criterion (BIC) and Cohen`s kappa is used to evaluate the level of agreement between the diagnosis of mercury intoxication based on the currently used set of indicators and the result based on our reduced set of indicators. The sensitivity analysis of biomarker exposure limits of mercury is based on a sequence of chi square tests. Results The variable selection in logistic regression reduced the number of medical indicators from thirteen to ten in addition to the biomarkers. The estimated level of agreement using ten of thirteen medical indicators and all four biomarkers to diagnose chronic inorganic mercury intoxication yields a Cohen`s Kappa of 0.87. While in an additional stepwise selection the biomarker blood was not selected, the level of agreement based on ten medical indicators and only the three biomarkers urine, urine/creatinine and hair reduced Cohen`s Kappa to 0.46. The optimal cut-point for the biomarkers blood, hair, urine and urine/creatinine were estimated at 11. 6 μg/l, 3.84 μg/g, 24.4 μg/l and 4.26 μg/g, respectively. Conclusion The results show that a reduction down to only ten indicators still allows a reliable diagnosis of chronic inorganic mercury intoxication. This reduction of indicators will simplify health assessments in artisanal small-scale gold mining areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Doering
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health, University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Medical Information Sciences, Biometrics, and Epidemiology IBE, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stephan Bose-O’Reilly
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health, University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMIT (University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology), Hall i.T., Innsbruck, Austria
- * E-mail:
| | - Ursula Berger
- Department of Medical Information Sciences, Biometrics, and Epidemiology IBE, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
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Brasil A, Rocha FADF, Gomes BD, Oliveira KRM, de Carvalho TS, Batista EDJO, Borges RDS, Kremers J, Herculano AM. Diet enriched with the Amazon fruit açaí (Euterpe oleracea) prevents electrophysiological deficits and oxidative stress induced by methyl-mercury in the rat retina. Nutr Neurosci 2016; 20:265-272. [PMID: 26863909 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2015.1119378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The protective effect of a diet supplemented by the Amazonian fruit Euterpe oleracea (EO) against methylmercury (MeHg) toxicity in rat retina was studied using electroretinography (ERG) and biochemical evaluation of oxidative stress. METHOD Wistar rats were submitted to conventional diet or EO-enriched diet for 28 days. After that, each group received saline solution or 5 mg/kg/day of MeHg for 7 days. Full-field single flash, flash and flicker ERGs were evaluated in the following groups: control, EO, MeHg, and EO+MeHg. The amplitudes of the a-wave, b-wave, photopic negative response from rod and/or cone were measured by ERGs as well as the amplitudes and phases of the fundamental component of the sine-wave flicker ERG. Lipid peroxidation was determined by thiobarbituric acid reactive species. RESULTS All ERG components had decreased amplitudes in the MeHg group when compared with controls. EO-enriched food had no effect on the non-intoxicated animals. The intoxicated animals and those that received the supplemented diet presented significant amplitude reductions of the cone b-wave and of the fundamental flicker component when compared with non-intoxicated control. The protective effect of the diet on scotopic conditions was only observed for bright flashes eliciting a mixed rod and cone response. There was a significant increase of lipid peroxidation in the retina from animals exposed to MeHg and EO-supplemented diet was able to prevent MeHg-induced oxidative stress in retinal tissue. CONCLUSION These findings open up perspectives for the use of diets supplemented with EO as a protective strategy against visual damage induced by MeHg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alódia Brasil
- a Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia Experimental, Universidade Federal do Pará , Instituto de Ciências Biológicas , Belém , Pará , Brazil
| | - Fernando Allan de Farias Rocha
- b Laboratório de Neurofisiologia Eduardo Oswaldo Cruz, Universidade Federal do Pará , Instituto de Ciências Biológicas , Belém , Pará , Brazil
| | - Bruno Duarte Gomes
- b Laboratório de Neurofisiologia Eduardo Oswaldo Cruz, Universidade Federal do Pará , Instituto de Ciências Biológicas , Belém , Pará , Brazil
| | - Karen Renata M Oliveira
- a Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia Experimental, Universidade Federal do Pará , Instituto de Ciências Biológicas , Belém , Pará , Brazil
