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Eriksson P, Johansson N, Viberg H, Buratovic S, Fredriksson A. Perfluorinated chemicals (PFOA) can, by interacting with highly brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE 209) during a defined period of neonatal brain development, exacerbate neurobehavioural defects. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2023; 96:107150. [PMID: 36584763 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2022.107150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are ubiquitous persistent environmental compounds, present in humans and at higher levels in infants/children than in adults. This study shows that co-exposure to pentadecafluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and 2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6,6'-decaBDE (PBDE 209) can significantly exacerbate developmental neurobehavioural defects. Neonatal male NMRI mice, 3 and 10 days old, were exposed perorally to PBDE 209 (1.4 or 8.0 μmol/kg bw), PFOA (1.4 or 14 μmol/kg bw), co-exposed to PBDE 209 and PFOA (at the given doses), or a vehicle (20% fat emulsion) and observed for spontaneous behaviour in a novel home environment when 2 and 4 months old. The behavioural defects observed included hyperactivity and reduced habituation indicating cognitive defects. This interaction appears most likely dependent on the presence of PBDE 209 and/or its metabolites together with PFOA, during a defined critical period of neonatal brain development, corresponding to the perinatal and newborn period in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per Eriksson
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Niclas Johansson
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Henrik Viberg
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sonja Buratovic
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Fredriksson
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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2
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Yin Y, Chen X, Gui Y, Zou J, Wang Q, Qiu L, Fan L, Meng S, Song C. Risk and benefit assessment of potential neurodevelopment effect resulting from consumption of cultured largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:89788-89795. [PMID: 35854072 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22065-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the net effects of dietary consumption on the potential neurodevelopmental effects of largemouth bass (Micropterus Salmoides, simplify as bass) cultured in China, especially when the bait of largemouth bass is changed from iced trash fish to formulated feed. A total of three bait group bass samples were collected from main producing areas during harvest period, including formulated feed group, iced trash fish group, and both group (converting from iced trash fish to formulated feed). Net neurodevelopment value (expressed as intelligence quotient or IQ) was calculated using FAO/WHO deterministic methods and probabilistic assessment model. The results showed net IQ of largemouth bass fed by the three baits groups all showed positive or beneficial neurodevelopmental effects, with the values of 1.55 ± 0.97 (formulated feed group), 3.17 ± 1.76 (iced trash fish group), and 2.65 ± 1.29 (both group) respectively. Bass samples fed with ice trash fish showed the highest neurodevelopmental effect. The present study suggested that more valuable formulated feed should be developed to improve the quality of cultured largemouth bass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Yin
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
- Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuan Gui
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianmin Zou
- Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products On Environmental Factors (Wuxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Control of Quality and Safety for Aquatic Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100141, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products On Environmental Factors (Wuxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
| | - Liping Qiu
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
- Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products On Environmental Factors (Wuxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Control of Quality and Safety for Aquatic Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100141, China
| | - Limin Fan
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
- Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products On Environmental Factors (Wuxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Control of Quality and Safety for Aquatic Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100141, China
| | - Shunlong Meng
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
- Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products On Environmental Factors (Wuxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Control of Quality and Safety for Aquatic Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100141, China
| | - Chao Song
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China.
- Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China.
- Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products On Environmental Factors (Wuxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuxi, 214081, Jiangsu, China.
- Key Laboratory of Control of Quality and Safety for Aquatic Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100141, China.
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, China.
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3
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de Vasconcellos ACS, Ferreira SRB, de Sousa CC, de Oliveira MW, de Oliveira Lima M, Basta PC. Health Risk Assessment Attributed to Consumption of Fish Contaminated with Mercury in the Rio Branco Basin, Roraima, Amazon, Brazil. TOXICS 2022; 10:516. [PMID: 36136481 PMCID: PMC9504189 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10090516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the health risk attributable to the consumption of mercury-contaminated fish for the urban and non-urban populations living in the Roraima state, Amazon, Brazil. Seventy-five fish specimens distributed across twenty different species, comprising four trophic levels (i.e., herbivore, omnivore, detritivore, and carnivore), were collected at four locations in the Branco River Basin. The fish samples were sent to the Toxicology Laboratory at Evandro Chagas Institute to determine the total-Hg levels by using the cold vapor atomic system (CVAAS). The total-Hg levels ranged from 0 to 3.159 µg/g. The average concentration in non-carnivorous species (n = 32) was 0.116 µg/g, and among carnivorous fish (n = 43), it was 0.869 µg/g. The weighted average of contamination levels for all samples was 0.545 µg/g. The health risk assessment was conducted according to the methodology proposed by the World Health Organization and different scenarios of human exposure were considered, based on three levels of fish consumption (low: 50 g/day; moderate: 100 g/day and high: 200 g/day). Women of childbearing age ingest 5 to 21 times more mercury than the dose considered safe by the U.S. EPA and intake a dose from 2 to 9 times higher than the safe dose proposed by FAO/WHO. Children under 5 years of age ingest from 18 to 75 times the dose proposed by the U.S. EPA and from 8 to 32 more mercury than the limit proposed by FAO/WHO. In summary, regardless of the level of fish consumption, type of residency (urban or non-urban), and the subset of the population analyzed, anyone who consumes fish from the locations sampled is at high risk attributable to mercury ingestion, with the only exception of adult men, who consume an average of 50 g of fish per day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos
- Laboratory of Professional Education on Health Surveillance, Joaquim Venâncio Polytechnic School of Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Sylvio Romério Briglia Ferreira
- Postgraduate Program in Natural Resources (Pronat), Federal University of Roraima, Campus Paricarana, Boa Vista 69310-000, RR, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcelo de Oliveira Lima
- Environmental Section, Evandro Chagas Institute, Secretariat of Science, Technology and Strategic Products, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Belém 70723-040, PA, Brazil
| | - Paulo Cesar Basta
- Department of Endemic Diseases Samuel Pessoa, National School of Public Health Sergio Arouca, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, RJ, Brazil
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Kendricks DR, Boomhower SR, Newland MC. Adolescence as a sensitive period for neurotoxicity: Lifespan developmental effects of methylmercury. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 217:173389. [PMID: 35452710 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Neurotoxicity resulting from the environmental contaminant, methylmercury (MeHg), is a source of concern for many human populations that rely heavily on the consumption of fish and rice as stable ingredients in the diet. The developmental period of exposure is important both to the qualitative effects of MeHg and to the dose required to produce those effects. MeHg exposure during the sensitive prenatal period causes deleterious and long-lasting changes in neurodevelopment at particularly low doses. The effects include a wide host of cognitive and behavioral outcomes expressed in adulthood and sometimes not until aging. However, neurotoxic outcomes of methylmercury when exposure occurs during adolescence are only recently revealing impacts on human populations and animal models. This review examines the current body of work and showcases the sensitivity of adolescence, a period that straddles early development and adulthood, to methylmercury neurotoxicity and the implications such toxicity has in our understanding of methylmercury's effects in human populations and animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalisa R Kendricks
- Department of Psychology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States of America.
| | - Steven R Boomhower
- Gradient, Boston, MA, United States of America; Harvard Division of Continuing Education, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
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The benefits of fish intake: results concerning prenatal mercury exposure and child outcomes from the ALSPAC prebirth cohort. Neurotoxicology 2022; 91:22-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2022.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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6
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Zhang J, Li X, Shen L, Khan NU, Zhang X, Chen L, Zhao H, Luo P. Trace elements in children with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis based on case-control studies. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2021; 67:126782. [PMID: 34049201 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2021.126782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder that may be related to trace elements. However, reports on the relationship between them are still inconsistent. In this article, we conducted a meta-analysis on this issue. We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases as of November 15, 2019. A random-effects model was used, and subgroups of studies were analyzed using samples of different measurements. Twenty-two original articles were identified (18 trace elements, including a total of 1014 children with ASD and 999 healthy controls). In autistic children, the overall levels of barium (Ba), mercury (Hg), lithium (Li), and lead (Pb) were higher. There were significant differences in the levels of copper (Cu) in the hair and serum between autistic children and the control group. The levels of Hg, Li, Pb and selenium (Se) in the hair of autistic children were higher than those of healthy children, while the levels of zinc (Zn) in the blood were lower. Excessive exposure to toxic heavy metals and inadequate intake of essential metal elements may be associated with ASD. Preventing excessive exposure to toxic metals and correcting poor dietary behaviors may be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring Control Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, 550025, PR China
| | - Xi Li
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring Control Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, 550025, PR China
| | - Liming Shen
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, PR China; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China.
| | - Naseer Ullah Khan
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, PR China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring Control Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, 550025, PR China
| | - Lulu Chen
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring Control Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, 550025, PR China
| | - Huan Zhao
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring Control Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, 550025, PR China
| | - Peng Luo
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring Control Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, 550025, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550014, PR China.
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7
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The Role of Human LRRK2 in Acute Methylmercury Toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neurochem Res 2021; 46:2991-3002. [PMID: 34272628 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-021-03394-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) exposure and its harmful effects on the developing brain continue to be a global environmental health concern. Decline in mitochondrial function is central to the toxic effects of MeHg and pathogenesis of mitochondria-related diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD). LRRK2 (Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2) mutation is one of the most common genetic risk factors for PD. In this study, we utilize an acute toxicity model of MeHg exposure in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to compare lifespan, developmental progression, mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species (ROS) between the wild-type N2 strain, wild-type LRRK2 transgenic strain (WLZ1), and mutant LRRK2(G2019S) transgenic strain (WLZ3). Additionally, the expression levels of skn-1 and gst-4 were investigated. Our results show that acute MeHg exposure (5 and 10 µM) caused a significant developmental delay in the N2 and WLZ3 worms. Notably, the worms expressing wild-type LRRK2 were resistant to 5 µM MeHg- induced developmental retardation. ROS levels in response to MeHg exposure were increased in the N2 worms, but not in the WLZ1 or WLZ3 worms. The mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased in the N2 worms but increased in the WLZ1 and WLZ3 worms following MeHg exposure. Furthermore, MeHg exposure increased the expression of skn-1 in N2, but not in WLZ1 worms. Although skn-1 expression was increased in the WLZ3 worms following MeHg exposure, gst-4 expression was not induced. Both skn-1 and gst-4 had higher basal expression levels in LRRK2s transgenic than wild-type N2 worms. Knocking down of skn-1 with feeding RNAi had a significant developmental effect in WLZ1 worms; however, the effect was not found in WLZ3 worms. These results suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction and a defect in the SKN-1 signaling in the LRRK2 G2019S worms contribute to the severe developmental delay, establishing a modulatory role of LRRK2 mutation in MeHg-induced acute toxicity.
