Low dose mercury toxicity and human health

Effect of methyl mercury induced free radical stress on nucleic acids and protein: Implications on cognitive and motor functions

“…From the biochemical and behavioural studies it may be concluded that short term low dose mercury exposure exerts its toxicity in a manner similar to that found in early disease progression of prominent neurodegenerative disorders, ultimately leading to poor performance on tested behavioural indices corresponding to motor and memory functions. The results are important in view of recent reports that methyl mercury induced free radical stress results in early ageing and may serve as initiating factor more specifically for neurodegenerative disorders like Alzeihemer disease and dementias (15). The current findings support the notion that incorporating dietary antioxidants like curcumin, ascorbic acid and D-tocopherol in routine diet from early age may help combat the risk of developing such disorders in ensuing years.…”

“…The available literature on the net has though suggestively tried to correlate the impact of low dose of mercury toxicity on various organ systems (15) but is largely silent on the mechanism of action. Organic mercury is considered to be more toxic as it can pass blood brain barrier.…”

Recent Advances of Activatable Molecular Probes Based on Semiconducting Polymer Nanoparticles in Sensing and Imaging

“…With the well‐established toxic effects of mercury ions (Hg 2+ ) on health and ecosystems, it is essential to detect extremely low concentration of Hg 2+ 48. A Hg 2+ responsive SPN probe was developed based on P4b and a rhodamine spirolactam dye (RB‐SL) (Figure 4a) 49.…”

Design of a human biomonitoring community-based project in the Northwest Territories Mackenzie Valley, Canada, to investigate the links between nutrition, contaminants and country foods

“…However, elevated fish mercury levels discovered in some lakes of the Mackenzie Valley Basin of the NT prompted the release of a series of food consumption notices that suggested people limit their consumption of predatory fish species, such as walleye, northern pike and lake trout from specific lakes in the region [7]. Mercury is a heavy metal and chronic exposure to its organic complex (methylmercury) is associated with neurotoxicity and developmental toxicity [8,9]. Furthermore, mercury concentrations in fish were observed to increase in this region in recent years [10], and the local population wanted to better understand how to safely consume fish.…”