| | - Tayana Silva de Carvalho
- a Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia Experimental, Universidade Federal do Pará , Instituto de Ciências Biológicas , Belém , Pará , Brazil
| | - Evander de Jesus O Batista
- a Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia Experimental, Universidade Federal do Pará , Instituto de Ciências Biológicas , Belém , Pará , Brazil.,c Universidade Federal do Pará , Núcleo de Medicina Tropical , Pará , Brazil
| | | | - Jan Kremers
- e University Hospital Erlangen , Erlangen , Germany
| | - Anderson Manoel Herculano
- a Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia Experimental, Universidade Federal do Pará , Instituto de Ciências Biológicas , Belém , Pará , Brazil
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Tang R, Wang H, Luo J, Sun S, Gong Y, She J, Chen Y, Dandan Y, Zhou J. Spatial distribution and temporal trends of mercury and arsenic in remote timberline coniferous forests, eastern of the Tibet Plateau, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 22:11658-11668. [PMID: 25850747 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4441-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
An intensive investigation was conducted to study the spatial distribution and temporal variety trend of mercury and arsenic in plant tissue and soil profile in the eastern of the Tibet Plateau and to explore the possible sources of these two elements. At present, rare information is available on mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) of timberline forests in the Tibet Plateau. Here, we present preliminary results on these two elements in leaves, twigs, root, litterfall, and soil. Geostatistical analyst of the ArcGIS 10.0 was used to determine the trait of spatial distribution of these two elements. Total arsenic (TAs) mean concentrations in the leaves, twigs, root, litterfall, and A- and C-layer soil ranged from 0.12 mg kg(-1) (n = 60), 0.35 mg kg(-1) (n = 60), 0.48 mg kg(-1) (n = 42), 1.52 mg kg(-1) (n = 84), 16.51 mg kg(-1) (n = 69), and 26.72 mg kg(-1) (n = 69), respectively. Total Hg (THg) mean concentrations in leaves, twigs, root, litterfall, and A- and C-layer soil were 0.0121 mg kg(-1) (n = 60), 0.0078 mg kg(-1) (n = 60), 0.0171 mg kg(-1) (n = 42), 0.0479 mg kg(-1) (n = 84), 0.0852 mg kg(-1) (n = 75), and 0.0251 mg kg(-1) (n = 75), respectively. In general, litterfall trended to accumulate high concentrations of Hg and As. Mercury in the timberline forest showed an increasing trend, whereas arsenic concentrations showed a decreasing trend in A-layer soil and an increasing trend in C-layer soil due to the easy mobile ability of As. Southwest and southeast monsoon could be the influencing factors, and Hg emission from India and China was the possible source of this study area through using a HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) model. It is believed that these observations may offer scientists and policymakers additional understanding of Hg and As concentrations in the remote timberline area, eastern of the Tibet Plateau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronggui Tang
- Key Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Conservancy, Chengdu, China
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Contribution of Shellfish Consumption to Lower Mercury Health Risk for Residents in Northern Jiaozhou Bay, China. Bioinorg Chem Appl 2015; 2015:159521. [PMID: 26101470 PMCID: PMC4458521 DOI: 10.1155/2015/159521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2015] [Revised: 05/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fish and marine mammal consumption are an important pathway for human exposure to mercury. The low mercury content in shellfish poses a low mercury health risk to people who consume shellfish. The objectives of this study are to detect mercury concentrations in different species of shellfish and to calculate the mercury health risk from shellfish consumption among traditional residents near northern Jiaozhou Bay. A total of 356 shellfish samples, which comprised 7 species from 5 different places in northern Jiaozhou Bay, were collected from April to June in 2012. The average mercury content in the collected shellfish ranged from 0.024 mg·kg−1 to 0.452 mg·kg−1. A total of 44 shellfish samples (12.36%) had mercury levels exceeding the national pollution-free aquatic products limit (0.3 mg·kg−1). Generally, the viscus had the highest mercury content among all parts of the shellfish. A positive correlation between mercury content and total weight/edible part weight was found in most species of the collected shellfish. The results showed that shellfish consumption resulted in the lower risk of mercury exposure to residents based on the calculation of daily intake (DI) and target hazard quotient (THQ).