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Rand MD, Vorojeikina D, Peppriell A, Gunderson J, Prince LM. Drosophotoxicology: Elucidating Kinetic and Dynamic Pathways of Methylmercury Toxicity in a Drosophila Model. Front Genet 2019; 10:666. [PMID: 31447878 PMCID: PMC6695472 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The risks of methylmercury (MeHg) toxicity are greatest during early life where it has long been appreciated that the developing nervous system is an especially sensitive target. Yet, understanding the discrete mechanisms of MeHg toxicity have been obscured by the wide variation in the nature and severity of developmental outcomes that are typically seen across individuals in MeHg exposed populations. Some insight has come from studies aimed at identifying a role for genetic background as a modifier of MeHg toxicity, which have predominantly focused on factors influencing MeHg toxicokinetics, notably, polymorphisms in genes related to glutathione (GSH) metabolism. For example, variants in genes encoding the catalytic and modifier subunits of glutamyl-cysteine ligase (GCLc and GCLm), the rate limiting enzyme for GSH synthesis, have been reported to associate with Hg body burden (Hg levels in blood or hair) in humans. However, GSH can facilitate both toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of MeHg by forming MeHg-GSH conjugates, which are readily transported and excreted, and by acting indirectly as an anti-oxidant. In this study, we refine a model to distinguish kinetic and dynamic traits of MeHg toxicity using a paradigm of Drosophotoxicolgy. First, we identify that the pupal stage is selectively sensitive to MeHg toxicity. Using a protocol of larval feeding, measurements of Hg body burden, and assays of development to adulthood (pupal eclosion), we identify strain-dependent variation in MeHg elimination as a potential kinetic determinant of differential tolerance to MeHg. We also find that global upregulation of GSH levels, with GCLc trans-gene expression, can induce MeHg tolerance and reduce Hg body burden. However, we demonstrate that MeHg tolerance can also be achieved independently of reducing Hg body burden, in both wild-derived strains and with targeted expression of GCLc in developing neuronal and muscle tissue, pointing to a robust toxicodynamic mechanism. Our findings have important implications for understanding variation in MeHg toxic potential on an individual basis and for informing the process of relating a measurement of Hg body burden to the potential for adverse developmental outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Rand
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Daria Vorojeikina
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Ashley Peppriell
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Jakob Gunderson
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Lisa M Prince
- School of Human Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
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Azad AM, Frantzen S, Bank MS, Nilsen BM, Duinker A, Madsen L, Maage A. Effects of geography and species variation on selenium and mercury molar ratios in Northeast Atlantic marine fish communities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 652:1482-1496. [PMID: 30586833 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a potent neurotoxin that bioaccumulates in seafood. Co-occurrence of selenium (Se) may affect the bioavailability and toxicity of MeHg in organisms. Here we report the concentrations of total mercury (Hg) and Se in 17 teleost fish species (n = 8459) sampled during 2006-2015 from the North East Atlantic Ocean (NEAO) and evaluate species variation and effects of geography. Mean Hg concentration ranged from 0.04 mg kg-1 ww in Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) to 0.72 mg kg-1 ww in blue ling (Molva dypterygia). Se concentrations were less variable and ranged from 0.27 mg kg-1 ww in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) to 0.56 mg kg-1 ww in redfish (Sebastes spp.). The mean Se:Hg molar ratio ranged from 1.9 in blue ling to 43.3 in mackerel. Pelagic species had the lowest Hg concentrations and the highest Se:Hg ratios, whereas demersal species had the highest Hg concentrations and the lowest Se:Hg ratios. Se and Hg concentrations were positively correlated in 13 of the 17 species. Hg concentrations increased from the North to South in contrast to the Se:Hg molar ratio which exhibited the opposite trend. Fish from fjord and coastal areas had higher concentrations of Hg and lower Se:Hg molar ratios compared to fish sampled offshore. All species had average Se:Hg molar ratios >1 and Hg concentrations were largely below the EU maximum level of 0.5 mg kg-1 ww with few exceptions including the deep water species tusk (Brosme brosme) and blue ling sampled from fjord and coastal habitats. Our results show that two fillet servings of tusk, blue ling or Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) exceeded the tolerable weekly intake of MeHg although the surplus Se may possibly ameliorate the toxic effects of MeHg. However, some individuals with selenium deficiencies may exhibit greater sensitivity to MeHg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atabak M Azad
- Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway; Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
| | | | - Michael S Bank
- Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway; Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA.
| | | | | | - Lise Madsen
- Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway; Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Amund Maage
- Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway; Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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Kvestad I, Vabø S, Kjellevold M, Nøstbakken OJ, Midtbø LK, Hysing M, Markhus MW, Madsen L, Handeland K, Graff IE, Lie Ø, Frøyland L, Stormark KM, Dahl L, Øyen J. Fatty fish, hair mercury and cognitive function in Norwegian preschool children: Results from the randomized controlled trial FINS-KIDS. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 121:1098-1105. [PMID: 30360881 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The toxic effects of prenatal methylmercury (MeHg) include neurological abnormalities and developmental delay of which infants and children are particular susceptible. Studies on the effects of low and moderate exposure show conflicting results. Seafood is the main dietary source of MeHg, but also contributes with nutrients regarded as beneficial for development. OBJECTIVES To measure the change in total hair mercury concentration (THHg) after an intervention of lunch meals with fatty fish or meat in Norwegian preschool children, and to examine the associations between THHg and cognitive function. METHODS Children (n = 232) 4-6 years old were randomized to lunch meals with fatty fish (n = 114) or meat (n = 118) three times a week for 16 weeks. THHg was determined using a Direct Mercury Analyzer, and cognitive function was assessed by the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Intelligence Scale-III (WPPSI-III) pre- and post-intervention. Linear mixed effect models were used to analyze changes in THHg and WPPSI-III scores. RESULTS The mean (SD) THHg pre-intervention was 0.373 (0.204) mg kg-1. Children in the fish group had an increase in THHg (change 0.162, 95% CI 0.111, 0.213 mg kg-1), whereas children in the meat group had decreased THHg (-0.053, 95% CI -0.103, -0.002 mg kg-1). There were no notable associations between THHg and the WPPSI-III raw scores at baseline or after 16 weeks of the fish/meat intervention. CONCLUSIONS Lunch meals including fatty fish led to a significant increase in THHg, but the values remain below the point of departures used for risk assessment by the EFSA, WHO and US-EPA. We observed no associations between THHg and cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Kvestad
- Regional Center for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, NORCE Norwegian Research Center, Bergen, Norway
| | - Silje Vabø
- Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
| | | | | | | | - Mari Hysing
- Regional Center for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, NORCE Norwegian Research Center, Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Lise Madsen
- Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
| | | | | | - Øyvind Lie
- Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Kjell Morten Stormark
- Regional Center for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, NORCE Norwegian Research Center, Bergen, Norway
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11
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Barbone F, Rosolen V, Mariuz M, Parpinel M, Casetta A, Sammartano F, Ronfani L, Vecchi Brumatti L, Bin M, Castriotta L, Valent F, Little DL, Mazej D, Snoj Tratnik J, Miklavčič Višnjevec A, Sofianou K, Špirić Z, Krsnik M, Osredkar J, Neubauer D, Kodrič J, Stropnik S, Prpić I, Petrović O, Vlašić-Cicvarić I, Horvat M. Prenatal mercury exposure and child neurodevelopment outcomes at 18 months: Results from the Mediterranean PHIME cohort. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2018; 222:9-21. [PMID: 30057028 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2018.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Revised: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neurotoxicity due to acute prenatal exposure to high-dose of mercury (Hg) is well documented. However, the effect of prenatal exposure to low Hg levels on child neurodevelopment and the question about "safety" of fish-eating during pregnancy remain controversial. International comparisons of Hg concentrations in mother-child biological samples and neurodevelopmental scores embedded in birth cohort studies may provide useful evidence to explore this issue. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Mediterranean (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Greece) cohort study included 1308 mother-child pairs enrolled in the Public Health Impact of long-term, low-level, Mixed Element exposure in a susceptible population EU Sixth Framework Programme (PHIME). Maternal hair and venous blood, cord blood and breast milk samples were collected, and total Hg (THg) levels were measured. Demographic and socioeconomic information, lifestyles and nutritional habits were collected through questionnaires at different phases of follow-up. Children at 18 months of age underwent neurodevelopmental testing using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III). Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were performed, for each country, to assess the association between THg and BSID-III scores, obtaining adjusted β coefficients and odds ratios (ORs). These values were used to conduct a meta-analysis, to explore possible heterogeneity among countries and to obtain combined estimates of the association between THg exposure and BSID-III scores. RESULTS Median THg (ng/g) was: 704 in maternal hair, 2.4 in maternal blood, 3.6 in cord blood, and 0.6 in breast milk. THg concentrations were highest in Greece and lowest in Slovenia. BSID-III neurodevelopmental scores were higher in Croatia and Slovenia. The meta-analysis of multivariate linear models found an overall positive association between language composite score and receptive communication scaled score and increasing THg in maternal hair (n = 1086; β = 0.55; 95%CI: 0.05-1.05 and n = 1075; β = 0.12; 95%CI: 0.02-0.22, respectively). The meta-analysis of logistic regression models showed that the overall adjusted OR between THg in cord blood and suboptimal gross motor score was borderline significant (n = 882; OR = 1.03; 95%CI: 1.00-1.07). Heterogeneity was found across the four sub-cohorts for language composite score in maternal blood, and for fine motor scaled score in cord blood and breast milk. Language composite score and THg concentrations in maternal venous blood were positively related (n = 58; β = 4.29; CI95% (-0.02, 8.60)) in Croatia and an increase of 1 ng/g of THg in maternal venous blood was associated with a reduced risk for children to fall in the lowest quintile of language score by 31% (n = 58; OR = 0.69; CI 95%: 0.37, 1.01). The comparison of β coefficients obtained by multiple linear regression model showed an inverse association between fine motor score and THg concentrations in cord blood for Croatia (n = 54; β = -0.53; CI 95%: -1.10, 0.04) and Slovenia (n = 225; β = -0.25; CI 95%: -0.49, -0.01). In Slovenia THg level in breast milk was associated with suboptimal fine motor performance (n = 195; OR = 5.25; CI 95%: 1.36, 21.10). CONCLUSIONS This study showed an inverse relation between THg levels and developmental motor scores at 18 months, although the evidence was weak and partially internally and externally inconsistent. No evidence of detrimental effects of THg was found for cognitive and language outcomes at these concentrations and age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Barbone
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", via dell'Istria, 65/1, 34137, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Valentina Rosolen
- Department of Medical Area, University of Udine, via Colugna 50, 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Marika Mariuz
- Department of Medical Area, University of Udine, via Colugna 50, 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Maria Parpinel
- Department of Medical Area, University of Udine, via Colugna 50, 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Anica Casetta
- Department of Medical Area, University of Udine, via Colugna 50, 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Francesca Sammartano
- Department of Medical Area, University of Udine, via Colugna 50, 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Luca Ronfani
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", via dell'Istria, 65/1, 34137, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Liza Vecchi Brumatti
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", via dell'Istria, 65/1, 34137, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Maura Bin
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", via dell'Istria, 65/1, 34137, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Luigi Castriotta
- Institute of Hygiene and Clinical Epidemiology Academic Hospital of Udine, via Colugna 50, 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Francesca Valent
- Institute of Hygiene and Clinical Epidemiology Academic Hospital of Udine, via Colugna 50, 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - D'Anna Latesha Little
- Azienda per I'Assistenza Sanitaria n. 5 Friuli Occidentale, via Piave 54 33170 Pordenone (PN), Italy.
