Neurodevelopmental Effects of Low-level Prenatal Mercury Exposure From Maternal Fish Consumption in a Mediterranean Cohort: Study Rationale and Design

Abstract

BackgroundMercury is a neurotoxic environmental pollutant. However, the literature on the neurodevelopmental effect of low-level prenatal mercury exposure from maternal fish intake is inconsistent. We assessed the association between prenatal mercury exposure and infant neurodevelopment in coastal areas of 4 Mediterranean countries.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study that planned to enroll approximately 1700 mother–infant pairs. Pregnant women and their newborn children were recruited in selected hospitals of the study areas. Biological samples, including maternal hair and cord blood, were collected from mothers and children, and the concentrations of mercury and other elements were measured. Exposures to lifestyle, environmental, and social factors were assessed through questionnaires. The main outcome was child neurodevelopment at 18 months, as measured by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition.ConclusionsThis cohort has a number of strengths. First, mercury concentration was measured in several biological samples, which allows for a better understanding of mercury kinetics and is useful for sensitivity analyses. Therefore, we expect to be able to adjust for the potential confounding effects of lifestyle and social factors and for the effects of other elements that were measured in the biological samples. Finally, this is a multinational study and thus permits assessment of the relation between mercury and child neurodevelopment in different populations.

Consuming Fish for Nutrition and Medicine Is Boon or Doom: A Review on Scientific Perspective

“…Consuming fishes like tuna, shark, king mackerel, sword fish, tile fish, has also resulted in poisoning due to mercury and dioxins, which accumulates from industry and water pollution 40 . These toxins and xenobiotic compounds directly or indirectly produced adverse effects in humans when consumed, as it induces blood clots, heart choking, heart attack, neural disorders in men, pregnant women, unborn babies and children 41 .…”

“…Or particularly which species of fish should be restricted and eluded? Because of unsubstantiated claims of health risks due to intake of few species of fish, scientists have concluded based on evidence that almost all the species of fish are effected by mercury but few species of fish, mainly sea or oceanic fishes like king mackerel, shark, shell fish, albacore tuna, sword fish, Japanese puffer fish, tile fish, herring, flat fish, Atlantic mackerel, snapper, cod etc., particularly large, long lived predator fishes are highly effected and contains high level of mercury 41,12 .…”

Thimerosal in childhood vaccines contributes to accumulating mercury toxicity in the kidney

“…The toxicity of Hg is vast and depends primarily on the Hg chemical form, dose, exposure, duration, and route, as well as on individual characteristics (Gochfeld 2003). In addition, several organ systems are disturbed through Hg exposure, for example, the cardiovascular (de Marco et al 2010;Houston 2011), nervous (Ni et al 2012;Valent et al 2013;Yorifuji et al 2013), immune (Sweet and Zelikoff 2001;Havarinasab et al 2007;Zhang et al 2011;Zhang, Bolivar, and Lawrence 2013), reproductive (Gerhard et al 1998), and renal systems (Woods et al 2002;Shi et al 2011).…”

Avaliação da distribuição, metabolismo e nefrotoxicidade do timerosal - um conservante a base de mercúrio usado em vacinas - utilizando modelos in vivo e in vitro

“…A proteína Bax da família Bcl-2 é uma molécula pró-apoptótica (VAN CRUCHTEN; VAN DEN BROECK, 2002 HEER, 2013). Por exemplo, a expressão, degradação e organização alteradas de fibronectina são características de fibrose (WILLIAMS, et al, 2008).…”

“…Dessa forma, as algas e plantas aquáticas apresentam concentrações de MeHg poucas vezes maiores do que os sedimentos ao passo que os peixes que consomem estes vegetais têm concentrações de MeHg maiores, podendo os organismos do topo da cadeia alimentar apresentar concentrações de MeHg até um milhão de vezes maiores do que os organismos produtores (GUIMARÃES, et al, 1999 (WHO, 1990). Os efeitos nocivos do MeHg são notáveis no cérebro, sendo os principais sintomas distúrbios visuais, parestesia, perda da audição, tremor muscular, distúrbio da motilidade, paralisia e até a morte (VALENT, et al, 2013;YORIFUJI, et al, 2013). Nos rins, o Hgi pode causar importantes quadros de nefrotoxicidade (WOODS, et al, 2002;SHI, et al, 2011).…”