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Hu Y, Zhang L, Tian C, Chen F, Li P, Zhang A, Wang W. Molecular crosstalk and putative mechanisms underlying mitochondrial quality control: The hidden link with methylmercury-induced cognitive impairment. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 278:116360. [PMID: 38678690 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxin associated with foetal neurodevelopmental and adult cognitive deficits. Neurons are highly dependent on the tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP and meet their high energy demands. Therefore, mitochondrial quality control (MQC) is critical for neuronal homeostasis. While existing studies have generated a wealth of data on the toxicity of MeHg, the complex cascades and molecular pathways governing the mitochondrial network remain to be elucidated. Here, 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 mg/kg body weight of MeHg were administered intragastrically to pregnant Sprague Dawley rats to model maternal MeHg exposure. The results of the in vivo study revealed that MeHg-treated rats tended to perform more directionless repetitive strategies in the Morris Water Maze and fewer target-orientation strategies than control offspring. Moreover, pathological injury and synaptic toxicity were observed in the hippocampus. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated that the autophagosomes encapsulated damaged mitochondria, while showing a typical mitochondrial fission phenotype, which was supported by the activation of PINK1-dependent key regulators of mitophagy. Moreover, there was upregulation of DRP1 and FIS1. Additionally, MeHg compensation promoted mitochondrial biogenesis, as evidenced by the activation of the mitochondrial PGC1-α-NRF1-TFAM signalling pathway. Notably, SIRT3/AMPK was activated by MeHg, and the expression and activity of p-AMPK, p-LKB1 and SIRT3 were consistently coordinated. Collectively, these findings provide new insights into the potential molecular mechanisms regulating MeHg-induced cognitive deficits through SIRT3/AMPK MQC network coordination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Hu
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Li Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Changsong Tian
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Fang Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Ping Li
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Aihua Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; Collaborative Innovation Centre for Prevention and Control of Endemic and Ethnic Regional Diseases Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China.
| | - Wenjuan Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; Collaborative Innovation Centre for Prevention and Control of Endemic and Ethnic Regional Diseases Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China.
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Porru S, Esplugues A, Llop S, Delgado-Saborit JM. The effects of heavy metal exposure on brain and gut microbiota: A systematic review of animal studies. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123732. [PMID: 38462196 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The gut-brain axis is a crucial interface between the central nervous system and the gut microbiota. Recent evidence shows that exposure to environmental contaminants, such as heavy metals, can cause dysbiosis in gut microbiota, which may affect the gut-brain communication, impacting aspects of brain function and behavior. This systematic review of the literature aims to evaluate whether deleterious effects on brain function due to heavy metal exposure could be mediated by changes in the gut microbiota profile. Animal studies involving exposure to heavy metals and a comparison with a control group that evaluated neuropsychological outcomes and/or molecular outcomes along with the analysis of microbiota composition were reviewed. The authors independently assessed studies for inclusion, extracted data and assessed risk of bias using the protocol of Systematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) for preclinical studies. A search in 3 databases yielded 16 eligible studies focused on lead (n = 10), cadmium (n = 1), mercury (n = 3), manganese (n = 1), and combined exposure of lead and manganese (n = 1). The animal species were rats (n = 7), mice (n = 4), zebrafish (n = 3), carp (n = 1) and fruit fly (n = 1). Heavy metals were found to adversely affect cognitive function, behavior, and neuronal morphology. Moreover, heavy metal exposure was associated with changes in the abundance of specific bacterial phyla, such as Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, which play crucial roles in gut health. In some studies, these alterations were correlated with learning and memory impairments and mood disorders. The interplay of heavy metals, gut microbiota, and brain suggests that heavy metals can induce direct brain alterations and indirect effects through the microbiota, contributing to neurotoxicity and the development of neuropsychological disorders. However, the small number of papers under review makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Further research is warranted to unravel the underlying mechanisms and evaluate the translational implications for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Porru
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences. Universitat Jaume I, Avenida de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
| | - Ana Esplugues
- Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, Universitat de València, C/Menendez Pelayo S/n, 46010, València, Spain; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de Valencia, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020, València, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sabrina Llop
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de Valencia, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020, València, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juana María Delgado-Saborit
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences. Universitat Jaume I, Avenida de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071, Castellón de la Plana, Spain; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de Valencia, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020, València, Spain.
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3
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Bauer JA, Romano ME, Jackson BP, Bellinger D, Korrick S, Karagas MR. Associations of Perinatal Metal and Metalloid Exposures with Early Child Behavioral Development Over Time in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. EXPOSURE AND HEALTH 2024; 16:135-148. [PMID: 38694196 PMCID: PMC11060719 DOI: 10.1007/s12403-023-00543-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Research on the neurodevelopmental effects of metal(loid)s has focused mainly on outcomes assessed at one time point, even though brain development progresses over time. We investigated biomarkers of perinatal exposure to metals and changes in child behavior over time. We followed 268 participants from the prospective New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study between birth and age 5 years. We measured arsenic (As), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) in toenails from 6-week-old infants. The Behavioral Symptoms Index (BSI), externalizing, and internalizing symptoms were assessed using the Behavior Assessment System for Children, 2nd edition (BASC-2) at ages 3 and 5 years. Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate associations of metals with behavior change, calculated as the difference in symptom raw scores between 3 and 5 years, in addition to the associations for symptom scores at 3 and 5 years separately. Sex-specific associations were also explored using stratified models and a sex-metal interaction term. Adjusted associations of metals and change in behavior varied by exposure and outcome. Each 1 μg/g increase in ln toenail Cu was associated with improved behavior between 3 and 5 years [BSI: β = - 3.88 (95%CI: - 7.12, - 0.64); Externalizing problems: β = - 2.20 (95%CI: - 4.07, - 0.33)]. Increasing Zn was associated with increased externalizing behavior over time (β = 3.42 (95%CI: 0.60, 6.25). Sex-stratified analyses suggested more pronounced associations among boys compared to girls. Perinatal exposure to metals may alter behavioral development between ages 3 and 5 years. Findings support the need for more research on associations between metals and neurodevelopment over longer time periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A. Bauer
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, 1 Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, Hanover, NH 03756, USA
| | - Megan E. Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, 1 Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, Hanover, NH 03756, USA
| | - Brian P. Jackson
- Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - David Bellinger
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Susan Korrick
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Margaret R. Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, 1 Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, Hanover, NH 03756, USA
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4
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Blewett TA, Ackerly KL, Schlenker LS, Martin S, Nielsen KM. Implications of biotic factors for toxicity testing in laboratory studies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168220. [PMID: 37924878 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
There is an emerging call from scientists globally to advance the environmental relevance of laboratory studies, particularly within the field of ecotoxicology. To answer this call, we must carefully examine and elucidate the shortcomings of standardized toxicity testing methods that are used in the derivation of toxicity values and regulatory criteria. As a consequence of rapidly accelerating climate change, the inclusion of abiotic co-stressors are increasingly being incorporated into toxicity studies, with the goal of improving the representativeness of laboratory-derived toxicity values used in ecological risk assessments. However, much less attention has been paid to the influence of biotic factors that may just as meaningfully impact our capacity to evaluate and predict risks within impacted ecosystems. Therefore, the overarching goal is to highlight key biotic factors that should be taken into consideration during the experimental design and model selection phase. SYNOPSIS: Scientists are increasingly finding that lab reared results in toxicology might not be reflective of the external wild environment, we highlight in this review some key considerations when working between the lab and field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamzin A Blewett
- University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences, Canada.