| | - Darja Mazej
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39 SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Janja Snoj Tratnik
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39 SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Jamova 39 SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | | | - Katia Sofianou
- Institute of Child Health, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Thivon & Papadiamantopoulou, Goudi, 115 27, Athens, Greece.
| | - Zdravko Špirić
- Green Infrastructure Ltd., Fallerovo Setaliste 22, 10.000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | | | | | | | - Jana Kodrič
- University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | | | - Igor Prpić
- The Clinical Hospital Center of Rijeka, Krešimirova 42, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia.
| | - Oleg Petrović
- The Clinical Hospital Center of Rijeka, Krešimirova 42, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia.
| | | | - Milena Horvat
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39 SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Jamova 39 SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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12
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Ye BS, Leung AOW, Wong MH. The association of environmental toxicants and autism spectrum disorders in children. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2017; 227:234-242. [PMID: 28475976 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.04.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is a set of complex neurodevelopment disorders that is prevalent in children and is increasing at a steady rate in recent years. However, the etiology of autism is still poorly understood. Humans are at higher risk of chemical exposure than in the past as a result of the increasing usage of chemicals in various fields, including food preservation, agriculture, industrial production, etc. A number of environmental agents have been suggested as contributing factors to ASD pathogenesis, which includes heavy metals (Hg and Pb), persistent organic pollutants (DDT, PBDEs and PCBs) and emerging chemicals of concern (phthalates and BPA). These three main categories of toxicants could be the cause of ASD in children. Recent research into the causes of ASD that have been linked to environment factors are reviewed in this paper. There are evidence supporting the etiological link between exposure to environmental toxicants and the development of ASD. Children exposed to these toxicants in the environment exhibit signature traits of ASD and have been reported with high body burdens of these chemicals and/or their metabolites, which may provide an explanation for the observed relation, yet comprehensive evidence in humans is limited, highlighting the need for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bi Su Ye
- Consortium on Health, Environment, Education and Research (CHEER) and Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China
| | - Anna Oi Wah Leung
- Department of Biology, and Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Ming Hung Wong
- Consortium on Health, Environment, Education and Research (CHEER) and Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China; School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory for Heavy Metal Pollution Control and Reutilization, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University - Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China.
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13
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Golding J, Hibbeln JR, Gregory SM, Iles-Caven Y, Emond A, Taylor CM. Maternal prenatal blood mercury is not adversely associated with offspring IQ at 8 years provided the mother eats fish: A British prebirth cohort study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2017; 220:1161-1167. [PMID: 28754500 PMCID: PMC5584731 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Conflicting evidence concerning possible harm from mercury (Hg) in regard to offspring cognition if the woman eats fish has prompted this study to examine evidence from a British pre-birth cohort to investigate the relationship between the two. Methods Pregnant women (median prenatal blood mercury 1.86 μg/L) resident in the study area with delivery between April 1991 and December 1992 were followed up and verbal, performance and total intelligence quotient (IQ) of 2062 offspring were measured at age 8. Analysis treated IQ as (a) continuous and (b) the lowest 25% of the distribution. Multiple and logistic regression analyses took account of social and demographic variables. Stratification considered children of fish eaters separately. Results Before adjustment, mean full-scale IQ increased with increasing Hg (change with 1SD of Hg = +2.02; 95%CI +1.40,+2.64 IQ points; P < 0.0001); after adjustment effect size was reduced although still positive (+0.61;95%CI -0.06,+1.29 IQ points; P = 0.073). The adjusted positive relationship was stronger when fish-eating mothers were considered separately (+0.84:95%CI +0.13,+1.56 IQ points; P = 0.021) in comparison with the outcomes for non-fish eaters, where the adjusted relationship was negative (-2.22;95%CI -5.00,+0.56 IQ points; P = 0.117). The binary outcome showed a similar pattern with the adjusted OR for non-fish-eaters 1.79 (95%CI 1.10,2.93; P = 0.019) per SD of Hg, significantly different from that for fish consumers (0.94;95%CI:0.82,1.08)(Pinteraction<0.05). There were no differences between the sexes in the associations, nor did the level of the mother’s blood selenium change the effect sizes. Conclusion The relationship between intrauterine exposure to mercury and offspring IQ appears to be benign provided the mother consumes fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Golding
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
| | - Joseph R Hibbeln
- Section on Nutritional Neurosciences, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health,5625 Fishers Lane, Rm 3N-07, MSC 9410 Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Steven M Gregory
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
| | - Yasmin Iles-Caven
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
| | - Alan Emond
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
| | - Caroline M Taylor
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
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Ruggieri F, Majorani C, Domanico F, Alimonti A. Mercury in Children: Current State on Exposure through Human Biomonitoring Studies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14050519. [PMID: 28498344 PMCID: PMC5451970 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14050519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) in children has multiple exposure sources and the toxicity of Hg compounds depends on exposure routes, dose, timing of exposure, and developmental stage (be it prenatal or postnatal). Over the last decades, Hg was widely recognized as a threat to the children’s health and there have been acknowledgements at the international level of the need of a global policy intervention—like the Minamata treaty—aimed at reducing or preventing Hg exposure and protecting the child health. National human biomonitoring (HBM) data has demonstrated that low levels of exposure of Hg are still an important health concern for children, which no one country can solve alone. Although independent HBM surveys have provided the basis for the achievements of exposure mitigation in specific contexts, a new paradigm for a coordinated global monitoring of children’s exposure, aimed at a reliable decision-making tool at global level is yet a great challenge for the next future. The objective of the present review is to describe current HBM studies on Hg exposure in children, taking into account the potential pathways of Hg exposure and the actual Hg exposure levels assessed by different biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Ruggieri
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Costanza Majorani
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesco Domanico
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Alimonti
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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15
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Vorojeikina D, Broberg K, Love TM, Davidson PW, van Wijngaarden E, Rand MD. Editor's Highlight: Glutathione S-Transferase Activity Moderates Methylmercury Toxicity During Development in Drosophila. Toxicol Sci 2017; 157:211-221. [PMID: 28184905 PMCID: PMC5837650 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfx033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutathione (GSH) pathways play a central role in methylmercury (MeHg) metabolism and elimination, largely due to formation of a more readily transported MeHg-GSH conjugate. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) have therefore been proposed to facilitate MeHg elimination by catalyzing MeHg-GSH conjugation. A role for human GSTP1 in MeHg disposition is suggested by the association of two common polymorphisms in the coding region (Ile105Val and Ala114Val) with Hg levels in either blood or hair. In this study, we investigated a functional role for GSTs in modulating MeHg toxicity during development. Using the Drosophila model to execute targeted manipulations of both endogenous GSTs and introduced human GSTP1 variants we correlate gene and protein expression levels with GST activity and also with MeHg body burden and developmental outcomes. RNAi knockdown of endogenous GSTD1, GSTE1, or GSTS1, individually, increased susceptibility to MeHg during pupal development resulting in a reduced rate of adult eclosion. Exogenous expression of human GSTP1 in developing flies resulted in increased MeHg tolerance relative to control flies as seen with elevated eclosion rates when reared on MeHg containing food. Furthermore, the GSTP1105 and GSTP1114 variants showed a reduced enzyme activity relative to wild-type GSTP1 (GSTP1wt). Finally, we observed a trend whereby Hg body burden was inversely related to the levels of GST activity. However, in some instances GSTP1 expression resulted in increased eclosion rates without reducing Hg body burden suggesting that GSTs interact with MeHg via both toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic mechanisms. These findings indicate that GSTs moderate MeHg toxicity during development in our experimental model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karin Broberg
- The Institute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Metals & Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Tanzy M. Love
- Department of Pediatrics
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology
| | | | - Edwin van Wijngaarden
- Department of Environmental Medicine
- Department of Pediatrics
- Department of Public Health SciencesDepartment of Dentistry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York
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16
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Genchi G, Sinicropi MS, Carocci A, Lauria G, Catalano A. Mercury Exposure and Heart Diseases. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14010074. [PMID: 28085104 PMCID: PMC5295325 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14010074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2016] [Revised: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contamination has exposed humans to various metal agents, including mercury. It has been determined that mercury is not only harmful to the health of vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children, but is also toxic to ordinary adults in various ways. For many years, mercury was used in a wide variety of human activities. Nowadays, the exposure to this metal from both natural and artificial sources is significantly increasing. Recent studies suggest that chronic exposure, even to low concentration levels of mercury, can cause cardiovascular, reproductive, and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. Possible biological effects of mercury, including the relationship between mercury toxicity and diseases of the cardiovascular system, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, and myocardial infarction, are being studied. As heart rhythm and function are under autonomic nervous system control, it has been hypothesized that the neurotoxic effects of mercury might also impact cardiac autonomic function. Mercury exposure could have a long-lasting effect on cardiac parasympathetic activity and some evidence has shown that mercury exposure might affect heart rate variability, particularly early exposures in children. The mechanism by which mercury produces toxic effects on the cardiovascular system is not fully elucidated, but this mechanism is believed to involve an increase in oxidative stress. The exposure to mercury increases the production of free radicals, potentially because of the role of mercury in the Fenton reaction and a reduction in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase. In this review we report an overview on the toxicity of mercury and focus our attention on the toxic effects on the cardiovascular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Genchi
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione, Università della Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (Cosenza), Italy.
| | - Maria Stefania Sinicropi
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione, Università della Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (Cosenza), Italy.
| | - Alessia Carocci
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari "A. Moro", 70125 Bari, Italy.
| | - Graziantonio Lauria
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione, Università della Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (Cosenza), Italy.
| | - Alessia Catalano
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari "A. Moro", 70125 Bari, Italy.