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Arefieva AS, Kamaeva AG, Krasilshchikova MS. Low doses of mercuric chloride cause the main features of anti-nucleolar autoimmunity in female outbred CFW mice. Toxicol Ind Health 2015; 32:1663-74. [PMID: 25765285 DOI: 10.1177/0748233715573691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The growth of the influence of anthropogenic factors aimed on the improvement of human life has its side effect, for example, living organisms receive increasing exposure to toxic mercuric compounds. Experimental data show that mercury (Hg) salts are able to induce systemic autoimmunity in rodents. This Hg-induced autoimmune process (HgIA) is characterized by T cell-dependent polyclonal activation of B lymphocytes, increased level of serum immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and immunoglobulin E (IgE), production of antinucleolar autoantibodies (ANoA), and immune complex deposition in multiple organs. HgIA in mice is used as a model of human systemic autoimmune disorders. However, the dose of mercuric chloride (HgCl2) usually used in laboratory mice to induce HgIA is above the allowable limit for everyday levels of Hg exposure in humans. So, we decided to determine the lowest dose of HgCl2 that is able to trigger autoimmunity in outbred Carworth Farms Swiss Webster (CFW) mice not genetically prone to HgIA development. The lowest dose (50 µg/kg body weight (b.w.)/week) was chosen to match the World Health Organization provisional weekly tolerable intake of total Hg for humans. We also tested HgCl2 at 500 and 1500 µg/kg b.w./week (6.5- and 2-fold less than usually used for induction of HgIA in mice). We found that even the lowest dose of Hg resulted in a statistically significant increase in serum level of IgG1 after 8 weeks of treatment. HgCl2 in doses 500 and 1500 µg/kg b.w./week resulted in a significant increase in serum level of IgG1 after 4 weeks of treatment, followed by ANoA production. Sera of HgCl2-treated mice stained the regions in which the major autoantigen in HgIA, fibrillarin, was revealed. These results suggest that low doses of Hg are able to induce the main features of HgIA in genetically heterozygous mice, and that humans chronically exposed to low doses of Hg may be at risk of autoimmunity induction regardless of their genetic background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alla S Arefieva
- Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry, M.M. Shemyakin-Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Alfia G Kamaeva
- Group of Experimental Biology, M.M. Shemyakin-Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Marina S Krasilshchikova
- Group of Experimental Biology, M.M. Shemyakin-Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
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Park SJ, Lee JH, Woo SJ, Kang SW, Park KH. Five heavy metallic elements and age-related macular degeneration: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2008-2011. Ophthalmology 2014; 122:129-37. [PMID: 25225109 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.07.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Revised: 06/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and 5 heavy metallic elements (lead, mercury, cadmium, manganese, and zinc). DESIGN A cross-sectional study using a complex, stratified, multistage, probability cluster survey. PARTICIPANTS Participants of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008 to 2011. METHODS Using a standardized protocol, AMD was determined by fundus photograph grading. Blood concentrations of lead, mercury, cadmium, manganese, and zinc were measured. Associations between AMD and these 5 elements were estimated using logistic regression analyses (LRAs). The distributions of the 5 metallic elements in blood were analyzed, and the same set of LRAs estimating the association between AMD and logarithmic-transformed blood concentrations of the 5 elements were also conducted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Association between AMD and 5 heavy metals. RESULTS Lead was positively associated with both early AMD and late AMD in all LRAs. Mercury and cadmium also had a positive association with late AMD in all LRAs, but not with early AMD. In contrast, manganese and zinc had an inverse association with late AMD in all LRAs. Manganese and zinc were not associated with early AMD. Using logarithmic-transformed blood concentrations for each metallic element, the LRAs showed similar results compared with those of the LRAs using nontransformed blood concentrations, despite the skewed distribution of these metallic elements in the blood. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that the toxic heavy metals (lead, mercury, and cadmium) may negatively influence late AMD, whereas essential heavy metals (manganese and zinc) may favorably influence late AMD. Lead may widely affect the pathogenesis of both early and late AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Jun Park