| | - Kerri Lynn Ackerly
- The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, United States of America
| | - Lela S Schlenker
- East Carolina University, Department of Biology, United States of America
| | - Sidney Martin
- University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences, Canada
| | - Kristin M Nielsen
- The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, United States of America
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5
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Torrey EF, Simmons W. Mercury and Parkinson's Disease: Promising Leads, but Research Is Needed. PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2023; 2023:4709322. [PMID: 37744289 PMCID: PMC10517869 DOI: 10.1155/2023/4709322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Environmental toxicants are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. In reviewing the literature on heavy metals known to be toxicants, we noted several recent studies on mercury suggesting a possible role in the etiology of some cases of this disease. We therefore undertook a review of this association, focusing especially on peer-reviewed articles to avoid the bias inherent in much of the literature regarding mercury. For most people, our contemporary exposure to mercury comes from dental amalgam tooth restorations and from eating fish contaminated with mercury. In both cases, mercury is known to get into the brain in utero and at all ages. It remains in the brain for many years and is known to produce permanent neuropsychological deficits. Mercury toxicity can produce tremors and other Parkinsonian clinical symptoms. It can also produce neurochemical and neuropathological changes similar to those found in Parkinson's disease, including the loss of dopamine neurons, degeneration of tubulin and axons, dysfunction of mitochondria, and the aggregation of alpha-synuclein. Relatively few studies have assessed mercury in parkinsonian patients, but almost all reported a statistically significant association. Published studies suggest some promising leads in the relationship between mercury exposure and Parkinson's disease. However, studies of patients are relatively few, and the need for research is clear. A search of Parkinsonian research studies currently funded by the US National Institutes of Health, Parkinson's Foundation, and the Michael J Fox Foundation yielded no studies on mercury. We believe such studies should be supported.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Fuller Torrey
- The Stanley Medical Research Institute, 9800 Medical Center, Suite C-050, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Wendy Simmons
- The Stanley Medical Research Institute, 9800 Medical Center, Suite C-050, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
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6
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López-González U, Riutort-Mayol G, Soler-Blasco R, Lozano M, Murcia M, Vioque J, Iriarte G, Ballester F, Llop S. Exposure to mercury among Spanish adolescents: Eleven years of follow-up. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 231:116204. [PMID: 37211180 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The toxic effects of mercury exposure on human health are a public health concern. The most important source of this exposure is the consumption of fish and marine mammals. This study aims to describe hair mercury concentrations and their evolution from birth until eleven years of age in adolescents from the INMA (Environment and Childhood) birth cohort study, and to assess the association of hair mercury concentrations at eleven years of age with sociodemographic and dietary factors. The sample comprised 338 adolescents from the sub-cohort of Valencia (in eastern Spain). Total mercury (THg) was measured in hair samples collected at 4, 9 and 11 years old and in cord blood at birth. The equivalent of hair for cord-blood THg concentrations was calculated. Fish consumption and other characteristics at 11 years old were collected through questionnaires. Multivariate linear regression models were conducted to explore the association between THg concentrations, fish consumption and covariates. The geometric mean of hair THg concentrations at 11 years of age was 0.86 μg/g (95%CI: 0.78-0.94) and 45.2% of the participants presented concentrations above the equivalent RfD proposed by the US EPA (1 μg/g). Consumption of fish such as swordfish, canned tuna and other large oily fish was associated with higher levels of hair mercury at 11 years of age. Swordfish had the highest effect with an increase of 125% in hair mercury (95%CI: 61.2-214.9%) given a 100 g/week increase in its consumption, and, taking into account the frequency of consumption, canned tuna was the main contributor to Hg exposure among our population. The hair THg concentrations at 11 years of age represented a reduction of around 69% with respect to that estimated at childbirth. Even though THg exposure shows a sustained decreasing trend, it can still be considered elevated. INMA birth cohort studies provide a longitudinal assessment of mercury exposure in a vulnerable population, its associated factors and temporal trends, and this information could be used to adjust recommendations about this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriel Riutort-Mayol
- Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Raquel Soler-Blasco
- Department of Nursing, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Lozano
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Sciences, Toxicology and Forensic Medicine Department, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mario Murcia
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Servei de Planificació I Avaluació de Polítiques de Salut, Conselleria de Sanitat Universal I Salut Pública, Generalitat Valenciana, Spain
| | - Jesús Vioque
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Alicante Institute of Health and Biomedical Research, University Miguel Hernandez (ISABIAL-UMH), Alicante, Spain
| | - Gorka Iriarte
- Public Health Laboratory in Alava, Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Ferran Ballester
- Department of Nursing, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sabrina Llop
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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7
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Dai MQ, Geyman BM, Hu XC, Thackray CP, Sunderland EM. Sociodemographic Disparities in Mercury Exposure from United States Coal-Fired Power Plants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2023; 10:589-595. [PMID: 37455865 PMCID: PMC10339720 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Hazardous air pollutants emitted by United States (U.S) coal-fired power plants have been controlled by the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) since 2012. Sociodemographic disparities in traditional air pollutant exposures from U.S. power plants are known to occur but have not been evaluated for mercury (Hg), a neurotoxicant that bioaccumulates in food webs. Atmospheric Hg deposition from domestic power plants decreased by 91% across the contiguous U.S. from 6.4 Mg in 2010 to 0.55 Mg in 2020. Prior to MATS, populations living within 5 km of power plants (n = 507) included greater proportions of frequent fish consumers, individuals with low annual income and less than a high school education, and limited English-proficiency households compared to the US general population. These results reinforce a lack of distributional justice in plant siting found in prior work. Significantly greater proportions of low-income individuals lived within 5 km of active facilities in 2020 (n = 277) compared to plants that retired after 2010, suggesting that socioeconomic status may have played a role in retirement. Despite large deposition declines, an end-member scenario for remaining exposures from the largest active power plants for individuals consuming self-caught fish suggests they could still exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reference dose for methylmercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Q. Dai
- Harvard
John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Benjamin M. Geyman
- Harvard
John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Xindi C. Hu
- Mathematica,
Inc., Oakland, California 94612, United States
| | - Colin P. Thackray
- Harvard
John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Elsie M. Sunderland
- Harvard
John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department
of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan
School of Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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8
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Ruiz R, Estevan C, Estévez J, Alcaide C, Sogorb MA, Vilanova E. Reference Values on Children's Hair for 28 Elements (Heavy Metals and Essential Elements) Based on a Pilot Study in a Representative Non-Contaminated Local Area. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098127. [PMID: 37175834 PMCID: PMC10179086 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies have been published, and laboratories offer services of measuring elements in hair as biomarkers of environmental exposure and/or control of essential elements (trace or macro). These reported values can have only sense if compared with adopted reference values. In this work, we propose provisional reference values based on a pilot child population. The concentrations of 28 elements were measured in children's hair samples. An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in a typical child population in the Mediterranean region void of excessive pollution problems to analyze 419 hair samples of children aged 3-12 years. Children were selected by a simple random method from eight primary education schools in different municipal districts, which included urban, rural and industrial areas. Samples of around 100 mg were washed and acid digested by an optimized procedure. All measures were performed using ICP-MS with Sc, Y and Re as internal standards. The statistical analysis was performed by two approaches: (a) considering all the data and (b) without outliers (second-order atypical data) to compare them with other published studies. The distribution curves in all the elements studied were asymmetric and did not fit the theoretical normality distributions. Therefore, the analysis based on percentiles was more appropriate. In most elements, only slight differences were observed with sex or age, which did not justify proposing separate reference ranges. From the results of this study, provisional reference values are proposed following two criteria: (a) simple application of the table of percentiles built by removing outlier values and (b) values after a detailed analysis case-by-case, considering other data as the distribution profile and other published data of each element. Although the pilot sample was from a limited area, it was carefully selected to be representative of a general non-contaminated population. With this limitation, the proposed reference values might be useful for researchers and physicians until a wider geographical study is available for a large number of elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Ruiz
- Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Carmen Estevan
- Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Jorge Estévez
- Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Carolina Alcaide
- Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Miguel A Sogorb
- Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Eugenio Vilanova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
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9