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17
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van Wijngaarden E, Thurston SW, Myers GJ, Harrington D, Cory-Slechta DA, Strain JJ, Watson GE, Zareba G, Love T, Henderson J, Shamlaye CF, Davidson PW. Methyl mercury exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in the Seychelles Child Development Study Main cohort at age 22 and 24years. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2016; 59:35-42. [PMID: 27989696 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2016.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND All fish contain methyl mercury (MeHg), a known neurotoxicant at adequate dosage. There is still substantial scientific uncertainty about the consequences, if any, of mothers consuming fish with naturally-acquired levels of MeHg contamination. In 1989-1990, we recruited the Main Cohort of the Seychelles Child Development Study to assess the potential developmental effects of prenatal MeHg exposure. We report here on associations with neurodevelopmental outcomes obtained at 22 and 24years of age. METHODS Neurodevelopmental tests at 22years included the Boston Naming Test, Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), and the Profile of Mood States. At 24years, we administered the Stroop Word-Color Test, the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale, the Test of Variables of Attention, and the Finger Tapping test. We also administered a healthy behaviors survey at both ages. Primary analyses examined covariate-adjusted associations in multiple linear regression models with prenatal MeHg exposure. In secondary analyses we also examined associations with recent postnatal MeHg exposure. RESULTS We did not observe adverse associations between prenatal MeHg exposure and any of the measured endpoints. Some measures of attention, executive function, and delayed recall showed improved performance with increasing exposure. Secondary analysis did not show consistent patterns of association with postnatal exposure. CONCLUSIONS Our cohort has been examined at ten different ages over 24years of follow-up. Findings suggest that prenatal and recent postnatal MeHg exposure from ocean fish consumption is not adversely associated with neurobehavioral development at levels that are about ten times higher than typical U.S. exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin van Wijngaarden
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States.
| | - Sally W Thurston
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Gary J Myers
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Donald Harrington
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | | | - J J Strain
- Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Gene E Watson
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Grazyna Zareba
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Tanzy Love
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | | | | | - Philip W Davidson
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
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18
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Vejrup K, Schjølberg S, Knutsen HK, Kvalem HE, Brantsæter AL, Meltzer HM, Alexander J, Magnus P, Haugen M. Prenatal methylmercury exposure and language delay at three years of age in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2016; 92-93:63-69. [PMID: 27058928 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal methylmercury (MeHg) exposure and its possible neurodevelopmental effects in susceptible children are of concern. Studies of MeHg exposure and negative health outcomes have shown conflicting results and it has been suggested that co-exposure to other contaminants and/or nutrients in fish may confound the effect of MeHg. Our objective was to examine the association between prenatal exposure to MeHg and language and communication development at three years, adjusting for intake of fish, n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFAs) and co-exposure to dioxins and dioxin like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs). We used data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) collected between 2002 and 2008. The study sample consisted of 46,750 mother-child pairs. MeHg exposure was calculated from reported fish intake during pregnancy by a FFQ in mid-pregnancy. Children's language and communication skills were measured by maternal report on the Dale and Bishop grammar rating and the Ages and Stages communication scale (ASQ). We estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using logistic regressions. Median MeHg exposure was 1.3μg/day, corresponding to 0.14μg/kgbw/week. An exposure level above the 90th percentile (>2.6μg/day, >0.29μg/kgbw/week) was defined as the high MeHg exposure. Results indicated an association between high MeHg exposure and unintelligible speech with an adjusted OR 2.22 (1.31, 3.72). High MeHg exposure was also associated with weaker communication skills adjusted OR 1.33 (1.03, 1.70). Additional adjustment for fish intake strengthened the associations, while adjusting for PCBs and n-3 LCPUFA from diet or from supplements had minor impact. In conclusion, significant associations were found between prenatal MeHg exposure above the 90th percentile and delayed language and communication skills in a generally low exposed population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine Vejrup
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Synnve Schjølberg
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Anne Lise Brantsæter
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Jan Alexander
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | - Per Magnus
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | - Margaretha Haugen
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
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Cai B, Lawson AB, McDermott S, Aelion CM. A Bayesian semiparametric approach with change points for spatial ordinal data. Stat Methods Med Res 2016; 25:644-58. [PMID: 23070600 PMCID: PMC4658306 DOI: 10.1177/0962280212463415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The change-point model has drawn much attention over the past few decades. It can accommodate the jump process, which allows for changes of the effects before and after the change point. Intellectual disability is a long-term disability that impacts performance in cognitive aspects of life and usually has its onset prior to birth. Among many potential causes, soil chemical exposures are associated with the risk of intellectual disability in children. Motivated by a study for soil metal effects on intellectual disability, we propose a Bayesian hierarchical spatial model with change points for spatial ordinal data to detect the unknown threshold effects. The spatial continuous latent variable underlying the spatial ordinal outcome is modeled by the multivariate Gaussian process, which captures spatial variation and is centered at the nonlinear mean. The mean function is modeled by using the penalized smoothing splines for some covariates with unknown change points and the linear regression for the others. Some identifiability constraints are used to define the latent variable. A simulation example is presented to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach with the competing models. A retrospective cohort study for intellectual disability in South Carolina is used as an illustration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Cai
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, USA
| | - Andrew B Lawson
- Division of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina, USA
| | - Suzanne McDermott
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of South Carolina, USA
| | - C Marjorie Aelion
- School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA
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Gribble MO, Karimi R, Feingold BJ, Nyland JF, O'Hara TM, Gladyshev MI, Chen CY. Mercury, selenium and fish oils in marine food webs and implications for human health. JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 2016; 96:43-59. [PMID: 26834292 PMCID: PMC4720108 DOI: 10.1017/s0025315415001356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Humans who eat fish are exposed to mixtures of healthful nutrients and harmful contaminants that are influenced by environmental and ecological factors. Marine fisheries are composed of a multitude of species with varying life histories, and harvested in oceans, coastal waters and estuaries where environmental and ecological conditions determine fish exposure to both nutrients and contaminants. Many of these nutrients and contaminants are thought to influence similar health outcomes (i.e., neurological, cardiovascular, immunological systems). Therefore, our understanding of the risks and benefits of consuming seafood require balanced assessments of contaminants and nutrients found in fish and shellfish. In this paper, we review some of the reported benefits of fish consumption with a focus on the potential hazards of mercury exposure, and compare the environmental variability of fish oils, selenium and mercury in fish. A major scientific gap identified is that fish tissue concentrations are rarely measured for both contaminants and nutrients across a range of species and geographic regions. Interpreting the implications of seafood for human health will require a better understanding of these multiple exposures, particularly as environmental conditions in the oceans change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew O. Gribble
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Roxanne Karimi
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Beth J. Feingold
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany School of Public Health, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer F. Nyland
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Todd M. O'Hara
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Natural Science and Mathematics, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Michail I. Gladyshev
- Institute of Biophysics of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademgorodok, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Celia Y. Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences – Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
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21
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Early Developmental Low-Dose Methylmercury Exposure Alters Learning and Memory in Periadolescent but Not Young Adult Rats. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 2016:6532108. [PMID: 26885512 PMCID: PMC4738696 DOI: 10.1155/2016/6532108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Revised: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Few studies have assessed the effects of developmental methylmercury (MeHg) exposure on learning and memory at different ages. The possibility of the amelioration or worsening of the effects has not been sufficiently investigated. This study aimed to assess whether low-dose MeHg exposure in utero and during suckling induces differential disturbances in learning and memory of periadolescent and young adult rats. Four experimental groups of pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were orally exposed to MeHg or vehicle from gestational day 5 to weaning: (1) control (vehicle), (2) 250 μg/kg/day MeHg, (3) 500 μg/kg/day MeHg, and (4) vehicle, and treated on the test day with MK-801 (0.15 mg/kg i.p.), an antagonist of the N-methyl D-aspartate receptor. The effects were evaluated in male offspring through the open field test, object recognition test, Morris water maze, and conditioned taste aversion. For each test and stage assessed, different groups of animals were used. MeHg exposure, in a dose-dependent manner, disrupted exploratory behaviour, recognition memory, spatial learning, and acquisition of aversive memories in periadolescent rats, but alterations were not observed in littermates tested in young adulthood. These results suggest that developmental low-dose exposure to MeHg induces age-dependent detrimental effects. The relevance of decreasing exposure to MeHg in humans remains to be determined.
