Genetic Aspects of Susceptibility to Mercury Toxicity: An Overview

Abstract

Human exposure to mercury is still a major public health concern. In this context, children have a higher susceptibility to adverse neurological mercury effects, compared to adults with similar exposures. Moreover, there exists a marked variability of personal response to detrimental mercury action, in particular among population groups with significant mercury exposure. New scientific evidence on genetic backgrounds has raised the issue of whether candidate susceptibility genes can make certain individuals more or less vulnerable to mercury toxicity. In this review, the aim is to evaluate a new genetic dimension and its involvement in mercury risk assessment, focusing on the important role played by relevant polymorphisms, located in attractive gene targets for mercury toxicity. Existing original articles on epidemiologic research which report a direct link between the genetic basis of personal vulnerability and different mercury repercussions on human health will be reviewed. Based on this evidence, a careful evaluation of the significant markers of susceptibility will be suggested, in order to obtain a powerful positive “feedback” to improve the quality of life. Large consortia of studies with clear phenotypic assessments will help clarify the “window of susceptibility” in the human health risks due to mercury exposure.

Mercury exposure and its effects on fertility and pregnancy outcome

“…[81][82][83] The many studies reviewed here found that organic Hg and Hg vapour have synergistic and independent developmental and toxic effects, along with those of other toxic metals, including nickel(Ni), palladium (Pd), gold (Au) and cadmium (Cd), and that additional conversions occur in the body between the different Hg forms. 84,85 Methylmercury, derived from fish, and dimethylmercury are readily absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. MeHg is slowly demethylated and oxidized to Hg 2+ .…”

Autism spectrum disorder and mercury toxicity: use of genomic and epigenetic methods to solve the etiologic puzzle

“…Genetic factors underlie an individual's vulnerability to the toxic effects of mercury (Gundacker et al, 2010: Llop et al, 2014Andreoli and Sprovieri, 2017;Llop et al, 2017). The incorporation of newer genetic (or genomic) and epigenetic insights into theories of causation of neurodevelopmental disease constitutes an important means to more fully understand the fundamental etiologies of these conditions.…”

Solution‐based Sulfur‐Polymer Coating on Nanofibrillar Films for Immobilization of Aqueous Mercury Ions

“…36 It is well known that certain types of aqueous metal ions are very toxic to human health even at the very low concentration, and mercury is one of the most toxic heavy metals among them. [37][38][39] Considering that sulfur atom has the known affinity to heavy metal like mercury, [11][12][13]29 we attempted to demonstrate the feasibility of using solution-processed sulfur polymer for removing aqueous mercury ions from the mercury-contaminated water. Regarding the design of sulfur polymer-based mercury adsorbent, the following rationales were considered.…”