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Hyun Lee
- Medical Research Collaborating Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Joon Woo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Woong Kang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyu Hyung Park
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
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Aslan L, Aslankurt M, Bozkurt S, Aksoy A, Ozdemir M, Gizir H, Yasar I. Ophthalmic findings in acute mercury poisoning in adults: A case series study. Toxicol Ind Health 2013; 31:691-5. [PMID: 23524881 DOI: 10.1177/0748233713483189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to report ophthalmic findings of acute mercury poisoning in 48 adults referred to emergency department. Full ophthalmologic examination including the best corrected visual acuity, external eye examination, reaction to light, a slit-lamp examination, funduscopy, intraocular pressure measurements, and visual field (VF) and color vision (CV) tests were performed at the presentation and repeated after 6 months. The parametric values of VF test, the mean deviation (MD), and pattern standard deviation (PSD) were recorded in order to compare patients and the 30 healthy controls. The mean parameter of color confusion index in patients was found to be statistically different than controls (p < 0.01). The MD and PSD in patients were different from controls statistically significant (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). There was no correlation between the ocular findings and the urine and blood mercury levels. Methyl mercury, held in the school laboratory for experimental purpose, may be a source of poisoning. In this case series, we showed that acute exposure to mercury had hazardous effect on the visual system, especially CV and VF. We propose that emphasizing the public education on the potential hazards of mercury is crucial for preventive community health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Selim Bozkurt
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcuimam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey
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Morphological evidence of neurotoxicity in retina after methylmercury exposure. Neurotoxicology 2012; 33:407-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2012.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2011] [Revised: 04/03/2012] [Accepted: 04/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Murata K, Yoshida M, Sakamoto M, Iwai-Shimada M, Yaginuma-Sakurai K, Tatsuta N, Iwata T, Karita K, Nakai K. Recent evidence from epidemiological studies on methylmercury toxicity. Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi 2011; 66:682-95. [PMID: 21996768 DOI: 10.1265/jjh.66.682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
More than fifty years have passed since the outbreak of Minamata disease, and large-scale methylmercury poisoning due to industrial effluents or methylmercury-containing fungicide intoxication has scarcely happened in developed countries. On the other hand, widespread environmental mercury contamination has occurred in gold and mercury mining areas of developing countries. In this article, we provided an overview of recent studies addressing human health effects of methylmercury, which we searched using the PubMed of the US National Library of Medicine. The following suggestions were obtained for low-level methylmercury exposure: (1) In recent years, the proportion of human studies addressing methylmercury has tended to decrease. (2) Prenatal exposure to methylmercury through fish intake, even at low levels, adversely affects child development after adjusting for polychlorinated biphenyls and maternal fish intake during pregnancy, whereas maternal seafood intake has some benefits. (3) Long-term methylmercury exposure through consumption of fish such as bigeye tuna and swordfish may pose a potential risk of cardiac events involving sympathovagal imbalance. (4) In measuring methylmercury levels in preserved umbilical cord collected from inhabitants born in Minamata areas between 1945 and 1989, the elevated concentrations (≥1 mg/g) were observed mainly in inhabitants born between 1947 and 1968, and the peak coincided with the peak of acetaldehyde production in Minamata. (5) Since some developing countries appear to be in similar situations to Japan in the past, attention should be directed toward early recognition of a risky agent and precautions should be taken against it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsuyuki Murata
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