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Rand MD, Vorojeikina D, van Wijngaarden E, Jackson BP, Scrimale T, Zareba G, Love TM, Myers GJ, Watson GE. Methods for Individualized Determination of Methylmercury Elimination Rate and De-Methylation Status in Humans Following Fish Consumption. Toxicol Sci 2015; 149:385-95. [PMID: 26572661 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfv241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) exposure via fish in the diet remains a priority public health concern. Individual variation in response to a given MeHg exposure and the biotransformation of MeHg that follows complicate our understanding of this issue. MeHg elimination from the human body occurs slowly (elimination rate (kel) approximately 0.01 day(-1) or approximately 70 days half-life [t1/2]) and is a major determinant of the Hg body burden resulting from fish consumption. The underlying mechanisms that control MeHg elimination from the human body remain poorly understood. We describe here improved methods to obtain a MeHg elimination rate via longitudinal Hg analysis in hair using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. We measured MeHg elimination rates in eight individuals following the consumption of 3 fish meals in two 75-day trials separated by a 4-month washout period. In addition, since MeHg biotransformation to inorganic Hg (I-Hg) is associated with Hg excretion, we speciated Hg in feces samples to estimate individual MeHg de-methylation status. We observed a wide range of MeHg elimination rates between individuals and within individuals over time (kel = 0.0163-0.0054 day(-1); estimated t1/2 = 42.5-128.3 days). The ratio of MeHg and I-Hg in feces also varied widely among individuals. While the %I-Hg in feces was likely influenced by dental amalgams, findings with subjects who lacked amalgams suggest that faster MeHg elimination is associated with a higher %I-Hg in feces indicating more complete de-methylation. We anticipate these methods will contribute to future investigations of genetic and dietary factors that influence MeHg disposition in people.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Edwin van Wijngaarden
- *Department of Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, Department of Pediatrics
| | - Brian P Jackson
- Trace Element Analysis Laboratory, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
| | | | | | - Tanzy M Love
- *Department of Environmental Medicine, Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
| | - Gary J Myers
- *Department of Environmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Neurology
| | - Gene E Watson
- *Department of Environmental Medicine, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
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23
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Périard D, Beqiraj B, Hayoz D, Viswanathan B, Evans K, Thurston SW, Davidson PW, Myers GJ, Bovet P. Associations of baroreflex sensitivity, heart rate variability, and initial orthostatic hypotension with prenatal and recent postnatal methylmercury exposure in the Seychelles Child Development Study at age 19 years. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2015; 12:3395-405. [PMID: 25807149 PMCID: PMC4377973 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph120303395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2014] [Revised: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A few studies have suggested an association between prenatal exposure to methylmercury and decreased heart rate variability (HRV) related to autonomic heart function, but no study has examined this association using baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). In this study we assessed the distribution of BRS and immediate orthostatic hypotension (IOH) in young Seychellois adults and their associations with exposure to prenatal and recent postnatal methylmercury. METHODS Subjects in the Seychelles Child Development Study (SCDS) main cohort were evaluated at age 19 years. Non-invasive beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP) monitoring (Finapres, Ohmeda) was performed at rest and during active standing in 95 consecutive subjects. Recent postnatal mercury exposure was measured in subjects' hair at the age of 19 years and prenatal exposure in maternal hair grown during pregnancy. BRS was estimated by sequence analysis to identify spontaneous ascending and descending BP ramps. HRV was estimated by the following markers: PNN50 (relative numbers of normal-to-normal intervals which are shorter by more than 50 ms than the immediately following normal-to-normal intervals); rMSSD (root mean of the squared sum of successive interval differences); LF/HF (low frequency/high frequency component ratio); ratio of the mean expiratory/inspiratory RR intervals (EI ratio); and the ratio between the longest RR interval 30 s after active standing and the shortest RR interval at 15 s (Max30/Min15). IOH was estimated by the deepest BP fall within the first 15 s after active standing up. RESULTS Prenatal MeHg exposures were similar in boys and girls (6.7±4.3, 6.7±3.8 ng/g) but recent postnatal mercury levels were higher in males than females (11.2±5.8 vs 7.9±4.3 ng/g, p=0.003). Markers of autonomic heart rate control were within the normal range (BRS: 24.8±7 ms/mm Hg, PNN50: 24.9±6.8%, rMSSD: 68±22, LF/HF: 0.61±0.28) in both sexes. After standing, 51.4% of subjects had a transient systolic BP drop>40 mm Hg, but only 5.3% reported dizziness or had syncope. Prenatal and recent postnatal MeHg levels, overall, were not associated with BRS, E/I ratio, PNN50, rMSSD, LF/HF ratio, Max30/Min15 ratio, and IOH. CONCLUSIONS This study provides no support for the hypothesis that prenatal or recent postnatal MeHg exposure from fish consumption is associated with impaired autonomic heart rate control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Périard
- Service d'Angiologie, Hôpital Cantonal, Fribourg 1700, Switzerland.
| | - Bujar Beqiraj
- Service d'Angiologie, Hôpital Cantonal, Fribourg 1700, Switzerland.
| | - Daniel Hayoz
- Service d'Angiologie, Hôpital Cantonal, Fribourg 1700, Switzerland.
| | | | - Katie Evans
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
| | - Sally W Thurston
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
| | - Philip W Davidson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
| | - Gary J Myers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, CHUV, Lausanne 1010, Switzerland.
| | - Pascal Bovet
- Section of Non Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health, Victoria, Seychelles.
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, CHUV, Lausanne 1010, Switzerland.
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Multifactorial Origin of Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Approaches to Understanding Complex Etiologies. TOXICS 2015; 3:89-129. [PMID: 29056653 PMCID: PMC5634696 DOI: 10.3390/toxics3010089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Revised: 03/06/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A significant body of evidence supports the multifactorial etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) affecting children. The present review focuses on early exposure to environmental chemicals as a risk factor for neurodevelopment, and presents the major lines of evidence derived from epidemiological studies, underlying key uncertainties and research needs in this field. We introduce the exposome concept that, encompassing the totality of human environmental exposures to multiple risk factors, aims at explaining individual vulnerability and resilience to early chemical exposure. In this framework, we synthetically review the role of variable gene backgrounds, the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms as well as the function played by potential effect modifiers such as socioeconomic status. We describe laboratory rodent studies where the neurodevelopmental effects of environmental chemicals are assessed in the presence of either a “vulnerable” gene background or adverse pregnancy conditions (i.e., maternal stress). Finally, we discuss the need for more descriptive and “lifelike” experimental models of NDDs, to identify candidate biomarkers and pinpoint susceptible groups or life stages to be translated to large prospective studies within the exposome framework.
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25
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Ng S, Lin CC, Jeng SF, Hwang YH, Hsieh WS, Chen PC. Mercury, APOE, and child behavior. CHEMOSPHERE 2015; 120:123-30. [PMID: 25014903 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Revised: 05/27/2014] [Accepted: 06/01/2014] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxicant and may have an adverse impact on child behavior. However, this impact was found to be inconsistent in fish-eating populations. Although the positive effects of the nutrients provided by a fish diet may overcome the effect of MeHg, the possibility of genetic variants influencing an individual's response to MeHg has also been discussed. The role of the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 allele (ε4) on MeHg related neurotoxicity is still unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of APOE variants in the relationship between cord blood mercury (Hg) and child behavior. A total of 166 subjects were recruited at delivery, and their cord blood was collected for laboratory analyses of Hg and the APOE genotype. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was administered to the subjects when they reached the age of two years. An increase in cord blood Hg concentrations in APOE ε4 carriers was consistently associated with an increased score for all CBCL syndromes. After controlling for potential confounding factors, the group of ε4 carriers with an elevated cord blood Hg concentration had significantly higher scores in the syndrome categories of general internalizing, emotionally reactive, and anxiety/depression as well as CBCL total scores. Furthermore, general externalizing and aggressive syndromes were borderline significantly higher in this group. In conclusion, we suggest that APOE may modify the toxicity of MeHg. APOE ε4 carriers may be more vulnerable to the effects of MeHg on child behavior at the age of two years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Ng
- Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Chun Lin
- Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Suh-Fang Jeng
- The School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yaw-Huei Hwang
- Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wu-Shiun Hsieh
- Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pau-Chung Chen
- Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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26
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McDermott S, Bao W, Aelion CM, Cai B, Lawson AB. Does the metal content in soil around a pregnant woman's home increase the risk of low birth weight for her infant? ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2014; 36:1191-7. [PMID: 24771409 PMCID: PMC4663686 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-014-9617-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2012] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Low birth weight (LBW) is associated with a number of maternal environmental exposures during pregnancy. This study explored the association between soil metal concentrations around the home where the mother lived during pregnancy and the outcome of LBW. We used a retrospective cohort of 9,920 mother-child pairs who were insured by Medicaid during pregnancy and lived in ten residential areas, where we conducted soil sampling. We used a grid that overlaid the residential areas and collected soil samples at the grid intersections. The soil was analyzed for the concentration of eight metals [arsenic (As), barium (Ba), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and mercury (Hg)], and we then used Bayesian Kriging to estimate the concentration at the actual maternal addresses, since we had the GIS coordinates of the homes. We used generalized additive modeling, because the metal concentrations had nonlinear associations with LBW, to develop the best fitting multivariable model for estimating the risk of LBW. The final model showed significant associations for female infants, maternal smoking during pregnancy, non-white mothers, Cu, and As with LBW. The As variable was nonlinear in relation to LBW, and the association between higher concentrations of As with LBW was strong (p = 0.002). We identified a statistically significant association between soil concentrations of arsenic around the home of pregnant women and an increased risk of LBW for her infant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne McDermott
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Discovery 1, 915 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Weichao Bao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Discovery 1, 915 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - C. Marjorie Aelion
- School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 715 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Bo Cai
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Discovery 1, 915 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Andrew B. Lawson
- Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Epidemiology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Cannon Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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Basu N, Tutino R, Zhang Z, Cantonwine DE, Goodrich JM, Somers EC, Rodriguez L, Schnaas L, Solano M, Mercado A, Peterson K, Sánchez BN, Hernández-Avila M, Hu H, Maria Téllez-Rojo M. Mercury levels in pregnant women, children, and seafood from Mexico City. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2014; 135:63-9. [PMID: 25262076 PMCID: PMC4262596 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Revised: 08/09/2014] [Accepted: 08/13/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mercury is a global contaminant of concern though little is known about exposures in México. OBJECTIVES To characterize mercury levels in pregnant women, children, and commonly consumed seafood samples. METHODS Use resources of the Early Life Exposures in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) birth cohorts to measure total mercury levels in archived samples from 348 pregnant women (blood from three trimesters and cord blood), 825 offspring (blood, hair, and urine) and their mothers (hair), and 91 seafood and canned tuna samples from Mexico City. RESULTS Maternal blood mercury levels correlated across three trimesters and averaged 3.4 μg/L. Cord blood mercury averaged 4.7 μg/L and correlated with maternal blood from trimester 3 (but not trimesters 1 and 2). In children, blood, hair and urine mercury levels correlated and averaged 1.8 μg/L, 0.6 μg/g, and 0.9 μg/L, respectively. Hair mercury was 0.5 μg/g in mothers and correlated with child's hair. Mean consumption of canned tuna, fresh fish, canned sardine, and shellfish was 3.1, 2.2, 0.5, and 1.0 times per month respectively in pregnant women. Mean mercury content in 7 of 23 seafood species and 5 of 9 canned tuna brands purchased exceeded the U.S. EPA guidance value of 0.3 μg/g. CONCLUSIONS Mercury exposures in pregnant women and children from Mexico City, via biomarker studies, are generally 3-5 times greater than values reported in population surveys from the U.S., Canada, and elsewhere. In particular, mercury levels in 29-39% of the maternal participants exceeded the biomonitoring guideline associated with the U.S. EPA reference dose for mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niladri Basu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H9X 2T9.