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Basu N, Bastiansz A, Dórea JG, Fujimura M, Horvat M, Shroff E, Weihe P, Zastenskaya I. Our evolved understanding of the human health risks of mercury. AMBIO 2023; 52:877-896. [PMID: 36790578 PMCID: PMC10073381 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01831-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a chemical of health concern worldwide that is now being acted upon through the Minamata Convention. Operationalizing the Convention and tracking its effectiveness requires empathy of the diversity and variation of mercury exposure and risk in populations worldwide. As part of the health plenary for the 15th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP), this review paper details how scientific understandings have evolved over time, from tragic poisoning events in the mid-twentieth century to important epidemiological studies in the late-twentieth century in the Seychelles and Faroe Islands, the Arctic and Amazon. Entering the twenty-first century, studies on diverse source-exposure scenarios (e.g., ASGM, amalgams, contaminated sites, cosmetics, electronic waste) from across global regions have expanded understandings and exemplified the need to consider socio-environmental variables and local contexts when conducting health studies. We conclude with perspectives on next steps for mercury health research in the post-Minamata Convention era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niladri Basu
- McGill University, 204 CINE Building, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Montreal, QC H9X 3V9 Canada
| | - Ashley Bastiansz
- McGill University, 204 CINE Building, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Montreal, QC H9X 3V9 Canada
| | - José G. Dórea
- Faculdade de Ciencias da Saude, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 70919-970 Brazil
| | - Masatake Fujimura
- National Institute for Minamata Disease, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008 Japan
| | - Milena Horvat
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Emelyn Shroff
- Public Health Authority of Seychelles, Mont Fleuri, Mahe, Seychelles
| | - Pál Weihe
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Sigmundargøta 5, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
| | - Irina Zastenskaya
- WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Platz Der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany
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10
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Ke T, Santamaria A, Barbosa F, Rocha JBT, Skalny AV, Tinkov AA, Bowman AB, Aschner M. Developmental Methylmercury Exposure Induced and Age-Dependent Glutamatergic Neurotoxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:920-928. [PMID: 36385214 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03816-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Developmental methylmercury (MeHg) exposures cause latent neurotoxic effects in adults; however, the mechanisms underlying the latent neurotoxicity are not fully understood. In the current study, we used C. elegans as an animal model to investigate the latent neurotoxic effects of developmental MeHg exposures on glutamatergic neurons. The young larvae stage 1 worms were exposed to MeHg (0.05 ~ 5 µM) for 48 h. The morphological and behavioral endpoints of glutamatergic neurons were compared when worms reached to adult stages including the young adult stage (day 1 adult) and the old adult stage (day 10 adult). Here, we showed that C. elegans glutamatergic neurons were morphologically intact following low or medium MeHg exposures (0.05 ~ 0.5 µM). The morphological damage of glutamatergic neurons appeared to be pronounced in day 10 adults developmentally exposed to 5 µM MeHg. Behavioral assays also showed an age-dependent latent effect of MeHg. In the nose touch response assay, only day 10 adult worms exhibited a functional decline following prior 5 µM MeHg exposure. Moreover, the disruption of NaCl memory appeared only in day 1 adults following MeHg exposures but not in day 10 adults. The expression of C. elegans homologs of mammalian vesicular glutamate transporter (eat-4) was repressed in day 1 adults, while the glutamate receptor homolog (glr-1) was upregulated in day 10 adults with 5 µM MeHg. In the comparison of age-dependent changes in the insulin-like pathway (daf-2/age-1/daf-16) following MeHg exposures, we showed that the daf-2/age-1/daf-16 pathway was mobilized in day 1 adults but repressed in day 10 adults. Collectively, our data supports a conclusion that MeHg-induced glutamatergic neurotoxicity exhibits an age-dependent pattern, possibly related to the prominent changes in age-dependent modulation in the glutamatergic neurotransmission and metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Ke
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Abel Santamaria
- Laboratorio de Aminoácidos Excitadores/Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Molecular y Nanotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, 14269, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Fernando Barbosa
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-900, Brazil
| | - João B T Rocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105900, Brazil
| | - Anatoly V Skalny
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey A Tinkov
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
- Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia
| | - Aaron B Bowman
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2051, USA
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- , Forchheimer Building, Room 209, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
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11
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Tsai TL, Hsieh CJ, Wu MT, Chen ML, Kuo PH, Wang SL. Co-exposure to toxic metals and phthalates in pregnant women and their children's mental health problems aged four years - Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study (TMICS). ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 173:107804. [PMID: 36842379 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood and adolescent mental health problems may increase the global burden of disease. Neurotoxic metals are associated with inflammation and cytotoxicity in the brain. In addition, prenatal phthalate ester (PAE) exposure is associated with cognitive function deficits. However, the effect of co-exposure to toxic metals, PAEs, and their association with child behavior is less well studied. Hence, we aimed to investigate prenatal co-exposure to the metals and PAEs and the consequent behavioral outcomes in early childhood. METHODS We followed pregnant women and their newborns from the Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study between 2015 and 2017, with a focus on women from the central, southern, and eastern areas of Taiwan. We quantified maternal urinary concentrations of metals and metabolites of PAEs as surrogates of prenatal exposure. We recorded the Child Behavior Checklist scores according to caregiver reports at 4 years of age, and identified Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)-oriented problems. RESULTS Ultimately, 408 children were included in the statistical analysis. Maternal urinary copper levels were significantly associated with depressive problems (odds ratio [OR] = 2.13) in children. Maternal urinary concentrations of mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) and mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) were also significantly associated with depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 1.51 and 1.53, respectively). Further analysis considering prenatal co-exposure to metals and PAEs showed that co-exposure to these materials was significantly associated with autism spectrum problems (OR = 3.11). CONCLUSIONS We observed that prenatal single exposure or co-exposure to metals and PAEs may play a role in some DSM-5-oriented problems in children at 4 years of age. Reduction of exposure to toxic metals and PAEs in pregnancy is suggested to prevent increased mental health problems in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Lin Tsai
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Jung Hsieh
- Department of Public Health, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Lien Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Hsiu Kuo
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Li Wang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Life Science, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Safety, Health, and Environmental Engineering, National United University, Miaoli, Taiwan.
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12
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Go S, Masuda H, Tsuru M, Inden M, Hozumi I, Kurita H. Exposure to a low concentration of methylmercury in neural differentiation downregulates NR4A1 expression with altered epigenetic modifications and inhibits neuronal spike activity in vitro. Toxicol Lett 2023; 374:68-76. [PMID: 36565944 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2022.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a well-known developmental neurotoxin. Our previous research showed that the inhibition of neurite extension by exposure to a low level of MeHg (1 nM) was attributed to the decrease of acetylation of histone H3 and the increase of DNA methylation. However, the target molecules responsible for the neurological dysfunctions caused by MeHg exposure have not been identified. This study focused on a nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 (NR4A1), which is reported to be related to synaptic plasticity and neurite extension. LUHMES cells, which are derived from human fetal brain, were treated with 0.1 and 1 nM MeHg beginning at two days of differentiation and continued for 6 consecutive days. The present study showed that exposure to a 1 nM MeHg during neural differentiation inhibited neuronal spike activity and neurite extension. Furthermore, MeHg exposure increased DNA methylation, and altered histone modifications for transcriptional repression in the NR4A1 promoter region to decrease the levels of NR4A1 expression. In addition, MeHg exposure inhibited the mobilization of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and CREB binding protein (CBP) in the NR4A1 promoter region. These results suggest that MeHg inhibits the recruitment of the CREB-CBP complex to the NR4A1 promoter region and impairs neuronal functions associated with NR4A1 repression via a decrease in acetylation of histone H3 lysine 14 levels. Conclusively, this study demonstrated that MeHg exposure during neuronal differentiation could induce neurological dysfunctions even at a low concentration in vitro. These dysfunctions could be associated with the transcriptional repression of NR4A1 by the dissociation of CREB and CBP from the NR4A1 promoter region due to the alterations of epigenetic modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzuna Go
- Laboratory of Medical Therapeutics and Molecular Therapeutics, Department Biomedical Pharmaceutics, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu city, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan
| | - Haruka Masuda
- Laboratory of Medical Therapeutics and Molecular Therapeutics, Department Biomedical Pharmaceutics, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu city, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan
| | - Mizuki Tsuru
- Laboratory of Medical Therapeutics and Molecular Therapeutics, Department Biomedical Pharmaceutics, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu city, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Inden
- Laboratory of Medical Therapeutics and Molecular Therapeutics, Department Biomedical Pharmaceutics, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu city, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan
| | - Isao Hozumi
- Laboratory of Medical Therapeutics and Molecular Therapeutics, Department Biomedical Pharmaceutics, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu city, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan.
| | - Hisaka Kurita
- Laboratory of Medical Therapeutics and Molecular Therapeutics, Department Biomedical Pharmaceutics, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu city, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan.