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Fillion M, Philibert A, Mertens F, Lemire M, Passos CJS, Frenette B, Guimarães JRD, Mergler D. Neurotoxic sequelae of mercury exposure: an intervention and follow-up study in the Brazilian Amazon. ECOHEALTH 2011; 8:210-222. [PMID: 22160443 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-011-0710-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2011] [Revised: 05/12/2011] [Accepted: 05/18/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Since 1995, the Caruso Project used an Ecosystem Approach to Human Health to examine mercury (Hg) exposure in fish-eating communities in the Brazilian Amazon and develop interventions to maximise nutrition from traditional diet and minimise toxic risk. In 1995, 2000 and 2006, this study followed fish consumption, Hg levels, and visual and motor functions in 31 villagers. Questionnaires gathered information on socio-demographics and diet. Hair Hg (H-Hg) levels were measured. Visual acuity, colour vision, manual dexterity and grip strength were assessed. Data was analysed using general linear models of repeated measures. Total fish consumption, similar in 1995 and 2000, decreased in 2006. Carnivorous fish consumption initially decreased and then remained stable, whereas non-carnivorous fish consumption first increased and then decreased. H-Hg declined from 17.6 to 7.8 μg/g. Visual functions showed a significant decrease over time, with those with H-Hg ≥ 20 μg/g in 1995 showing greater loss. Motor functions showed initial improvement and then returned to the 1995 performance level. Decrease in Hg exposure is attributed to the intervention and socio-economic changes in the village. While there may be a certain reversibility of motor deficits, visual capacities may decrease progressively with respect to exposure prior to the intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Fillion
- Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur la biologie, la santé, la société et l'environnement (CINBIOSE), Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada
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Barygina VV, Aref’eva AS, Zatsepina OV. The role of mercury in the processes of vital activity of the human and mammalian organisms. RUSS J GEN CHEM+ 2011. [DOI: 10.1134/s1070363210130037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Tomicic C, Vernez D, Belem T, Berode M. Human mercury exposure associated with small-scale gold mining in Burkina Faso. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2011; 84:539-46. [PMID: 21279378 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-011-0615-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2010] [Accepted: 01/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In Burkina Faso, gold ore is one of the main sources of income for an important part of the active population. Artisan gold miners use mercury in the extraction, a toxic metal whose human health risks are well known. The aim of the present study was to assess mercury exposure as well as to understand the exposure determinants of gold miners in Burkinabe small-scale mines. METHODS The examined gold miners' population on the different selected gold mining sites was composed by persons who were directly and indirectly related to gold mining activities. But measurement of urinary mercury was performed on workers most susceptible to be exposed to mercury. Thus, occupational exposure to mercury was evaluated among ninety-three workers belonging to eight different gold mining sites spread in six regions of Burkina Faso. Among others, work-related exposure determinants were taken into account for each person during urine sampling as for example amalgamating or heating mercury. All participants were medically examined by a local medical team in order to identify possible symptoms related to the toxic effect of mercury. RESULTS Mercury levels were high, showing that 69% of the measurements exceeded the ACGIH (American Conference of Industrial Hygienists) biological exposure indice (BEI) of 35 μg per g of creatinine (μg/g-Cr) (prior to shift) while 16% even exceeded 350 μg/g-Cr. Basically, unspecific but also specific symptoms related to mercury toxicity could be underlined among the persons who were directly related to gold mining activities. Only one-third among the studied subpopulation reported about less than three symptoms possibly associated to mercury exposure and nearly half of them suffered from at least five of these symptoms. Ore washers were more involved in the direct handling of mercury while gold dealers in the final gold recovery activities. These differences may explain the overexposure observed in gold dealers and indicate that the refining process is the major source of exposure. CONCLUSIONS This study attests that mercury exposure still is an issue of concern. North-South collaborations should encourage knowledge exchange between developing and developed countries, for a cleaner artisanal gold mining process and thus for reducing human health and environmental hazards due to mercury use.