| | - Rebecca Tutino
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zhenzhen Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - David E Cantonwine
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Brigham & Women׳s Hospital, Harvard School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jaclyn M Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Emily C Somers
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lauren Rodriguez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lourdes Schnaas
- Division of Public Health, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico, D.F., Mexico
| | - Maritsa Solano
- Division of Statistics, Center for Evaluation Research and Surveys, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Adriana Mercado
- Division of Statistics, Center for Evaluation Research and Surveys, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Karen Peterson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Brisa N Sánchez
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Howard Hu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Martha Maria Téllez-Rojo
- Division of Statistics, Center for Evaluation Research and Surveys, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
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28
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MCDERMOTT SUZANNE, BAO WEICHAO, TONG XIN, CAI BO, LAWSON ANDREW, AELION CMARJORIE. Are different soil metals near the homes of pregnant women associated with mild and severe intellectual disability in children? Dev Med Child Neurol 2014; 56:888-97. [PMID: 24750016 PMCID: PMC4133275 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.12442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIM We explored the association of relatively low concentrations of metals in the soil proximal to maternal residence during pregnancy, with intellectual disability. We hypothesized different metals would be associated with mild versus severe intellectual disability. METHOD We used a mixed methods design, starting with a retrospective cohort from 1996 to 2002, of 10,051 pregnant mothers, soil sampling in the areas where these mothers resided during pregnancy, and follow-up of their children to determine if there was an intellectual disability outcome. We tested the soil and then predicted the soil concentration at the maternal homes, and modeled the association with the severity of the child's intellectual disability. RESULTS We found a significant positive association between mild intellectual disability and soil mercury (p=0.007). For severe intellectual disability, there was a significant positive association with the soil arsenic and lead (p=0.025). INTERPRETATION This is the first report of the differential impact of metals in soil and severity of intellectual disability in children. Soil mercury concentration in the area the mother lived during pregnancy is associated with significantly increased odds of mild intellectual disability; a combination of arsenic and lead is associated with significantly increased odds of severe intellectual disability. These associations are present when controlling for maternal, child, and neighborhood characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- SUZANNE MCDERMOTT
- University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Columbia, SC
| | - WEICHAO BAO
- University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Columbia, SC
| | - XIN TONG
- University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Columbia, SC
| | - BO CAI
- University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Columbia, SC
| | - ANDREW LAWSON
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Biostatistics, College of Medicine, Charleston, SC
| | - CMARJORIE AELION
- University of Massachusetts Amherst, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Amherst, MA,University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia, SC, USA
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29
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Dziorny AC, Orlando MS, Strain JJ, Davidson PW, Myers GJ. Neurophysiologic measures of auditory function in fish consumers: associations with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and methylmercury. Neurotoxicology 2013; 38:147-57. [PMID: 23064205 PMCID: PMC3657326 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2012.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2012] [Revised: 09/28/2012] [Accepted: 10/01/2012] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Determining if associations exist between child neurodevelopment and environmental exposures, especially low level or background ones, is challenging and dependent upon being able to measure specific and sensitive endpoints. Psychometric or behavioral measures of CNS function have traditionally been used in such studies, but do have some limitations. Auditory neurophysiologic measures examine different nervous system structures and mechanisms, have fewer limitations, can more easily be quantified, and might be helpful additions to testing. To date, their use in human epidemiological studies has been limited. We reviewed the use of auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and otoacoustic emissions (OAE) in studies designed to determine the relationship of exposures to methyl mercury (MeHg) and nutrients from fish consumption with neurological development. We included studies of experimental animals and humans in an effort to better understand the possible benefits and risks of fish consumption. OBJECTIVES We reviewed the literature on the use of ABR and OAE to measure associations with environmental exposures that result from consuming a diet high in fish. We focused specifically on long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) and MeHg. METHODS We performed a comprehensive review of relevant studies using web-based search tools and appropriate search terms. RESULTS Gestational exposure to both LCPUFA and MeHg has been reported to influence the developing auditory system. In experimental studies supplemental LCPUFA is reported to prolong ABR latencies and human studies also suggest an association. Experimental studies of acute and gestational MeHg exposure are reported to prolong ABR latencies and impair hair cell function. In humans, MeHg exposure is reported to prolong ABR latencies, but the impact on hair cell function is unknown. CONCLUSION The auditory system can provide objective measures and may be useful in studying exposures to nutrients and toxicants and whether they are associated with children's neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam C. Dziorny
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Mark S. Orlando
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - J. J. Strain
- Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Philip W. Davidson
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Gary J. Myers
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
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30
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Ng S, Lin CC, Hwang YH, Hsieh WS, Liao HF, Chen PC. Mercury, APOE, and children's neurodevelopment. Neurotoxicology 2013; 37:85-92. [PMID: 23603214 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2013.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Revised: 03/28/2013] [Accepted: 03/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The benefit of the nutritious elements in fish is insufficient for explaining the controversial finding regarding prenatal mercury (Hg) exposure and neurodevelopment; the varying frequency of susceptible genes among these populations may shed light on these observations. However, limited studies have been reported on the association between genetic susceptibility of prenatal Hg exposure and child development. Apolipoprotein E (APOE, protein; Apoe, gene) is a major protein transporter expressed in the brain. The Apoe epsilon 4 (ε4) allele is associated with poor neural repair function and is a risk factor associated with Alzheimer disease. We conducted a prospective cohort study in 2004 and 2005. In this study, 168 subjects were recruited at delivery and followed up at two years of age, and genetic polymorphisms of Apoe were included to assess genetic susceptibility and to determine the relationship between Hg concentrations in cord blood and neurodevelopment. The results showed that adverse effects on neurodevelopment were consistently associated with prenatal Hg exposure in all subtests of Comprehensive Developmental Inventory for Infants and Toddlers (CDIIT) among ε4 carriers as assessed by both simple linear and multiple linear regression models. After controlling for confounding factors, statistical significance was found in the subtests of cognition tests (β=-8.47, 95% confidence interval (CI)=-16.10 to -0.84), social tests (β=-11.02, 95% CI=-20.85 to -1.19) and the whole test of CDIIT (β=-10.45, 95% CI=-17.36 to -3.54) in a multiple linear regression model. Additionally, the interaction effect between gene polymorphisms of Apoe and Hg levels was significant in the whole test CDIIT and subtests of cognition, language and fine motor tests. In conclusion, Apoe modifies the adverse effects of cord blood Hg on neurodevelopment at the age of two years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Ng
- Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan
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Bailey JM, Hutsell BA, Newland MC. Dietary nimodipine delays the onset of methylmercury neurotoxicity in mice. Neurotoxicology 2013; 37:108-17. [PMID: 23583802 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2013.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2012] [Revised: 03/22/2013] [Accepted: 03/29/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Adult-onset methylmercury (MeHg) exposure is thought to result primarily in sensory and motor deficits but effects on learning are poorly understood. One mechanism by which chronic MeHg may exert its neurotoxicity is via sustained disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis, with a consequent increase of intracellular Ca(2+) ions in vulnerable neurons. A biochemically heterogeneous group of compounds, calcium channel blockers, have been shown in vitro to attenuate MeHg's toxicity. To evaluate the role of calcium antagonism in MeHg toxicity in vivo, adult BALB/c mice were exposed chronically to 0 or 15 ppm of Hg (as MeHg) via drinking water and to nimodipine, a dihydropryidine, L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker with action in the CNS. Nimodipine was administered orally in diets (0, 20, or 200 ppm, producing approximately 0, 2, or 20 mg/kg/day of nimodipine). An incremental repeated acquisition (IRA) of response chains procedure was used to detect MeHg-induced deficits in learning or motoric function and to evaluate possible neuroprotection by nimodipine. MeHg impaired performance on the IRA task, and this was partially or completely blocked by dietary nimodipine, depending on dose. Measures of learning co-varied with measures of motoric function as indicated by overall response rate. Nimodipine delayed or prevented the behavioral toxicity of MeHg exposure as evidenced by IRA performance; effects on learning seemed secondary to response rate decreases.