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13
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Loan A, Leung JWH, Cook DP, Ko C, Vanderhyden BC, Wang J, Chan HM. Prenatal low-dose methylmercury exposure causes premature neuronal differentiation and autism-like behaviors in a rodent model. iScience 2023; 26:106093. [PMID: 36843845 PMCID: PMC9947313 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant neurodevelopment is a core deficit of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here we ask whether a non-genetic factor, prenatal exposure to the environmental pollutant methylmercury (MeHg), is a contributing factor in ASD onset. We showed that adult mice prenatally exposed to non-apoptotic MeHg exhibited key ASD characteristics, including impaired communication, reduced sociability, and increased restrictive repetitive behaviors, whereas in the embryonic cortex, prenatal MeHg exposure caused premature neuronal differentiation. Further single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis disclosed that prenatal exposure to MeHg resulted in cortical radial glial precursors (RGPs) favoring asymmetric differentiation to directly generate cortical neurons, omitting the intermediate progenitor stage. In addition, MeHg exposure in cultured RGPs increased CREB phosphorylation and enhanced the interaction between CREB and CREB binding protein (CBP). Intriguingly, metformin, an FDA-approved drug, can reverse MeHg-induced premature neuronal differentiation via CREB/CBP repulsion. These findings provide insights into ASD etiology, its underlying mechanism, and a potential therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Loan
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada,Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Joseph Wai-Hin Leung
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada,Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - David P. Cook
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Chelsea Ko
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada,Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Barbara C. Vanderhyden
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Jing Wang
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada,University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada,Corresponding author
| | - Hing Man Chan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada,Corresponding author
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14
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Azevedo LF, Karpova N, Rocha BA, Barbosa Junior F, Gobe GC, Hornos Carneiro MF. Evidence on Neurotoxicity after Intrauterine and Childhood Exposure to Organomercurials. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1070. [PMID: 36673825 PMCID: PMC9858833 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Although the molecular mechanisms underlying methylmercury toxicity are not entirely understood, the observed neurotoxicity in early-life is attributed to the covalent binding of methylmercury to sulfhydryl (thiol) groups of proteins and other molecules being able to affect protein post-translational modifications from numerous molecular pathways, such as glutamate signaling, heat-shock chaperones and the antioxidant glutaredoxin/glutathione system. However, for other organomercurials such as ethylmercury or thimerosal, there is not much information available. Therefore, this review critically discusses current knowledge about organomercurials neurotoxicity-both methylmercury and ethylmercury-following intrauterine and childhood exposure, as well as the prospects and future needs for research in this area. Contrasting with the amount of epidemiological evidence available for methylmercury, there are only a few in vivo studies reporting neurotoxic outcomes and mechanisms of toxicity for ethylmercury or thimerosal. There is also a lack of studies on mechanistic approaches to better investigate the pathways involved in the potential neurotoxicity caused by both organomercurials. More impactful follow-up studies, especially following intrauterine and childhood exposure to ethylmercury, are necessary. Childhood vaccination is critically important for controlling infectious diseases; however, the safety of mercury-containing thimerosal and, notably, its effectiveness as preservative in vaccines are still under debate regarding its potential dose-response effects to the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Ferreira Azevedo
- Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, SP, Brazil
| | - Nina Karpova
- Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruno Alves Rocha
- Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, SP, Brazil
| | - Fernando Barbosa Junior
- Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, SP, Brazil
| | - Glenda Carolyn Gobe
- Kidney Disease Research Group, School of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, University of Queensland, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Maria Fernanda Hornos Carneiro
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
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15
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De la Ossa CA, Ramírez-Giraldo AF, Arroyo-Alvis K, Marrugo-Negrete J, Díez S. Neuropsychological effects and cognitive deficits associated with exposure to mercury and arsenic in children and adolescents of the Mojana region, Colombia. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114467. [PMID: 36265603 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The present study aims to explore the neuropsychological performance and exposure to mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) in Colombian children and adolescents considering biomarkers in hair and blood. The total sample consisted of 70 participants from the Mojana region, Colombia. A neuropsychological evaluation protocol was used, consisting of 11 internationally recognized tests, with evidence of national validation and use for measurement in neurotoxicology contexts. A 57.1% of the sample presented levels above the reference value according to the USEPA, the WHO, and the ATSDR for total mercury in hair (HgH), blood mercury (HgB), and/or blood arsenic (AsB). The mean values reported for HgH were 1.76 ± 3.1 μg/g (95% CI 1.02-2.50) with ranges between 0.23 and 17.20; for HgB: 4.11 ± 5.93 μg/l (CI 2.69-5.52), ranging between 0.25 and 25.80, and for AsB: 1.96 ± 2.73 (CI 1.31-2.61) ranging between 0.50 and 15.50. In the comparison of groups in relation to the level of exposure, a significant difference was found (p < 0.05) for the subtest The Boston Naming Test (BNT). Correlation analyses found, on the one hand, significant negative relationships in tests integrated within the verbal (CVB) and executive function (EF) components as well as evidence of positive relationships in the manifestation of errors in their performance with the levels of Hg and/or As transformed by biomarker (Log10). In the linear regression analyses it was found that for each increase in the concentration of HgH, HgB, and AsB it is estimated that, both for the models with and without data adjustment, there is a loss of scores in integrated measures within the CVB and EF for the transformed levels of HgH, HgB, and AsB; and an increase in the reported errors in their processing within these functions. According to these results, exposure to mercury and/or arsenic is related with performance in verbal neuropsychological skills and executive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sergi Díez
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, E-08034, Barcelona, Spain.
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16
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Iodine nutrition with North Atlantic living: the Faroese adolescents. J Nutr Sci 2023; 12:e17. [PMID: 36843977 PMCID: PMC9947631 DOI: 10.1017/jns.2022.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Iodine nutrition is critical for human health. While iodine excretion was low within the recommended range among adult Faroese, younger generations tend to abandon local foods. Such changes raise a concern about iodine intake, which led us to perform this first study of iodine nutrition among teenagers in the North Atlantic islands. We used samples from a nationwide collection of urine samples in 14-year-olds following iodine fortification of salt in 2000. Urine was analysed for iodine and creatinine to adjust for dilution by iodine/creatinine, and a food frequency questionnaire was used to record the intake of iodine-rich foods. The 129 participants yielded a 90 % precision of the estimated iodine nutrition level. The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was 166 μg/l (bootstrapped 95 % confidence interval 156–184 μg/l). The median creatinine-adjusted UIC was 132 μg/g (bootstrapped 95 % CI 120–138 μg/g). Fish and whale meat dinners were more frequent among residents of villages compared with the capital: median fish dinners, 3 v. 2 per week (P = 0⋅001), and whale meat, 1 v. 0⋅4 per month (P < 0⋅001). UIC decreased with fewer fish dinners (P = 0⋅03). Our study demonstrated that Faroese teenagers were iodine-replete. The changing dietary habits emphasise the need for continuous monitoring of iodine nutrition and surveying iodine deficiency disorders.
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Dietz R, Wilson S, Loseto LL, Dommergue A, Xie Z, Sonne C, Chételat J. Special issue on the AMAP 2021 assessment of mercury in the Arctic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 843:157020. [PMID: 35764153 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This Editorial presents an overview of the Special Issue on advances in Arctic mercury (Hg) science synthesized from the 2021 assessment of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP). Mercury continues to travel to Arctic environments and threaten wildlife and human health in this circumpolar region. Over the last decade, progress has been achieved in addressing policy-relevant uncertainties in environmental Hg contamination. This includes temporal trends of Hg, its transport to and within the Arctic, methylmercury cycling, climate change influences, biological effects of Hg on fish and wildlife, human exposure to Hg, and forecasting of Arctic responses to different future scenarios of anthropogenic Hg emissions. In addition, important contributions of Indigenous Peoples to Arctic research and monitoring of Hg are highlighted, including through projects of knowledge co-production. Finally, policy-relevant recommendations are summarized for future study of Arctic mercury. This series of scientific articles presents comprehensive information relevant to supporting effectiveness evaluation of the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rune Dietz
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Simon Wilson
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Secretariat, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Lisa L Loseto
- Freshwater Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N6, Canada; Centre for Earth Observation Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Aurélien Dommergue
- Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Univ Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, France
| | - Zhouqing Xie
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Christian Sonne
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - John Chételat
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada