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Arefieva AS, Dyban PA, Krasilshchikova MS, Dobrucki JW, Zatsepina OV. Localization and composition of renal immunodeposits in mice developing HgCl2-induced autoimmune process. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1134/s1990519x10040073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Feitosa-Santana C, Bimler DL, Paramei GV, Oiwa NN, Barboni MTS, Costa MF, Silveira LCL, Ventura DF. Color-space distortions following long-term occupational exposure to mercury vapor. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2010; 30:724-30. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-1313.2010.00764.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Berzas Nevado JJ, Rodríguez Martín-Doimeadios RC, Guzmán Bernardo FJ, Jiménez Moreno M, Herculano AM, do Nascimento JLM, Crespo-López ME. Mercury in the Tapajós River basin, Brazilian Amazon: a review. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2010; 36:593-608. [PMID: 20483161 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2010.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2009] [Revised: 02/24/2010] [Accepted: 03/29/2010] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents a review about mercury contamination and human exposure in the Tapajós River basin (Brazil), one of the major tributaries of the Amazon impacted by traditional gold mining from the mid 1980s. The most recent review in this region was published more than ten years ago and since then many articles about environment and especially human populations have revealed new aspects of mercury toxicology. Additionally, new biomarkers of mercury exposure and toxicity have been studied in these populations. However, there are still many open, about both mercury's biogeochemical cycle and mercury health risks. Further environmental and human risk research directions are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Berzas Nevado
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain
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Preliminary Findings on the Effects of Occupational Exposure to Mercury Vapor Below Safety Levels on Visual and Neuropsychological Functions. J Occup Environ Med 2009; 51:1403-12. [DOI: 10.1097/jom.0b013e3181bca9ea] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Au WY, Hon C, Yau K, Lai WW, Fong BM, Tam S, Kwong YL. Two cases of monocular visual loss during oral arsenic trioxide therapy of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Am J Hematol 2009; 84:699. [PMID: 19705432 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.21505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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da Conceição Nascimento Pinheiro M, do Nascimento JLM, de Lima Silveira LC, da Rocha JBT, Aschner M. Mercury and Selenium - A Review on Aspects Related to the Health of Human Populations in the Amazon. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 4:222-245. [PMID: 31485199 DOI: 10.1080/15555270903143440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) toxicity is governed by cellular thiol compounds and its capacity to generate reactive oxygen radicals and oxidative stress. Selenium (Se) plays a key role in the prevention of the toxic effects of Hg by modulating the activity of several Se-dependent enzymes, including glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). In addition, dietary Se can reduce Hg toxicity by directly interacting with either Hg(II) or methylmercury (MeHg) to form inert products, such as HgSe complexes.. Although experimental and environmental data have indicated a protective role for selenium against Hg toxicity, human data are more limited and somewhat conroversial In the Amazon Region of Brazil, Hg pollution is rampant as a result of gold (Au) mining and other anthropogenic factors, leading to pervasive release of large quantities of metallic Hg0 into the environment. Exposure to Hg in this region is associated with direct occupational exposure in the gold mining industry, as well as consumption by in inhabitants of riverside communities of a diet rich in MeHg-contaminated fish. Human exposure to MeHg in the Amazon through the diet has been monitored by measuring Hg and MeHg in hair samples. In this paper, we review the environmental contamination of Hg in the Amazon and detail human exposures in populations of this region. We conclude with a brief synopsis on Se levels in the Amazon population and provide a brief review of data available on the interaction between Hg and Se in this region. Overall, the literature supports the notion that low environmental Se is linked to susceptibility to Hg toxicity and that Se levels could be used as a bioindicator to monitor the health of Hg exposed subjects. However, in light of the limited human data on this subject, further epidemiological studies are needed to clarify how changes in Se levels modify the toxicity of environmental Hg.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luiz Carlos de Lima Silveira
- Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará Brazil.,Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | | | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Dengue maculopathy: visual electrophysiology and optical coherence tomography. Doc Ophthalmol 2009; 119:145-55. [DOI: 10.1007/s10633-009-9178-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2009] [Accepted: 06/08/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Abstract
The heavy metal mercury is ubiquitously distributed in the environment resulting in permanent low-level exposure in human populations. Mercury can be encountered in three main chemical forms (elemental, inorganic, and organic) which can affect the immune system in different ways. In this review, we describe the effects of these various forms of mercury exposure on immune cells in humans and animals. In genetically susceptible mice or rats, subtoxic doses of mercury induce the production of highly specific autoantibodies as well as a generalized activation of the immune system. We review studies performed in this model and discuss their implications for the role of environmental chemicals in human autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaya Vas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
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Barregard L. Exposure to inorganic mercury: from dental amalgam to artisanal gold mining. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2008; 107:4-5. [PMID: 18384768 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2008.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2008] [Accepted: 02/13/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lars Barregard
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, Gothenborg University, PB 414, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden.
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