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Hassauer M, Kaiser E, Schneider K, Schuhmacher‐Wolz U. Collate the literature on toxicity data on mercury in experimental animals and humans (Part I – Data on organic mercury). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.2903/sp.efsa.2012.en-297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Hassauer
- Forschungs‐ und Beratungsinstitut Gefahrstoffe GmbH (FoBiG) Freiburg Germany
| | - Eva Kaiser
- Forschungs‐ und Beratungsinstitut Gefahrstoffe GmbH (FoBiG) Freiburg Germany
| | - Klaus Schneider
- Forschungs‐ und Beratungsinstitut Gefahrstoffe GmbH (FoBiG) Freiburg Germany
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Scientific Opinion on the risk for public health related to the presence of mercury and methylmercury in food. EFSA J 2012. [DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 276] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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Dutra MDS, Jesus IMD, Santos ECDO, Lima MDO, Medeiros RLFD, Cavadas M, Luiz RR, Câmara VDM. Longitudinal assessment of mercury exposure in schoolchildren in an urban area of the Brazilian Amazon. CAD SAUDE PUBLICA 2012; 28:1539-45. [DOI: 10.1590/s0102-311x2012000800012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2011] [Accepted: 03/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was a longitudinal assessment of mercury exposure in schoolchildren in an urban area of the Brazilian Amazon. The study population consisted of 90 children whose exposure levels were assessed by testing mercury levels in the umbilical cord blood and mothers' blood samples in 2000-2001, and in the children's hair and blood samples. The study also used a questionnaire on demographic and socioeconomic data, fish consumption, and self-reported disease history. Mean mercury level in hair in 2010 was approximately 1µg/g, ranging up to 8.22µg/g, similar to 2004 and 2006. These figures can be explained by low fish consumption. Mean blood mercury levels at birth exceeded 10µg/L, ranging up to nearly 60µg/L, which indicates mercury transfer across the placenta. There was a significant increase in blood mercury from 2004 to 2006 (p < 0.001), suggesting exposure through air pollution. The main exposure to mercury was during pregnancy.
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Toxic effects of mercury on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. J Biomed Biotechnol 2012; 2012:949048. [PMID: 22811600 PMCID: PMC3395437 DOI: 10.1155/2012/949048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2012] [Accepted: 05/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental contamination has exposed humans to various metal agents, including mercury. This exposure is more common than expected, and the health consequences of such exposure remain unclear. For many years, mercury was used in a wide variety of human activities, and now, exposure to this metal from both natural and artificial sources is significantly increasing. Many studies show that high exposure to mercury induces changes in the central nervous system, potentially resulting in irritability, fatigue, behavioral changes, tremors, headaches, hearing and cognitive loss, dysarthria, incoordination, hallucinations, and death. In the cardiovascular system, mercury induces hypertension in humans and animals that has wide-ranging consequences, including alterations in endothelial function. The results described in this paper indicate that mercury exposure, even at low doses, affects endothelial and cardiovascular function. As a result, the reference values defining the limits for the absence of danger should be reduced.
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Ferrantelli V, Giangrosso G, Cicero A, Naccari C, Macaluso A, Galvano F, D’Orazio N, Arcadipane G, Naccari F. Evaluation of mercury levels in Pangasius and Cod fillets traded in Sicily (Italy). Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2012; 29:1046-51. [DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2012.675595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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McDermott S, Bao W, Marjorie Aelion C, Cai B, Lawson A. When are fetuses and young children most susceptible to soil metal concentrations of arsenic, lead and mercury? Spat Spatiotemporal Epidemiol 2012; 3:265-72. [PMID: 22749212 DOI: 10.1016/j.sste.2012.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2012] [Revised: 05/08/2012] [Accepted: 05/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
This study was designed to analyze when, during pregnancy and early childhood, the association between soil metal concentrations of arsenic (As), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) and the outcome of intellectual disability (ID) is statistically significant. Using cluster analysis, we identified ten areas of land that contained a cluster of ID and areas of average risk for ID. We analyzed soil for As, Pb, and Hg and estimated the soil metal concentration at the residential sites where the woman and children lived during pregnancy and early childhood using a Bayesian Kriging model. Arsenic concentrations were associated with ID during the first trimester of pregnancy and Hg was associated with ID early in pregnancy and the first two years of childhood. The covariates that remained in the final models were also temporally associated with ID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne McDermott
- University of South Carolina, School of Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, 3209 Colonial Drive Columbia, SC 29203, USA.
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Murota K, Yoshida M, Ishibashi N, Yamazaki H, Minami T. Direct absorption of methyl mercury by lymph. Biol Trace Elem Res 2012; 145:349-54. [PMID: 21892592 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-011-9190-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2011] [Accepted: 08/22/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Methyl mercury is contained in fish and seafood products and is taken up into the body in food. While the central nervous system is known as a target organ, methyl mercury also induces autoimmunity and acts as a potent immunosuppressor. The aim of the present study is to know whether methyl mercury is directly absorbed by lymph. Conscious rats were infused with methyl mercury (4 mg/kg) via duodenal tubing as a single pulse infusion, followed by the continuous infusion of saline, and lymphatic fluids were continuously collected from the thoracic lymph duct every 30 min until 360 min after infusion. Mercury was detected immediately after infusion, and total mercury contents in lymph gradually increased until 90-120 min, remained steady, and then gradually decreased until 360 min; however, the amount of mercury collected during 330-360 min was about twofold higher than during 0-30 min. The amount of cumulative mercury in lymph at 360 min was 1.4 μg. In contrast, blood mercury concentration was 2.4 μg/ml 5 min after infusion, with the value at 360 min being 12.6 times higher than at 5 min. Plasma mercury concentration was 56 ng/ml at 5 min, with hundreds of nanograms per milliliter of mercury detected until 360 min. From the present study, it is concluded that some methyl mercury is directly absorbed by lymph and remains steady 6 h after infusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaeko Murota
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Engineering, Kinki University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
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Mahaffey KR, Sunderland EM, Chan HM, Choi AL, Grandjean P, Mariën K, Oken E, Sakamoto M, Schoeny R, Weihe P, Yan CH, Yasutake A. Balancing the benefits of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the risks of methylmercury exposure from fish consumption. Nutr Rev 2011; 69:493-508. [PMID: 21884130 PMCID: PMC3219437 DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2011.00415.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fish and shellfish are widely available foods that provide important nutrients, particularly n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), to many populations globally. These nutrients, especially docosahexaenoic acid, confer benefits to brain and visual system development in infants and reduce risks of certain forms of heart disease in adults. However, fish and shellfish can also be a major source of methylmercury (MeHg), a known neurotoxicant that is particularly harmful to fetal brain development. This review documents the latest knowledge on the risks and benefits of seafood consumption for perinatal development of infants. It is possible to choose fish species that are both high in n-3 PUFAs and low in MeHg. A framework for providing dietary advice for women of childbearing age on how to maximize the dietary intake of n-3 PUFAs while minimizing MeHg exposures is suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn R Mahaffey
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, George Washington University School of Public Health, Washington DC, USA
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Assessment of chronic mercury exposure within the U.S. population, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2006. Biometals 2011; 22:1103-14. [PMID: 19697139 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-009-9261-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2009] [Accepted: 08/10/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess chronic mercury exposure within the US population. Time trends were analyzed for blood inorganic mercury (I-Hg) levels in 6,174 women, ages 18-49, in the NHANES, 1999-2006 data sets. Multivariate logistic regression distinguished a significant, direct correlation within the US population between I-Hg detection and years since the start of the survey (OR = 1.49, P < 0.001). Within this population, I-Hg detection rose sharply from 2% in 1999-2000 to 30% in 2005-2006. In addition, the population averaged mean I-Hg concentration rose significantly over that same period from 0.33 to 0.39 μ/L (Anova, P < 0.001). In a separate analysis, multivariate logistic regression indicated that I-Hg detection was significantly associated with age (OR = 1.02, P < 0.001). Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression revealed significant associations of both I-Hg detection and mean concentration with biomarkers for the main targets of mercury deposition and effect: the liver, immune system, and pituitary. This study provides compelling evidence that I-Hg deposition within the human body is a cumulative process, increasing with age and in the population over time, since 1999, as a result of chronic mercury exposure. Furthermore, our results indicate that I-Hg deposition is associated with the significant biological markers for main targets of exposure, deposition, and effect. Accumulation of focal I-Hg deposits within the human body due to chronic mercury exposure provides a mechanism which suggests a time dependent rise in the population risks for associated disease.