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Silman AK, Chhabria R, Hafzalla GW, Giffin L, Kucharski K, Myers K, Culquichicón C, Montero S, Lescano AG, Vega CM, Fernandez LE, Silman MR, Kane MJ, Sanders JW. Impairment in Working Memory and Executive Function Associated with Mercury Exposure in Indigenous Populations in Upper Amazonian Peru. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10989. [PMID: 36078698 PMCID: PMC9517927 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191710989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Matsigenka people living traditional lifestyles in remote areas of the Amazon rely on a fish-based diet that exposes them to methylmercury (MeHg) at levels that have been associated with decreased IQ scores. In this study, the association between Hg levels and working memory was explored using the framework of the Multicomponent Model. Working memory tasks were modified to fit the culture and language of the Matsigenka when needed and included measures for verbal storage (Word Span) visuospatial storage (Corsi Block Task) and a measure of executive functions, the Self-Ordered Pointing Task (SOPT). An innovation of the Trail Making Tests A & B (TMT A & B) was pilot tested as another potential measure of executive functions. The mean hair Hg levels of 30 participants, ages 12 to 55 years, from three different communities (Maizal, Cacaotal and Yomibato) was 7.0 ppm (sd = 2.40), well above the World Health Organization (WHO) limit for hair of 2.0 ppm and ranged from 1.8 to 14.2 ppm, with 98% of a broader sample of 152 individuals exceeding the WHO limit. Hair Hg levels showed significant associations with cognitive performance, but the degree varied in magnitude according to the type of task. Hg levels were negatively associated with executive functioning performance (SOPT errors), while Hg levels and years of education predicted visuospatial performance (Corsi Block accuracy). Education was the only predictor of Word Span accuracy. The results show that Hg exposure is negatively associated with working memory performance when there is an increased reliance on executive functioning. Based on our findings and the review of the experimental research, we suggest that the SOPT and the Corsi Block have the potential to be alternatives to general intelligence tests when studying remote groups with extensive cultural differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alycia K. Silman
- Department of Psychology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
- Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
| | | | | | - Leahanne Giffin
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
| | | | - Katherine Myers
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
| | - Carlos Culquichicón
- Emerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), San Martin de Porres 15102, Peru
| | - Stephanie Montero
- Emerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), San Martin de Porres 15102, Peru
| | - Andres G. Lescano
- Emerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), San Martin de Porres 15102, Peru
| | - Claudia M. Vega
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica, Puerto Maldonado 17001, Peru
| | - Luis E. Fernandez
- Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica, Puerto Maldonado 17001, Peru
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC 27109, USA
- Carnegie Amazon Mercury Project, Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Miles R. Silman
- Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC 27109, USA
| | - Michael J. Kane
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA
| | - John W. Sanders
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
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Örün E, Yalçın SS, Aykut O. Lead, mercury, and cadmium levels in breast milk and infant hair in the late period of lactation in Ankara, Turkey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2022; 32:1950-1961. [PMID: 34092151 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2021.1929872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) have known harmful effects on children's well-being. The object of this study was to measure the levels of heavy metals (Pb, Hg, and Cd) in breast milk and infant hair, connected environmental factors, and the impact on infant growth and development at 8 months. Seventy-four breast milk samples and 46 infant hair samples were analyzed. Cd, Pb, and Hg were detected in 99%, 91%, and 87% of breast milk samples, respectively. Cd levels were higher in the hair of infants in extended families, living in older houses and when there was a maternal history of anemia and postpartum anemia. Hg levels in breast milk were higher in Denver II suspicious/abnormal infants than in Denver II normal infants. Further biomonitoring studies and preventive measures should be conducted to minimize exposure to toxic metals in early childhood period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emel Örün
- Department of Pediatrics, Yüksek Ihtisas University, Liv Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - S Songül Yalçın
- Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Social Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Osman Aykut
- Analytic Toxicology Laboratory, Refik Saydam National Public Health Agency, Ankara, Turkey
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Migneron-Foisy V, Muckle G, Jacobson JL, Ayotte P, Jacobson SW, Saint-Amour D. Impact of chronic exposure to legacy environmental contaminants on the corpus callosum microstructure: A diffusion MRI study of Inuit adolescents. Neurotoxicology 2022; 92:200-211. [PMID: 35995272 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2022.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to environmental contaminants is an important public health concern for the Inuit population of northern Québec, who have been exposed to mercury (Hg), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and lead (Pb). During the last 25 years, the Nunavik Child Development Study (NCDS) birth cohort has reported adverse associations between these exposures and brain function outcomes. In the current study, we aimed to determine whether contaminant exposure is associated with alterations of the corpus callosum (CC), which plays an important role in various cognitive, motor and sensory function processes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was administered to 89 NCDS participants (mean age ± SD = 18.4 ± 1.2). Diffusion-weighted imaging was assessed to characterize the microstructure of the CC white matter in 7 structurally and functionally distinct regions of interest (ROIs) using a tractography-based segmentation approach. The following metrics were computed: fiber tract density, fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD). Multiple linear regression models adjusted for sex, age, current alcohol/drug use and fish nutrients (omega-3 fatty acids and selenium) were conducted to assess the association between diffusion-weighted imaging metrics and Hg, PCB 153 and Pb concentrations obtained at birth in the cord blood and postnatally (mean values from blood samples at 11 and 18 years of age). Exposures were not associated with fiber tract density. Nor were significant associations found with cord and postnatal blood Pb concentrations for FA. However, pre- and postnatal Hg and PCB concentrations were significantly associated with higher FA of several regions of the CC, namely anterior midbody, posterior midbody, isthmus, and splenium, with the most pronounced effects observed in the splenium. FA results were mainly associated with lower RD. This study shows that exposure to Hg and PCB 153 alters the posterior microstructure of the CC, providing neuroimaging evidence of how developmental exposure to environmental chemicals can impair brain function and behavior in late adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Migneron-Foisy
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada; Centre de Recherche du CHUQ de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Joseph L Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Sandra W Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Dave Saint-Amour
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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21
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Wells EM, Kopylev L, Nachman R, Radke EG, Congleton J, Segal D. Total Blood Mercury Predicts Methylmercury Exposure in Fish and Shellfish Consumers. Biol Trace Elem Res 2022; 200:3867-3875. [PMID: 34686996 PMCID: PMC9200869 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-021-02968-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Many studies evaluating methylmercury (MeHg) toxicity rely on whole blood total mercury (THg) measurements to estimate MeHg exposure. However, whole blood THg includes other forms of mercury (Hg), such as inorganic Hg, which have different exposure sources and toxicological effects than MeHg. Therefore, estimating the whole blood MeHg/THg ratio is critical to predicting MeHg exposure and, subsequently, efforts to establish an exposure-response relationship for use in risk assessment. A large, representative dataset (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2016) was used to determine the whole blood MeHg/THg ratio among (a) self-reported fish and shellfish consumers, ≥ 15 years of age (the "full adult" population (N = 5268 training dataset; N = 2336 test dataset)) and (b) female fish and shellfish consumers, 15-44 years of age (the "women of reproductive age" population (N = 1285 training dataset; N = 560 test dataset)). Unadjusted and adjusted linear and spline models with direct measurements for both THg and MeHg were evaluated. The mean whole blood MeHg/THg ratio was 0.75 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74, 0.75). This ratio was significantly higher among those with higher THg concentrations. All models exhibited excellent fit (adjusted R2 from 0.957 to 0.982). Performance was slightly improved in spline versus linear models. For the full adult population and women of reproductive age, the unadjusted spline model predicted whole blood MeHg concentrations of 5.65 µg/L and 5.55 µg/L, respectively, when the THg concentration was 5.80 µg/L. These results suggest that whole blood THg is a good predictor of whole blood MeHg among fish and shellfish consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen M. Wells
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN USA
- Department of Public Health, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN USA
| | - Leonid Kopylev
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC, NW 20460 USA
| | - Rebecca Nachman
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC, NW 20460 USA
| | - Elizabeth G. Radke
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC, NW 20460 USA
| | - Johanna Congleton
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC, NW 20460 USA
| | - Deborah Segal
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC, NW 20460 USA
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22
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Basu N, Abass K, Dietz R, Krümmel E, Rautio A, Weihe P. The impact of mercury contamination on human health in the Arctic: A state of the science review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 831:154793. [PMID: 35341859 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The 2021 Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Mercury (Hg) Assessment is motivated by Arctic populations, and most notably Indigenous Peoples in the region, who are particularly vulnerable to Hg pollution. The objective of this review paper is to answer the following AMAP policy-relevant question: what is the human health impact of Hg pollution in the Arctic? In doing so, this state of the science review paper builds on information published 10 years ago in the last AMAP Hg assessment. The synthesized results demonstrate that: a) global influences (e.g., sources and transport pathways, biogeochemical processes, climate change, globalization) drive Hg exposures into human communities; b) Hg exposures are realized through dietary intake of certain country food items, and that new exposure science approaches are helping to deepen understandings; c) the nutritional and cultural benefits of country foods are immense, though a dietary transition is underway raising concerns over metabolic syndrome and broader issues of food security as well as cultural and social well-being; d) blood Hg measures are among the highest worldwide based on the results of human biomonitoring studies; e) Hg exposures are associated with adverse health outcomes across life stages (e.g., neurodevelopmental outcomes in young children to cardiovascular disease in adults); and f) risk communication needs to be balanced, targeted and clear, culturally appropriate, and be done collaboratively. These synthesized findings are particularly timely and policy-relevant given that the Minamata Convention entered into legal force worldwide in 2017 as a regulatory scheme to reduce the use and environmental release of Hg in order to protect human health and the environment. The Convention was influenced by health concerns raised by northern populations as indicated in the preamble text which makes reference to "the particular vulnerabilities of Arctic ecosystems and Indigenous communities".
