Genetic susceptibility to methylmercury developmental neurotoxicity matters

Júlvez, Jordi; Grandjean, Philippe

doi:10.3389/fgene.2013.00278

Cited by 33 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Recommended limits for hair-mercury concentrations vary. Even the lowest official limit, i.e., 1.0 µg/g hair used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [11], does not take into the impact of exposure misclassification [12] nor genetic predisposition to methylmercury toxicity [13]. An updated calculation suggests a more protective exposure limit of about 0.58 µg/g hair [12], and this limit was applied in an EU-wide comparison study [5] and in the present study as well.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public health benefits of hair-mercury analysis and dietary advice in lowering methylmercury exposure in pregnant women

Kirk

Jørgensen

Nielsen

et al. 2017

Scand J Public Health

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Shortened running title: Lowering mercury exposure in pregnant womenWord count: 3094 (excl. abstract and references) 2 AbstractAim: To evaluate whether a public health intervention using focused dietary advice combined with a hair-mercury analysis can lower neurotoxic methylmercury exposure among pregnant women, without decreasing overall seafood intake. Methods: At the antenatal clinic at a Danish university hospital, a total of 146 pregnant women were consecutively recruited at the initial ultrasound scan.Dietary advice was provided on avoiding methylmercury exposures from large, predatory fish, and a hair sample from each participant was analysed for mercury, with the results being communicated shortly thereafter to the women. A dietary questionnaire was filled in. Follow-up three months later included a dietary questionnaire and a repeat hair-mercury analysis. Results: In the follow-up group, 22 percent had hair-mercury concentrations above a safe limit of 0.58 µg/g at enrolment, decreasing to 8 percent three months later. Average hair-mercury concentrations decreased by 21 percent. However, total seafood intake remained at the same level after three months. Conclusions: Elevated exposure to methylmercury among pregnant women is an important public health concern in Denmark. The observed lowering of hair-mercury concentrations associated with dietary advice corresponds to a substantial public health benefit that likely makes such intervention highly profitable.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public health benefits of hair-mercury analysis and dietary advice in lowering methylmercury exposure in pregnant women

Kirk

Jørgensen

Nielsen

et al. 2017

Scand J Public Health

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“…This may be due to certain genetic mutations that can affect the retention of methylmercury in the body, specifically, the metabolism of glutathione and metallothioneins. However, the mechanisms involved in these relationships remain mostly unknown [38,39]. Hence, the importance of considering both environmental and occupational factors, and even personal factors (such as genetic traits) that could determine how exposure to mercury impacts an individuals’ health.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, given the non-specific nature of the symptoms of mercury poisoning, the fact that this evaluation was not based on a medical history could have resulted in over-reporting, that is, not the result of exposure to mercury but rather to other conditions, such as cigarette smoking, alcohol, and exposure to dust and other substances that are present in mines [38]. Therefore, the identification of signs and symptoms should include a medical evaluation and the use of standardized instruments to reduce subjectivity at the time of reporting and diagnosing mercury poisoning.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to Mercury in Workers and the Population Surrounding Gold Mining Areas in the Mojana Region, Colombia

Díaz¹,

Muñoz-Guerrero²,

Palma-Parra³

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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In Colombia, the inhabitants of the Mojana region have historically been subjected to high levels of environmental and occupational exposure to mercury; however, there are few robust data on the magnitude of this exposure and associated factors. This study aimed to describe the levels of mercury in the workers and inhabitants in this region, and to identify the main sociodemographic and occupational factors that are associated with this exposure. A cross-sectional study was conducted, in which mercury levels were determined in biological samples (blood, urine, hair) from 1119 people in the Mojana region. A questionnaire was also administered, which was adapted from the Global Mercury Assessment. Linear regression models were adjusted for the natural logarithm of mercury levels in blood, urine, and hair, using the factors that were explored as independent variables. The study reports high mercury levels in 35.0% of blood samples (95% CI 31.9–38.1%), 28.8% (95% CI 24.9–32.8%) of urine samples, and 56.3% (95% CI 53.1–59.5%) of hair samples. The reported source of water for consumption was associated with high levels of mercury (p-value < 0.05). We provide evidence of high levels of mercury exposure for the population in the Mojana region.

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“…Common mutations in certain genes seem to convey a greater risk of neurobehavioral deficits or symptoms, whether in adults working in dental clinics, school children exposed from new amalgam fillings, or children exposed in utero from the mother's seafood diet ( Julvez and Grandjean, 2013). Some of the gene variants may cause a greater retention of mercury compounds in the body, while others may cause decreased resistance to toxicity.…”

Section: Preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

OBSOLETE: Mercury

Grandjean¹

2017

Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences

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Genetic susceptibility to methylmercury developmental neurotoxicity matters

Cited by 33 publications

References 26 publications

Public health benefits of hair-mercury analysis and dietary advice in lowering methylmercury exposure in pregnant women

Public health benefits of hair-mercury analysis and dietary advice in lowering methylmercury exposure in pregnant women

Exposure to Mercury in Workers and the Population Surrounding Gold Mining Areas in the Mojana Region, Colombia

OBSOLETE: Mercury

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