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McDermott S, Wu J, Cai B, Lawson A, Aelion CM. Probability of intellectual disability is associated with soil concentrations of arsenic and lead. CHEMOSPHERE 2011; 84:31-8. [PMID: 21450328 PMCID: PMC3100367 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.02.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2010] [Revised: 02/21/2011] [Accepted: 02/28/2011] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association between metals in water and soil and adverse child neurologic outcomes has focused on the singular effect of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As). This study describes the complex association between soil concentrations of As combined with Pb and the probability of intellectual disability (ID) in children. METHODS We used a retrospective cohort design with 3988 mother child pairs who were insured by Medicaid and lived during pregnancy and early childhood in South Carolina between 1/1/97 and 12/31/02. The children were followed until 6/1/08, using computerized service files, to identify the diagnosis of ID in medical records and verified by either school placement or disability service records. The soil was sampled using a uniform grid and analyzed for eight metals. The metal concentrations were interpolated using Bayesian Kriging to estimate concentration at individual residences. RESULTS The probability of ID increased for increasing concentrations of As and Pb in the soil. The Odds Ratio for ID, for one unit change in As was 1.130 (95% confidence interval 1.048-1.218) for Pb was 1.002 (95% confidence interval 1.000-1.004). We identified effect modification for the infants based on their birth weight for gestational age status and only infants who were normal size for their gestational age had increased probability of ID based on the As and Pb soil concentrations (OR for As at normal weight for gestational age=1.151 (95% CI: 1.061-1.249) and OR for Pb at normal for gestational age=1.002 (95% CI: 1.002-1.004)). For normal weight for gestational age children when As=22 mg kg(-1) and Pb=200 mg kg(-1) the risk for ID was 11% and when As=22 mg kg(-1)and Pb=400 mg kg(-1) the probability of ID was 65%. CONCLUSION The probability of ID is significantly associated with the interaction between Pb and As for normal weight for gestational age infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne McDermott
- University of South Carolina, School of Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, 3209 Colonial Drive, Columbia, SC 29203
- Corresponding author: Suzanne McDermott, PhD, Tel: +001 803 434 2445, Fax: +001 803 434 8374,
| | - Junlong Wu
- University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 800 Sumter Street, Room 205, Columbia, SC 29208
| | - Bo Cai
- University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 800 Sumter Street, Room 205, Columbia, SC 29208
| | - Andrew Lawson
- Medical University of South Carolina, College of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Epidemiology, 135 Cannon Street, Charleston, SC 29425
| | - C. Marjorie Aelion
- University of Massachusetts Amherst, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, 715 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003
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Spulber S, Rantamäki T, Nikkilä O, Castrén E, Weihe P, Grandjean P, Ceccatelli S. Effects of maternal smoking and exposure to methylmercury on brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentrations in umbilical cord serum. Toxicol Sci 2010; 117:263-9. [PMID: 20631062 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfq216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin essential for neuronal survival and differentiation. We examined the concentration of BDNF in cord serum from newborns exposed to methylmercury (MeHg) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in utero by maternal consumption of whale meat. The cohort consisted of 395 singleton births (206 boys and 189 girls), gestational age ranging from 38 to 42 weeks. Serum BDNF was measured by sandwich ELISA. Maternal smoking habits and other relevant factors were obtained by interviewing the mothers. The exposure to MeHg was estimated from Hg concentrations in cord blood, whereas exposure to PCB was estimated based on maternal serum concentrations. Only MeHg exposure affected the serum BDNF, which decreased in a concentration-dependent manner in girls born to nonsmoking mothers. Maternal smoking significantly increased BNDF in girls but not in boys. For further statistical analyses, we used the serum BDNF concentration as a continuous outcome variable in supervised regression models. Serum BDNF concentration increased with gestational age, increased by maternal smoking, decreased slightly with MeHg exposure, and maternal smoking enhanced the decrease in serum BDNF induced by MeHg exposure. Cord blood BDNF has been reported to increase in association with perinatal brain injuries and has been proposed as a possible predictive marker of neurodevelopmental outcomes. The negative effect that MeHg seems to exert on cord blood BDNF concentration could endanger compensatory responses to an adverse impact and therefore deserves attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Spulber
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Groth E. Ranking the contributions of commercial fish and shellfish varieties to mercury exposure in the United States: implications for risk communication. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2010; 110:226-36. [PMID: 20116785 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2009.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2009] [Revised: 12/14/2009] [Accepted: 12/16/2009] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Fish and shellfish have important nutritional benefits, and US per capita seafood consumption has increased substantially since 2002. Recent research has reinforced concerns about adverse effects of methylmercury exposure, suggesting that methylmercury doses associated with typical US rates of fish consumption may pose measurable risks, with no threshold. These converging trends create a need to improve risk communication about fish consumption and mercury. The analysis performed here identifies the relative importance of different fish and shellfish as sources of mercury in the US seafood supply and proposes improved consumer advice, so that the public can benefit from fish consumption while minimizing mercury exposure. I have quantified contributions to total mercury in the US seafood supply by 51 different varieties of fish and shellfish, then ranked and sorted the 51 varieties in terms of relative impact. Except for swordfish, most fish with the highest mercury levels are relatively minor contributors to total inputs. Tuna (canned light, canned albacore and fresh/frozen varieties) accounts for 37.4 percent of total mercury inputs, while two-thirds of the seafood supply and nine of the 11 most heavily consumed fish and shellfish are low or very low in mercury. Substantial improvement in risk communication about mercury in fish and seafood is needed; in particular, several population subsets need better guidance to base their seafood choices more explicitly on mercury content. I have sorted the 51 seafood varieties into six categories based on mercury levels, as a framework for improving risk communication in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Groth
- Groth Consulting Services, 75 Clifford Avenue, Pelham, NY 10803-1702, USA.
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Liu Y, McDermott S, Lawson A, Aelion CM. The relationship between mental retardation and developmental delays in children and the levels of arsenic, mercury and lead in soil samples taken near their mother's residence during pregnancy. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2010; 213:116-23. [PMID: 20045663 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2009.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2009] [Revised: 11/25/2009] [Accepted: 12/02/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate the association between lead, mercury, and arsenic in the soil near maternal residences during pregnancy and mental retardation or developmental disability (MR/DD) in children. The study was conducted using 6,048 mothers who did not move throughout their pregnancies and lived within six strips of land in South Carolina and were insured by Medicaid between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2002. The mother child pairs were then followed until June 1, 2008, through their Medicaid reimbursement files, to identify children diagnosed with MR/DD. The soil was sampled for mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), and As based on a uniform grid, and the soil concentrations were Kriged to estimate chemical concentration at individual locations. We identified a significant relationship between MR/DD and As, and the form of the relationship was nonlinear, after controlling for other known risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liu
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina, SC 29203, USA
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Correlation Between Mercury Concentrations in Hair and Dental Amalgam Fillings. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.3793/jaam.7.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Early developmental effects of separate or combined perinatal exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 153) in the rat. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2009; 22:89-105. [PMID: 19617190 DOI: 10.2478/v10001-009-0015-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Methylmercury (MeHg) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous and persistent environmental pollutants and food contaminants. Both are neurotoxic, especially for the developing nervous system. MATERIAL AND METHODS Female rats were exposed from day 7 of pregnancy up to day 21 after the delivery to MeHg in drinking water, PCB 153 per os or MeHg+PCB 153. Assessment of the exposure effects in mothers included food and water intake, body weight and reproduction success. Assessment of the progeny comprised determination of body weight, time of pinna detachment, eye opening, incisor eruption, and the negative geotaxis, grip strength and righting reflex. RESULTS The following effects of the exposures were observed: A) MeHg: 0.5 mg/kg/day - no effect on maternal health status and reproduction. In the progeny: faster incisor eruption and hastened negative geotaxis development. MeHg 2.0 mg/kg/day: In mothers: signs of MeHg toxicity (reduced food intake and body weight, ataxia) during lactation. In the progeny: reduced rate of body weight increase, accelerated incisor eruption but delayed development of the righting reflex. B) PCB 153 exposure: 1.0 mg/kg/day: no effect on maternal health status, reproduction success or morphological and physical development of the progeny; 5.0 mg/kg/day: no effect on maternal health status and reproduction. In the progeny: accelerated growth in females, faster pinna detachment and incisor eruption but delayed development of the grip strength. C) MeHg+PCB153 exposure: none overt effect was noted in mothers or in their progeny. CONCLUSION The results confirm the ability of a low level perinatal exposure to MeHg or PCB 153 to affect the early development in the rat. They have not provided, however, an evidence of a synergistic interaction of these contaminants. To the contrary, the results suggest that, at least under the conditions prevailing in the present study, MeHg and PCB 153 interact antagonistically.
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Novais G, Câmara VDM. Perception of mercury contamination by Brazilian adolescents in a gold mining community: an ethnographic approach. CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA 2009; 14:2015-26. [DOI: 10.1590/s1413-81232009000600009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2009] [Accepted: 08/14/2009] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This study used ethnographic methods to examine the perception of mercury contamination by adolescents in the mining community of Poconé, Mato Grosso, Brazil. In Phase I, 53 students aged 13 to 16 years in six schools presented theatrical sketches about community health risks to generate key terms for a pile sorting activity in Phase II. Mercury was reported by four of the 15 groups (26%). In Phase II, researchers conducted semi-structured interviews and pile sorts with 31 students to assess adolescent attitudes about mercury and to generate an ethnomedical model of mercury perception. The lack of consensus evident in the model reveals that while students view mercury as an overall threat, many of them do not understand how its presence can harm human health. Few adolescents felt confident about their knowledge (3%) or could accurately explain how it was used (9%), even though many of them had relatives working as miners (55%). Further analysis of pile sort data suggests that mercury may not belong in a "typical risks" domain. The authors argue that ethnographic methods are a useful tool for public health research, and hope that these findings can contribute to health education interventions in the field.
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Fonnum F, Mariussen E. Mechanisms involved in the neurotoxic effects of environmental toxicants such as polychlorinated biphenyls and brominated flame retardants. J Neurochem 2009; 111:1327-47. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06427.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Tsuchiya A, Hinners TA, Krogstad F, White JW, Burbacher TM, Faustman EM, Mariën K. Longitudinal mercury monitoring within the Japanese and Korean communities (United States): implications for exposure determination and public health protection. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2009; 117:1760-6. [PMID: 20049129 PMCID: PMC2801193 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.0900801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2009] [Accepted: 07/31/2009] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Estimates of exposure to toxicants are predominantly obtained from single time-point data. Fish consumption guidance based on these data may be incomplete, as recommendations are unlikely to consider impact from factors such as intraindividual variability, seasonal differences in consumption behavior, and species consumed. OBJECTIVES/METHODS We studied populations of Korean (n = 108) and Japanese (n = 106) women living in the Puget Sound area in Washington State to estimate mercury exposure based on fish intake and hair Hg levels at two and three time points, respectively. Our goals were to examine changes in hair Hg levels, fish intake behavior, and Hg body burden over time; and to determine if data from multiple time points could improve guidance. RESULTS/CONCLUSION More than 50 fish species were consumed, with eight species representing approximately three-fourths of fish consumed by the Japanese and 10 species representing approximately four-fifths of fish intake by the Koreans. Fish species responsible for most Hg intake did not change over time; < 10 species accounted for most of the Hg body burden in each population. Longitudinal variability of hair Hg levels changed slowly across the study period. Japanese with hair Hg levels > 1.2 ppm (mean, 2.2 ppm) consumed approximately 150% more fish than those with levels < or = 1.2 ppm (mean, 0.7 ppm). However, because many participants consumed substantial amounts of fish while having hair-Hg levels < or = 1.2 ppm, the nutritional benefits offered from fish consumption should be obtainable without exceeding the RfD. We observed a 100% difference in fish intake between open-ended and 2-week recall fish consumption surveys. Open-ended survey data better represent Hg intake as determined from hair Hg levels. Single time-point fish intake data appear to be adequate for deriving guidance, but caution is warranted, as study is required to determine the significance of the different outcomes observed using the two survey time frames.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ami Tsuchiya
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Services and
- Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Thomas A. Hinners
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Finn Krogstad
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Services and
| | - Jim W. White
- Washington State Department of Health, Olympia, Washington, USA
| | | | - Elaine M. Faustman
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Services and
- Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Koenraad Mariën
- Washington State Department of Health, Olympia, Washington, USA
- Address correspondence to K. Mariën, Department of Health, Office of Environmental Health Assessments, P.O. Box 47846, Olympia, WA 98504 USA. Telephone: (360) 236-3175. Fax: (360) 236-2251. E-mail:
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