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Affiliation(s)
- Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - Khaled Abass
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Pesticides, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Rune Dietz
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, P.O. Box 358, Frederiksbirgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Eva Krümmel
- Inuit Circumpolar Council - Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Arja Rautio
- Thule Institute and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu and University of the Arctic, Oulu, Finland
| | - Pal Weihe
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Sigmundargøta 5, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands; Center of Health Science, University of The Faroe Islands, J.C. Svabosgøta 14, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
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23
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Kancherla V, Roos N, Walani SR. Relationship between achieving Sustainable Development Goals and promoting optimal care and prevention of birth defects globally. Birth Defects Res 2022; 114:773-784. [PMID: 35776686 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Birth defects affect eight million newborns annually worldwide. About 8% of global under-5 mortality is attributable to birth defects. The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have set 17 global goals for human growth and development to be achieved by 2030 using multi-sectorial approaches. The third goal (SDG-3) focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being; achieving SDG-3 improves birth defects care and prevention. However, we aimed to show how achieving other SDGs also influence optimal care and prevention of birth defects. SDGs focused on poverty reduction, access to nutritious food, universal health coverage, equitable education, gender equality, environment, inclusivity through infrastructure innovation, and strengthening social justice is crucial to addressing social determinants of health for individuals and families affected by birth defects. Understanding birth defects in the context of several relevant SDGs will allow practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to leverage the momentum generated by SDGs and make a case for commitment and allocation of funding and resources for advancing birth defects surveillance, care, and prevention. SDGs are built on principles of equity and social justice and we urge policy-makers to approach birth defects using various SDGs as a catalyst. The synergy between several SDGs helps to optimize birth defect outcomes and prevention. Our effort to present a more comprehensive look at various SDGs and their relationship with birth defects is parallel to several other health advocacy groups conducting a similar mapping exercise, thus bringing to the forefront millions of lives that are impacted by birth defects worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijaya Kancherla
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nathalie Roos
- Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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24
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Thurston SW, Myers G, Mruzek D, Harrington D, Adams H, Shamlaye C, van Wijngaarden E. Associations between time-weighted postnatal methylmercury exposure from fish consumption and neurodevelopmental outcomes through 24 years of age in the Seychelles Child Development Study Main Cohort. Neurotoxicology 2022; 91:234-244. [PMID: 35643326 PMCID: PMC9749799 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2022.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Methylmercury (MeHg) is a known neurodevelopmental toxicant in sufficient dosage and is universally found in fish. Current fish advisories for children are based on epidemiology studies examining prenatal exposure with a premise that MeHg exposure resulting from children eating fish could also be neurotoxic and have long-term consequences. However, the evidence that this assumption is true is limited. We investigated postnatal MeHg exposure from regular fish consumption using time weighted Hg measurements to determine if there are neurotoxic consequences. METHODS We examined 85 neurodevelopmental outcomes measured from ages 9-24 years in the Seychelles Child Development Study Main Cohort (n = 312-550) and examined their association with time-weighted measures of postnatal MeHg exposure in childhood and early adulthood. Postnatal MeHg exposure measured in the first cm of participants' hair samples collected at seven evaluations were used to create two time-weighted (TW) average MeHg exposure metrics, one for childhood (TW-C) and the other for early adulthood (TW-A). TW-C was based on Hg measures at three ages between 6 months and 5.5 years, and TW-A was based on Hg measured at up to four ages between 17 and 24 years. We examined the association between each of these exposure metrics and the neurodevelopmental outcomes using linear regression with adjustment for covariates known to influence neurodevelopmental outcomes. RESULTS There were 14 statistically significant associations between a postnatal metric and an endpoint. Six were associated with the TW-C and eight with the TW-A. Thirteen were adverse. Only the TW-C association at 9 years with the Bender Gestalt error score showed improvement. TW-C was adversely associated at 9 years with the Continuous Performance Task risk score, at 22 years with the Boston Naming Test (BNT) total and no cues scores, and at 24 years with the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) auditory response time variability and visual response time mean on the logarithmic scale. TW-A was adversely associated at 17 years with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test % total errors, the Woodcock-Johnson passage comprehension, and the CANTAB rapid visual information processing false alarms, and at 22 years with the BNT total and no cue scores, the CANTAB rapid visual information processing false alarms and the intra-extra dimensional shift total errors and trials. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that postnatal MeHg exposure may be adversely associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in early adulthood. However, the associations are statistical and of unknown, if any, clinical significance. The results need confirmation in other cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally W Thurston
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Box 630, Rochester, NY 14642, United States; Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States.
| | - Gary Myers
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States; Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Daniel Mruzek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Donald Harrington
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Box 630, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - Heather Adams
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | | | - Edwin van Wijngaarden
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
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25
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Sakamoto M, Haraguchi K, Tatsuta N, Marumoto M, Yamamoto M, Nakamura M. Breast milk contribution to tissue mercury levels in rat pups examined by cross-fostering at birth. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 208:112772. [PMID: 35063428 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The developing perinatal brain is vulnerable to methylmercury (MeHg) exposure. The contribution of breast milk to tissue MeHg levels in offspring is a significant public health concern because breast milk contains a certain amount of MeHg. Here, the contribution of MeHg transferred via breast milk to the Hg levels in the tissues of pups (Wistar rats) was investigated. Mated maternal rats were fed a MeHg (2 ppm)-supplemented or a control diet during pregnancy. Following parturition, male neonates from each group were cross-fostered between exposed or control dams, and they were further raised by dams fed a MeHg-supplemented diet or a control diet during lactation. Consequently, we evaluated three pup groups, which were raised by dams exposed to MeHg during pregnancy (P pups), lactation (L pups), or pregnancy and lactation (PL pups). Total mercury (THg) concentrations in the tissues of the offspring were measured at birth (postnatal day 0 [PD0]), during lactation (PD6, PD12, and PD19), and after weaning (PD29 and PD36). Blood and brain THg levels in the P and PL pups declined dramatically during lactation, however, there were no considerable differences between the two groups at PD6 and PD12. In contrast, blood and brain THg levels in the L pups increased slightly during lactation. The increase in the THg levels in the blood and brain of L pups at PD12 were approximately 3.3% and 1.5%, respectively, compared to the corresponding THg levels in the neonates in the P and PL groups. Our results suggest that if the MeHg exposure level during pregnancy is not high enough to cause neuronal development defects in the fetus, the exposure via breast milk is not a significant concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mineshi Sakamoto
- National Institute for Minamata Disease, Minamata, Kumamoto, 867-0008, Japan.
| | - Koichi Haraguchi
- National Institute for Minamata Disease, Minamata, Kumamoto, 867-0008, Japan
| | - Nozomi Tatsuta
- Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, 880-2112, Japan
| | - Masumi Marumoto
- National Institute for Minamata Disease, Minamata, Kumamoto, 867-0008, Japan
| | - Megumi Yamamoto
- National Institute for Minamata Disease, Minamata, Kumamoto, 867-0008, Japan
| | - Masaaki Nakamura
- National Institute for Minamata Disease, Minamata, Kumamoto, 867-0008, Japan
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26
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Bartel-Steinbach M, Lermen D, Gwinner F, Schäfer M, Göen T, Conrad A, Weber T, von Briesen H, Kolossa-Gehring M. Long-term monitoring of mercury in young German adults: Time trend analyses from the German Environmental Specimen Bank, 1995-2018. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 207:112592. [PMID: 34973943 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As highlighted in the Minamata Convention, Mercury (Hg) in its various forms poses a substantial risk to human health and the environment. The health relevance of Hg is also recognized by the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU), which classifies Hg as a priority substance, since considerable knowledge and data gaps on Hg exposure levels and their changes over time still exist in Europe. The German Environmental Specimen Bank (German ESB) provides valuable policy relevant data and long-term trends of substance exposure on a national level for international comparison and evaluation. In this study we analysed data of the German ESB on Hg exposure of young adults aged 20 to 29 including data on urinary Hg levels from 1995 to 2018 and whole blood Hg levels from 2001 to 2010. Results show a clear decrease in both, about 86% in urine total daily Hg excretion from 1995 (0.76 μg/L) to 2018 (0.11 μg/L) (n = 10,069) and about 57% in blood concentrations of Hg from 2001 (1.76 μg/L) to 2010 (0.77 μg/L) (n = 4085). Over the investigated timeframe only a few values exceeded the toxicologically derived health based guidance value HBM I for blood and urine, with these exceedances decreasing over time in line with the general trend. The factors mostly influencing Hg excretion identified in this study are dental amalgam as well as fish and seafood consumption. Besides other factors (e.g. age and sex), also airborne Hg exposure appears to be a low but evident influencing factor in Germany. Although a considerable decrease in internal Hg exposure is recognized in the last decades, the current low-level exposure may cause adverse health effects especially to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children. To further elucidate and evaluate current exposure sources and to reduce human exposure to Hg, continuous environmental and human biomonitoring is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dominik Lermen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - Frederik Gwinner
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - Moritz Schäfer
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas Göen
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - André Conrad
- German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Berlin, Germany
| | - Till Weber
- German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Berlin, Germany
| | - Hagen von Briesen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, Sulzbach, Germany
