Mercury and cancer: Where are we now after two decades of research?

Skalny, Anatoly V.; Aschner, Michael; Sekacheva, Marina; Santamarı́a, Abel; Barbosa, Fernando; Ferrer, Bertha Beatriz Socarrás; Aaseth, Jan; Paoliello, Monica Mb; Rocha, João Batista Teixeira da; Tinkov, Alexey A.

doi:10.1016/j.fct.2022.113001

Cited by 28 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 114 publications

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“…Data on the carcinogenic effects of mercury on humans are insufficient and inconclusive to classify mercury as a confirmed carcinogen. There are epidemiological studies reporting increased mortality among workers exposed to mercury vapor [ 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 ]. However, the results regarding the relationship between mercury exposure and an increase in cancers (lung cancers) have been contradictory [ 72 , 73 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Potential Carcinogens in Makeup Cosmetics

Balwierz

Biernat

Jasińska-Balwierz

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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Facial makeup cosmetics are commonly used products that are applied to the skin, and their ingredients come into contact with it for many years. Consequently, they should only contain substances that are considered safe or used within an allowable range of established concentrations. According to current European laws, all cosmetics approved for use should be entirely safe for their users, and the responsibility for this lies with manufacturers, distributors, and importers. However, the use of cosmetics can be associated with undesirable effects due to the presence of certain chemical substances. An analysis of 50 random facial makeup cosmetics commercially available on the European Union market and manufactured in six European countries was carried out, concerning the presence of substances with potential carcinogenic properties, as described in recent years in the literature. Nine types of facial makeup cosmetics were selected, and their compositions, as declared on the labels, were analyzed. The carcinogens were identified with information present in the European CosIng database and according to the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee’s (IRAC) classification. As a result, the following potential carcinogens were identified: parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and ethylparaben), ethoxylated compounds (laureth-4, lautreth-7, or ethylene glycol polymers known as PEG), formaldehyde donors (imidazolidinyl urea, quaternium 15, and DMDM hydantoin), and ethanolamine and their derivatives (triethanolamine and diazolidinyl urea), as well as carbon and silica. In conclusion, all of the analyzed face makeup cosmetics contain potential carcinogenic substances. The literature review confirmed the suppositions regarding the potential carcinogenic effects of selected cosmetic ingredients. Therefore, it seems necessary to carry out studies on the long-term exposure of compounds present in cosmetics and perhaps introduce stricter standards and laws regulating the potential presence of carcinogens and their activity in cosmetics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The mechanism of mercury’s potentially carcinogenic effects is not fully understood. The pro-oxidant properties of mercury are associated with damage to DNA and increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines [ 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 130 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential Carcinogens in Makeup Cosmetics

Balwierz

Biernat

Jasińska-Balwierz

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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“…Mercury is one of the potential agents to promote cancer development and progression, since it can be found particularly in the occupational environment (Figure ). It has been shown that there is a significant correlation between occupational mercury exposure levels (as measured in toenail, hair and blood) and cancer risk and mortality . It might enter the human body differently, such as through inhalation, skin, and diet, ultimately affecting the lung, kidney, digestive, and nervous systems.…”

Section: Mercury Toxicity On Human Health: Effects and Molecular Mech...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mercury has been correlated to the interference of epigenetics by genetic modifications, including histone modification, RNA regulation, alternative RNA splicing, RNA stability, DNA methylation, DNA repair, transcription, gene copy number, and transposon activation. Hg species may cause oxidative DNA alterations and hinder DNA repair pathways due to their pro-oxidant activity . These processes in the gene alterations are the major causes of forming various cancers, mediated by mercury and other heavy metals/metalloids. − Mercury has been found to induce global hypermethylation and hypomethylation in G-protein GTPase Rnd2. , It has been hypothesized that mercury might be an epigenetic agent.…”

Section: Mercury Toxicity On Human Health: Effects and Molecular Mech...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Toxicity of Mercury and Its Chemical Compounds: Molecular Mechanisms and Environmental and Human Health Implications: A Comprehensive Review

Wu,

Osman,

Hosny

et al. 2024

ACS Omega

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Mercury is a type of hazardous and toxic pollutant that can result in detrimental effects on the environment and human health. This review is aimed at discussing the state-of-the-art progress on the recent developments on the toxicity of mercury and its chemical compounds. More than 210 recent works of literature are covered in this review. It first delineates the types (covering elemental mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, organic mercury compounds), structures, and sources of mercury. It then discusses the pharmacokinetic profile of mercury, molecular mechanisms of mercury toxicity, and clinical manifestation of acute and chronic mercury toxicity to public health. It also elucidates the mercury toxicity to the environment and human health in detail, covering ecotoxicity, neurotoxicity diseases, neurological diseases, genotoxicity and gene regulation, immunogenicity, pregnancy and reproductive system damage, cancer promotion, cardiotoxicity, pulmonary diseases, and renal disease. In order to mitigate the adverse effects of mercury, strategies to overcome mercury toxicity are recommended. Finally, some future perspectives are provided in order to advance this field of research in the future.

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“…Hg is a toxic heavy metal that is hazardous to human health ( 105 ). Long term exposure to a low level Hg also leads to cardiovascular, reproductive, and developmental toxicity ( 106 ).…”

Section: Non-essential Trace Elements and Congenital Heart Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to essential and non-essential trace elements and risks of congenital heart defects: A narrative review

et al. 2023

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Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are congenital abnormalities involving the gross structures of the heart and large blood vessels. Environmental factors, genetic factors and their interactions may contribute to the pathogenesis of CHDs. Generally, trace elements can be classified into essential trace elements and non-essential trace elements. Essential trace elements such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), selenium (Se), and manganese (Mn) play important roles in human biological functions such as metabolic function, oxidative stress regulation, and embryonic development. Non-essential trace elements such as cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), nickle (Ni), barium (Ba), chromium (Cr) and mercury (Hg) are harmful to health even at low concentrations. Recent studies have revealed the potential involvement of these trace elements in the pathogenesis of CHDs. In this review, we summarized current studies exploring exposure to essential and non-essential trace elements and risks of CHDs, in order to provide further insights for the pathogenesis and prevention of CHDs.

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Mercury and cancer: Where are we now after two decades of research?

Cited by 28 publications

References 114 publications

Potential Carcinogens in Makeup Cosmetics

Potential Carcinogens in Makeup Cosmetics

The Toxicity of Mercury and Its Chemical Compounds: Molecular Mechanisms and Environmental and Human Health Implications: A Comprehensive Review

Exposure to essential and non-essential trace elements and risks of congenital heart defects: A narrative review

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