Delayed Cerebellar Disease and Death after Accidental Exposure to Dimethylmercury

Nierenberg, David W.; Nordgren, Richard E.; Chang, Morris B.; Siegler, Richard W.; Blayney, Michael B.; Hochberg, Fred H.; Toribara, T.Y.; Cernichiari, Elsa; Clarkson, Thomas W.

doi:10.1056/nejm199806043382305

Cited by 198 publications

(115 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

109

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Both cases 1 and 2 died as a result of medical complications of their intoxications, including pneumonia. Clinical and neuropathological changes observed for cases 1 and 2 have been described previously (9)(10)(11).…”

Section: Methods Sample Selection and Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Samples of brain adjacent to those analyzed for their X-ray fluorescence emission spectra were analyzed by atomic absorption for total and inorganic mercury by a previously published method (35 Article and 2 have previously been published (9)(10)(11). For cases 1 and 2, levels of mercury were found to be highly elevated in all regions of the brain analyzed; however, there was significant variation in mercury levels in different regions of the brain.…”

Section: Methods Sample Selection and Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Chemical Nature of Mercury in Human Brain Following Poisoning or Environmental Exposure

Korbas

O’Donoghue²,

Watson

et al. 2010

ACS Chem. Neurosci.

170

124

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Methylmercury is among the most potentially toxic species to which human populations are exposed, both at high levels through poisonings and at lower levels through consumption of fish and other seafood. However, the molecular mechanisms of methylmercury toxicity in humans remain poorly understood. We used synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to study mercury chemical forms in human brain tissue. Individuals poisoned with high levels of methylmercury species showed elevated cortical selenium with significant proportions of nanoparticulate mercuric selenide plus some inorganic mercury and methylmercury bound to organic sulfur. Individuals with a lifetime of high fish consumption showed much lower levels of mercuric selenide and methylmercury cysteineate. Mercury exposure did not perturb organic selenium levels. These results elucidate a key detoxification pathway in the central nervous system and provide new insights into the appropriate methods for biological monitoring.

show abstract

Section: Methods Sample Selection and Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Methods Sample Selection and Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Chemical Nature of Mercury in Human Brain Following Poisoning or Environmental Exposure

Korbas

O’Donoghue²,

Watson

et al. 2010

ACS Chem. Neurosci.

170

124

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…cury used only in research laboratories, is highly toxic, causing death after extremely small exposures. 21,22 Thimerosal used to irrigate the external auditory canals in a child with tympanostomy tubes has caused severe mercury poisoning. 23 …”

Section: Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technical Report: Mercury in the Environment: Implications for Pediatricians

Goldman¹,

Shannon²

2001

Pediatrics

221

119

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ABSTRACT. Mercury is a ubiquitous environmental toxin that causes a wide range of adverse health effects in humans. Three forms of mercury (elemental, inorganic, and organic) exist, and each has its own profile of toxicity. Exposure to mercury typically occurs by inhalation or ingestion. Readily absorbed after its inhalation, mercury can be an indoor air pollutant, for example, after spills of elemental mercury in the home; however, industry emissions with resulting ambient air pollution remain the most important source of inhaled mercury. Because fresh-water and ocean fish may contain large amounts of mercury, children and pregnant women can have significant exposure if they consume excessive amounts of fish. The developing fetus and young children are thought to be disproportionately affected by mercury exposure, because many aspects of development, particularly brain maturation, can be disturbed by the presence of mercury. Minimizing mercury exposure is, therefore, essential to optimal child health. This review provides pediatricians with current information on mercury, including environmental sources, toxicity, and treatment and prevention of mercury exposure.

show abstract

“…30 A chemistry professor in the United States was similarly poisoned in 1997. 31 However, microorganisms are the prime producers as they biotransform the metallic mercury in their environment to organic mercury compounds. 32 The extent of the problem was only realised following the Japanese disaster at Minamata where a factory's effluent was discharged into the local fishing grounds.…”

Section: Mercury In the Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxicity of mercury

1999

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A ruling by the European Union heralds the demise of those useful clinical instruments, the mercury thermometer and the mercury sphygmomanometer. The new laws have been passed because of worries about mercury poisoning. Yet you can drink metallic mercury and come to no harm. What does it all mean? There are three forms of mercury from a toxicological point of view: inorganic mercury salts; organic mercury compounds; and metallic mercury. Inorganic mercury salts are water soluble, irritate the gut, and cause severe kidney damage. Organic mercury compounds, which are fat soluble, can cross the blood brain barrier and cause neurological damage. Mercury metal poses two dangers. It can be vaporised: the vapour pressure at room temperature is about 100 times the safe amount, so Keywords: mercury; toxicity; thermometer; sphygmomanometer Toxicity of mercuryA new European Union directive 1 will prohibit the use of mercury in sphygmomanometers and clinical thermometers. We review here the toxic effect of mercury and its compounds and discuss their relevance to the environment and to modern medicine.The Chinese used mercury (II) sulphide 1000 years before the birth of Christ as the red dye pigment vermilion. It was used similarly in the GraecoRoman world, with both Hippocrates and Galen recording its toxic effects. Since then its toxicity has become well known in metalworkers, miners, felthat manufacturers, dyers and paint manufacturers. Despite this, mercury has been incorporated into the treatment of man's maladies from ancient times. Its main use has been to treat syphilis, from its first appearance in the West in the 15th century up to World War II. 2 Mercury and its salts have at various times been used as antiseptics, skin ointments, laxatives, diuretics, bowel washouts for the treatment of colorectal cancer, and scabicides. It is still used today as a solvent for the silver-tin amalgams used in dental fillings. So how toxic is mercury? The hazards of mercuryThere are substantial differences in toxicity of elemental mercury metal, inorganic mercury salts, poisoning can occur if mercury metal is spilled into crevices or cracks in the floorboards. Dentists are occasionally poisoned this way. Mercury easily crosses into the brain, and causes tremor, depression, and behavioural disturbances. A second danger from metallic mercury is that it is biotransformed into organic mercury, by bacteria at the bottom of lakes. This can be passed along the food chain and eventually to man. It was this process that led to the Japanese tragedy at Minimata Bay in the late 1950s when over 800 people were poisoned. It is the need to reduce mercury contamination of the environment which should encourage us to cut the usage of metallic mercury. However, much more metallic mercury is spilled as waste by the chemical industry than is dropped on the floor in the clinic.

show abstract

Delayed Cerebellar Disease and Death after Accidental Exposure to Dimethylmercury

Cited by 198 publications

References 13 publications

The Chemical Nature of Mercury in Human Brain Following Poisoning or Environmental Exposure

The Chemical Nature of Mercury in Human Brain Following Poisoning or Environmental Exposure

Technical Report: Mercury in the Environment: Implications for Pediatricians

Toxicity of mercury

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About