The Implications of Exposure to Neurotoxic Metals for Cognitive Development of Children and Adolescents

Santos-Lima, Cassio; Carvalho, Chrissie Ferreira de; Bah, Homegnon Antonin Farréol; Menezes-Filho, José A.

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-06908-6_9

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 82 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Therefore, these miners had high mercury concentrations in blood samples because they have been directly exposed to mercury vapor produced during the amalgamation and the burning processes, as well as eating fish that has been contaminated with methylmercury. Previous studies report that the exposure of miners to mercury in order to extract gold can cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions similar to neuronal diseases [32,33]. In a systematic review of recent studies reporting Hg concentrations in male and female miners from ASGMs in Latin America, Colombia is the country with the most publications, followed by Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru (Table 5).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, lung function may have a long impact if the miners are exposed to dust or PM with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM 2.5) [49,50]. neuronal diseases [32,33]. In a systematic review of recent studies reporting Hg concentrations in male and female miners from ASGMs in Latin America, Colombia is the country with the most publications, followed by Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru (Table 5).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A standardized questionnaire (Q16) was performed to screen patients with possible neurotoxic prevalence symptoms among the exposed population to hazardous substances such as Hg [28]. If the participant reported more than six negative symptoms in the Q16, the patient was considered as requiring evaluation by a health professional for possible neurotoxic effects [31,32].…”

Section: Demography and Health Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Adverse Health Effects and Mercury Exposure in a Colombian Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Community

Vergara-Murillo

González-Ospino²,

Cepeda-Ortega

et al. 2022

Toxics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The aim of this study was, first of all, to associate the mercury (Hg) concentrations and respiratory functions of the gold miners in the artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) environment in San Martín de Loba, Colombia. We carried out a cross-sectional study using a survey whereby we collected basic demographic information, occupational medical history, and applied two validated questionnaires (Q16 and SF36). We measured Hg levels in all volunteers using direct thermal decomposition-atomic absorption spectrometry. Univariate and bivariate statistical analyses were carried out for all variables, performing logistic regression to assess the effect of ASGM on health outcomes. Volunteers enrolled (n = 124) were between the ages of 20 and 84 years (84% miners and 79% males). No changes were found in the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate from the ASGM miners, in crude and adjusted statistical analyses. ASGM miners increased 8.91 (95% confidence interval, 1.55–95.70) times the risk of having these than of having neurotoxic effects. Concentrations of total whole blood mercury (T-Hg) in all participants ranged from 0.6 to 82.5 with a median of 6.0 μg/L. Miners had higher T-Hg concentrations than non-miners (p-value = 0.011). Normal and abnormal respiratory spirometry patterns showed significant differences with the physical role and physical function of quality-of-life scales (the (p-value was 0.012 and 0.004, respectively). The spirometry test was carried out in 87 male miners, with 25% of these miners reporting abnormalities. Out of these, 73% presented a restrictive spirometry pattern, and 27%, an obstructive spirometry pattern. The ASGM population had higher Hg concentrations and worse neurotoxic symptomatology than non-miners of the same community.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Demography and Health Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Adverse Health Effects and Mercury Exposure in a Colombian Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Community

Vergara-Murillo

González-Ospino²,

Cepeda-Ortega

et al. 2022

Toxics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Increased risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adolescents with high salivary levels of copper, manganese, and zinc

Robinson,

Edwards,

Willoughby

et al. 2024

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Exposure to toxic heavy metals has been associated with the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, fewer studies have examined the associations between abnormal levels of essential trace metals and ADHD, and none have done so using saliva. We investigated whether salivary metals were associated with ADHD in adolescents aged 12 from the Family Life Project (FLP) using a nested case–control study design that included 110 adolescents who met diagnostic criteria for inattentive (ADHD-I), hyperactive-impulsive (ADHD-H), or combined type ADHD (ADHD-C) (cases) and 173 children who did not (controls). We used inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometry to measure chromium, copper, manganese, and zinc in saliva samples. We employed logistic regression models to examine associations between quartile levels of individual metals and ADHD outcomes by subtype. Salivary copper levels were significantly associated with increased odds of any ADHD diagnosis (OR = 3.31, 95% CI: 1.08–10.12; p = 0.04) and with increased odds of ADHD-C diagnosis (OR = 8.44, 95% CI: 1.58–45.12; p = 0.01). Salivary zinc levels were significantly associated with increased odds of ADHD-C diagnosis (OR = 4.06, 95% CI: 1.21–13.69; p = 0.02). Salivary manganese levels were also significantly associated with increased odds of ADHD-C diagnosis (OR = 5.43, 95% CI: 1.08–27.27, p = 0.04). This is the first study using saliva to assess metal exposure and provide a potential link between salivary levels of copper, manganese, and zinc and ADHD diagnoses in adolescents. Public health interventions focused on metal exposures might reduce ADHD incidence in low-income, minority communities.

show abstract

The Implications of Exposure to Neurotoxic Metals for Cognitive Development of Children and Adolescents

Cited by 2 publications

References 82 publications

Adverse Health Effects and Mercury Exposure in a Colombian Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Community

Adverse Health Effects and Mercury Exposure in a Colombian Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Community

Increased risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adolescents with high salivary levels of copper, manganese, and zinc

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About