Neurotoxic Effects of Low-Level Methylmercury Contamination in the Amazonian Basin

Lebel, Jean; Mergler, Donna; Branches, Fernando J.P.; Lucotte, Marc; Amorim, M.; Larribe, Fabrice; Dolbec, Julie

doi:10.1006/enrs.1998.3846

Cited by 280 publications

(190 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

155

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In these populations, there is strong evidence of early nervous system dysfunction and, to a less extent, immunologic and cardiovascular effects among both adults and children (Lebel et al, 1996(Lebel et al, , 1998Grandjean et al, 1999;Amorim et al, 2000;Dolbec et al, 2000;Harada et al, 2001;Cordier et al, 2002;Mergler, 2002;Yokoo et al, 2003;Silbergeld et al, 2005;Fillion et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Daily mercury intake in fish-eating populations in the Brazilian Amazon

Passos

Silva

Lemire

et al. 2007

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

Self Cite

110

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although high levels of fish consumption and bioindicators of mercury exposure have been reported for traditional populations in the Amazon, little is known about their actual daily intake of Hg. Using an ecosystem approach, calculate daily mercury intake in adult fish-eaters, examine the relations between mercury intake and bioindicators of exposure and the factors that influence these relations. A cross-sectional dietary survey on fish and fruit consumption frequency was carried out with 256 persons from six villages of the Tapajo´s River. Fish portion per meal was determined. Mercury concentration was determined for 1123 local fish specimens. Daily mercury intake (mg/kg/day) was determined for men and women from each village using the average fish-mercury concentration for the fish caught in their fishing zone, the average quantity of fish per meal, fish-species frequency consumption and participants' body weight. Fish-mercury averaged 0.33 mg/g70.33. Daily mercury intake varied between 0 and 11.8 mg/kg/day (mean 0.92 mg/kg/day70.89) and varied by gender and village. Mean blood-and hair-mercury were 58.7736.1 mg/l and 17.9711.5 mg/g, respectively. There was a strong and positive relation between blood-mercury and daily mercury intake, with an inverse relation for fruit intake and schooling; significant variations were observed with immigrant status, and among villages. Hair-mercury was directly associated with daily mercury intake and inversely related to schooling and fruit consumption. Fruit consumption modified the relation between daily mercury intake and blood-mercury levels: for the same daily mercury intake, persons eating more fruit had lower blood-mercury concentrations (ANCOVA Interaction term: F ¼ 10.9, Po0.0001). The median difference of the ratio of blood-mercury to daily mercury intake between low and high fruit consumers was 26, representing a 26.3% reduction. These findings reveal high levels of daily mercury intake. Rigorous studies for developing risk-based reference doses in the Amazon should be undertaken to orient viable risk-management strategies to reduce exposure, while maintaining fish diet.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Daily mercury intake in fish-eating populations in the Brazilian Amazon

Passos

Silva

Lemire

et al. 2007

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

Self Cite

110

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxic substance known to affect visual functions (1)(2)(3) . Visual impairments were studied in Japan, where people ingested contaminated fish following industrial releases of Hg and MeHg into Minamata Bay.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Visual acuity in fish consumers of the Brazilian Amazon: risks and benefits from local diet

Fillion

Lemire

Philibert

et al. 2011

Public Health Nutr.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: To examine the associations between near and distant visual acuity and biomarkers of Hg, Pb, n-3 fatty acids and Se from the local diet of fish-eating communities of the Tapajós River in the Brazilian Amazon. Design: Visuo-ocular health and biomarkers of Hg (hair, whole blood, plasma), Pb (whole blood), Se (whole blood and plasma) and n-3 fatty acids (plasma total phospholipids) were assessed in a cross-sectional study. Setting: Lower Tapajós River Basin (State of Pará, Brazil), May to July 2006. Subjects: Two hundred and forty-three adults ($15 years) without diagnosed agerelated cataracts or ocular pathologies. Results: Near visual acuity was negatively associated with hair Hg and positively associated with %DHA, with a highly significant Log Hg 3 age interaction term. Stratifying for age showed that while young people presented good acuity, for those aged $40 years, clinical presbyopia was associated with hair Hg $ 15 mg/g (OR 5 3?93, 95 % CI 1?25, 14?18) and %DHA (OR 5 0?37, 95 % CI

show abstract

“…These signs of neurotoxic effects could be related to methylmercury exposure from fish consumption. 1,29 Range (min-max) and mean concentrations, on a wet weight basis, of total mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) and the ratios of MeHg to total Hg (MeHg/Hg) in Cichla spp. and Geophagus surinamensis are presented in Table 4.…”

Section: Fish Muscle Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methyl and total mercury found in two man-made Amazonian Reservoirs

Kehrig¹,

Palermo²,

Seixas³

et al. 2009

J. Braz. Chem. Soc.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Metilmercúrio (MeHg) e mercúrio total (Hg) foram determinados em amostras de água e peixe coletadas em dois reservatórios da Amazônia Brasileira, que apresentam diferentes características limnológicas e ecológicas. As amostras de água de Tucuruí, reservatório mesotrófico com águas claras, apresentaram a concentração de Hg (12,7 ± 8,4 ng L ), an oligotrophic reservoir with black water. Neither Cichla spp. (piscivorous fish), nor Geophagus surinamensis (omnivorous fish) presented significant differences in length-normalized concentrations of MeHg and Hg in muscle, between both reservoirs. MeHg and Hg increased with body weight and standard length of Cichla spp., and also with the trophic level on the food chain. The Hg bioconcentration factor (BCF) increased with the trophic level of the fish, from the omnivorous (10 3 ) to piscivorous fish (10 4 ). Fish from Balbina, an ecosystem naturally rich in dissolved organic matter, presented the highest BCF. Not only the different limnological and ecological characteristics but also the feeding habits seem to influence the mercury concentration in fish.

show abstract

Neurotoxic Effects of Low-Level Methylmercury Contamination in the Amazonian Basin

Cited by 280 publications

References 31 publications

Daily mercury intake in fish-eating populations in the Brazilian Amazon

Daily mercury intake in fish-eating populations in the Brazilian Amazon

Visual acuity in fish consumers of the Brazilian Amazon: risks and benefits from local diet

Methyl and total mercury found in two man-made Amazonian Reservoirs

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About