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Philibert A, Fillion M, Da Silva J, Lena TS, Mergler D. Past mercury exposure and current symptoms of nervous system dysfunction in adults of a First Nation community (Canada). Environ Health 2022; 21:34. [PMID: 35292021 PMCID: PMC8925187 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00838-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The watershed in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) territory has been contaminated by mercury (Hg) since 1962, resulting in very high Hg concentrations in fish, central to the community's culture, traditions, economy and diet. Biomarkers of Hg exposure (umbilical cord blood and hair/blood samples), monitored between 1970 and 1997, decreased over time. A recent Grassy Narrows Community Health Assessment (GN-CHA) survey included current symptoms of nervous system dysfunction. The present study aimed to cluster self-reported symptoms and examine their associations with past Hg exposure. METHODS The GN-CHA included 391 adults. Symptom clustering used a two-step segmentation approach. Umbilical cord Hg and/or yearly measurements of equivalent hair Hg were available for 242 participants. Structural Equation Models (SEM) displayed the associations between Hg exposure and clusters, with Hg exposure modelled as a latent variable or in separate variables (prenatal, childhood and having had hair Hg ≥ 5 μg/g at least once over the sampling period). Longitudinal Mixed Effects Models (LMEM) served to examine past hair Hg with respect to clusters. RESULTS A total of 37 symptoms bonded into 6 clusters, representing Extrapyramidal impairment, Sensory impairment, Cranial nerve disturbances, Gross motor impairment, Neuro-cognitive deficits and Affect/Mood disorders. Median Hg concentrations were 5 μg/L (1-78.5) and 1.1 μg/g (0.2-16) for umbilical cord and childhood hair, respectively. More than one-third (36.6%) had hair Hg ≥ 5 μg/g at least once. In SEM, latent Hg was directly associated with Extrapyramidal and Sensory impairment, Cranial nerve disturbances and Affect/Mood disorders. Direct associations were observed for prenatal exposure with Affect/Mood disorders, for childhood exposure with Extrapyramidal impairment and Cranial nerve disturbances, and for hair Hg ≥ 5 μg/g with Extrapyramidal and Sensory impairment. For all clusters, a further association between past Hg exposure and symptom clusters was mediated by diagnosed nervous system disorders. LMEM showed higher past hair Hg among those with higher scores for all clusters, except Affect/Mood disorders. CONCLUSION Our findings provide evidence that in this First Nation community, past Hg exposure from fish consumption was associated with later-life clusters of coexisting symptoms of nervous system dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Philibert
- Université du Québec à Montréal, Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur le bien-être, la santé, la société et l'environnement (Cinbiose), CP 8888, Succ. Centreville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Myriam Fillion
- Université du Québec à Montréal, Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur le bien-être, la santé, la société et l'environnement (Cinbiose), CP 8888, Succ. Centreville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3P8, Canada
- Département Science et Technologie, Université TÉLUQ, 5800 Saint Denis St, Montréal, Québec, H2S 3L4, Canada
| | - Judy Da Silva
- Grassy Narrows First Nation, General Delivery, P0X 1B0, Grassy Narrows, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Donna Mergler
- Université du Québec à Montréal, Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur le bien-être, la santé, la société et l'environnement (Cinbiose), CP 8888, Succ. Centreville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3P8, Canada.
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28
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Li Y, Chen L, Liang S, Zhou H, Liu YR, Zhong H, Yang Z. Looping Mercury Cycle in Global Environmental-Economic System Modeling. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:2861-2879. [PMID: 35129955 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The Minamata Convention on Mercury calls for Hg control actions to protect the environment and human beings from the adverse impacts of Hg pollution. It aims at the entire life cycle of Hg. Existing studies on the Hg cycle in the global environmental-economic system have characterized the emission-to-impact pathway of Hg pollution. That is, Hg emissions/releases from the economic system can have adverse impacts on human health and ecosystems. However, current modeling of the Hg cycle is not fully looped. It ignores the feedback of Hg-related environmental impacts (including human health impacts and ecosystem impacts) to the economic system. This would impede the development of more comprehensive Hg control actions. By synthesizing recent information on Hg cycle modeling, this critical review found that Hg-related environmental impacts would have feedbacks to the economic system via the labor force and biodiversity loss. However, the interactions between Hg-related activities in the environmental and economic systems are not completely clear. The cascading effects of Hg-related environmental impacts to the economic system throughout global supply chains have not been revealed. Here, we emphasize the knowledge gaps and propose possible approaches for looping the Hg cycle in global environmental-economic system modeling. This progress is crucial for formulating more dynamic and flexible Hg control measures. It provides new perspectives for the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Li
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Long Chen
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, P. R. China
| | - Sai Liang
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Haifeng Zhou
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Yu-Rong Liu
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
| | - Huan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Zhifeng Yang
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
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29
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Sasaki N, Carpenter DO. Associations between Metal Exposures and Cognitive Function in American Older Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19042327. [PMID: 35206515 PMCID: PMC8871766 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive function frequently declines with older age, independently of the development of neurodegenerative diseases, and few interventions are known to counter this decline. Exposure to neurotoxic metals may contribute to this decline in cognitive function in older adults. Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, the performance of 3042 adults aged 60 years and older on three cognitive tests for immediate, delayed, and working memory were examined in relation to blood concentrations of seven metals and metalloids and urinary concentrations of nineteen metals and metabolites. Using linear regression models, associations between cognitive tests and logarithms of metal exposures were adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, education level, depression, diabetes, alcohol consumption, and cigarette use. Increased selenium was strongly associated with better performance on all three cognitive tests. Cadmium and lead were negatively associated with performance on all three cognitive tests. Some urinary metabolites of arsenic, urinary lead, cadmium, and tungsten were significantly associated with poor performance on some tests. In older adults, higher selenium levels were strongly associated with better cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nozomi Sasaki
- Department of Environmental Health Science, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
- Correspondence: (N.S.); (D.O.C.)
| | - David O. Carpenter
- Department of Environmental Health Science, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
- Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
- Correspondence: (N.S.); (D.O.C.)
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Unoki T, Akiyama M, Shinkai Y, Kumagai Y, Fujimura M. Spatio-temporal distribution of reactive sulfur species during methylmercury exposure in the rat brain. J Toxicol Sci 2022; 47:31-37. [PMID: 34987139 DOI: 10.2131/jts.47.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Brain susceptibility to methylmercury (MeHg) is developmentally and regionally specific in both humans and rodents, but the mechanism is not well clarified. Reactive sulfur species (RSS) with high nucleophilicity can react with MeHg, leading to the formation of a less toxic metabolite bismethylmercury sulfide, thus exerting cytoprotection. In this study, we assessed the variation of RSS content in the rat brain and evaluated its relevance in sensitivity to MeHg. Analyses of fetal/juvenile rat brains showed low RSS levels in early developmental stages. Site-specific analysis of adult rat brains revealed that cerebellar RSS levels were lower than those of the hippocampus. Microscopically, RSS levels of the granular cell layer were lower than those of the molecular layer in the cerebellum. Thus, low RSS levels corresponded with age and site of the brain that is vulnerable to MeHg. Taken together with the finding that brain RSS were consumed during MeHg exposure, these results indicate that RSS is a factor that defines the specificity of MeHg vulnerability in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takamitsu Unoki
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, National Institute for Minamata Disease
| | - Masahiro Akiyama
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Keio University
| | - Yasuhiro Shinkai
- Environmental Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba
| | - Yoshito Kumagai
- Environmental Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba
| | - Masatake Fujimura
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, National Institute for Minamata Disease
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Kupsco A, Lee JJ, Prada D, Valvi D, Hu L, Petersen MS, Coull BA, Weihe P, Grandjean P, Baccarelli AA. Marine pollutant exposures and human milk extracellular vesicle-microRNAs in a mother-infant cohort from the Faroe Islands. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106986. [PMID: 34991248 PMCID: PMC8742869 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Early life exposures to marine contaminants can adversely impact child health but modes of action are unclear. Human milk contains extracellular vesicles (EVs) that can transport biologically relevant cargo from mother to infant, including microRNAs (miRNAs), and may partly mediate the effects of pollutants on child health. However, the role of marine pollutants on miRNA expression in milk EVs is unexplored. METHODS We isolated EV RNA from 333 milk samples collected between 2 and 74 days postpartum from a Faroese birth cohort born 1997-2000 and sequenced 2083 miRNAs using a targeted library preparation method. We quantified five perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pesticide metabolite p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), and the sum of three major polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣPCBs) in maternal serum at 34 weeks of gestation and maternal hair total mercury (Hg) at birth. We used negative binomial regressions to estimate associations between individual pollutants and 418 reliably expressed EV-miRNAs adjusted for potential confounders. We performed sparse principal components (PCs) analysis to derive the first four components of the EV-miRNA data and examined associations between pollutants and PCs using Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). RESULTS We observed no associations between pollutants and individual EV-miRNA expression after controlling the false discovery rate at 0.1. However, BKMR suggested that Hg was positively associated with PC1 and negatively associated with PC3, while ΣPCBs was negatively associated with PC3, and two PFAS were associated with PC4. Exploration of PC loadings followed by pathway analyses suggested that miRNAs in PC1 (miR-200b-3p, miR-664a-3p, miR-6738-5p, miR-429, miR-1236-5p, miR-4464, and miR-30b-5p) may be related to Hg neurotoxicity, while remaining PCs require further research. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that groups of milk EV-miRNAs may better serve as environmental biomarkers than individual miRNAs. Future studies are needed to elucidate the role of milk EV-miRNAs in child health following prenatal exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Kupsco
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10023, United States.
| | - Jenny Jyoung Lee
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Diddier Prada
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10023, United States; Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, San Fernando 22, Colonia Seccion XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Damaskini Valvi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Lisa Hu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10023, United States
| | - Maria Skaalum Petersen
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, The Faroese Hospital System, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands; Center of Health Science, University of The Faroe Islands, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
| | - Brent A Coull
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Pal Weihe
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, The Faroese Hospital System, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands; Center of Health Science, University of The Faroe Islands, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10023, United States
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Rumiantseva O, Ivanova E, Komov V. High variability of mercury content in the hair of Russia Northwest population: the role of the environment and social factors. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2021; 95:1027-1042. [PMID: 34694485 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-021-01812-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this work is to study mercury levels in the hair of different social and demographic groups of the population of the Vologda region in Northwest Russia. This region is selected due to a heterogeneous distribution of rivers and lakes-a resource base for fishing. METHODS The mercury content was determined in the hair from the root with a length of about 2 cm. The concentration of total mercury in human hair was determined by the atomic absorption method without preliminary sample preparation using an RA-915M mercury analyzer and a PYRO-915 + pyrolysis unit. RESULTS The average level of mercury in the human hair was 0.445 μg/g (median 0.220 μg/g). The concentration of mercury in the hair of people older than 44 years (0.875 μg/g) was three times higher than in the hair of children under 18 years of age (0.270 μg/g). People who eat fish less than once per month had a hair mercury concentration of 0.172 μg/g, for 1-2 times a month 0.409 μg/g, once a week 0.555 μg/g, and several times a week 0.995 μg/g. The concentration of mercury in the hair of smokers (0.514 μg/g) was higher than in the hair of non-smokers (0.426 μg/g). CONCLUSION Significantly higher concentrations of mercury were observed in the hair of participants from the western part of the region, where reservoirs are the main commercial sources of fish products. The data showed that the main source of people's mercury intake was fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Rumiantseva
- Department of Biology, Cherepovets State University, Cherepovets, Russia, 162600.
| | - Elena Ivanova
- Department of Biology, Cherepovets State University, Cherepovets, Russia, 162600
| | - Viktor Komov
- Department of Biology, Cherepovets State University, Cherepovets, Russia, 162600
- Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok, Russia, 152742
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Glazer L, Brennan CH. Developmental Exposure to Low Concentrations of Methylmercury Causes Increase in Anxiety-Related Behaviour and Locomotor Impairments in Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10961. [PMID: 34681620 PMCID: PMC8535691 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222010961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a ubiquitous pollutant shown to cause developmental neurotoxicity, even at low levels. However, there is still a large gap in our understanding of the mechanisms linking early-life exposure to life-long behavioural impairments. Our aim was to characterise the short- and long-term effects of developmental exposure to low doses of MeHg on anxiety-related behaviours in zebrafish, and to test the involvement of neurological pathways related to stress-response. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to sub-acute doses of MeHg (0, 5, 10, 15, 30 nM) throughout embryo-development, and tested for anxiety-related behaviours and locomotor activity at larval (light/dark locomotor activity) and adult (novel tank and tap assays) life-stages. Exposure to all doses of MeHg caused increased anxiety-related responses; heightened response to the transition from light to dark in larvae, and a stronger dive response in adults. In addition, impairment in locomotor activity was observed in the higher doses in both larvae and adults. Finally, the expressions of several neural stress-response genes from the HPI-axis and dopaminergic system were found to be disrupted in both life-stages. Our results provide important insights into dose-dependent differences in exposure outcomes, the development of delayed effects over the life-time of exposed individuals and the potential mechanisms underlying these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilah Glazer
- Nanchang Joint Programme, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Caroline H. Brennan
- Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK;
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Julvez J, López-Vicente M, Warembourg C, Maitre L, Philippat C, Gützkow KB, Guxens M, Evandt J, Andrusaityte S, Burgaleta M, Casas M, Chatzi L, de Castro M, Donaire-González D, Gražulevičienė R, Hernandez-Ferrer C, Heude B, Mceachan R, Mon-Williams M, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Robinson O, Sakhi AK, Sebastian-Galles N, Slama R, Sunyer J, Tamayo-Uria I, Thomsen C, Urquiza J, Vafeiadi M, Wright J, Basagaña X, Vrijheid M. Early life multiple exposures and child cognitive function: A multi-centric birth cohort study in six European countries. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 284:117404. [PMID: 34077897 PMCID: PMC8287594 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies mostly focus on single environmental exposures. This study aims to systematically assess associations between a wide range of prenatal and childhood environmental exposures and cognition. The study sample included data of 1298 mother-child pairs, children were 6-11 years-old, from six European birth cohorts. We measured 87 exposures during pregnancy and 122 cross-sectionally during childhood, including air pollution, built environment, meteorology, natural spaces, traffic, noise, chemicals and life styles. The measured cognitive domains were fluid intelligence (Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices test, CPM), attention (Attention Network Test, ANT) and working memory (N-Back task). We used two statistical approaches to assess associations between exposure and child cognition: the exposome-wide association study (ExWAS) considering each exposure independently, and the deletion-substitution-addition algorithm (DSA) considering all exposures simultaneously to build a final multiexposure model. Based on this multiexposure model that included the exposure variables selected by ExWAS and DSA models, child organic food intake was associated with higher fluid intelligence (CPM) scores (beta = 1.18; 95% CI = 0.50, 1.87) and higher working memory (N-Back) scores (0.23; 0.05, 0.41), and child fast food intake (-1.25; -2.10, -0.40), house crowding (-0.39; -0.62, -0.16), and child environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) (-0.89; -1.42, -0.35), were all associated with lower CPM scores. Indoor PM2.5 exposure was associated with lower N-Back scores (-0.09; -0.16, -0.02). Additional associations in the unexpected direction were found: Higher prenatal mercury levels, maternal alcohol consumption and child higher perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) levels were associated with better cognitive performance; and higher green exposure during pregnancy with lower cognitive performance. This first comprehensive and systematic study of many prenatal and childhood environmental risk factors suggests that unfavourable child nutrition, family crowdedness and child indoor air pollution and ETS exposures adversely and cross-sectionally associate with cognitive function. Unexpected associations were also observed and maybe due to confounding and reverse causality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Julvez
- Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Reus (Tarragona), Catalonia, Spain; Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Mónica López-Vicente
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Centre-Sophia Children's Hospital, PO Box 2060, 3000 CB, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Charline Warembourg
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lea Maitre
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Claire Philippat
- Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Inserm U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Kristine B Gützkow
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Monica Guxens
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Centre-Sophia Children's Hospital, PO Box 2060, 3000 CB, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jorunn Evandt
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Miguel Burgaleta
- Center for Brain and Cognition, Department of Technology, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Roc Boronat 138, 08018, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Maribel Casas
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Leda Chatzi
- Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece; Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Montserrat de Castro
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - David Donaire-González
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Carles Hernandez-Ferrer
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Barbara Heude
- Université de Paris, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, INRAE, Paris, France
| | - Rosie Mceachan
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, UK
| | - Mark Mon-Williams
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, UK
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Oliver Robinson
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Amrit K Sakhi
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nuria Sebastian-Galles
- Center for Brain and Cognition, Department of Technology, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Roc Boronat 138, 08018, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Remy Slama
- Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Inserm U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ibon Tamayo-Uria
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Division of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Cima Universidad de Navarra and "Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA)", Pamplona, Spain
| | - Cathrine Thomsen
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jose Urquiza
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Marina Vafeiadi
- Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - John Wright
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, UK
| | - Xavier Basagaña
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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Augusto-Oliveira M, Arrifano GDP, Lopes-Araújo A, Santos-Sacramento L, Lima RR, Lamers ML, Le Blond J, Crespo-Lopez ME. Salivary biomarkers and neuropsychological outcomes: A non-invasive approach to investigate pollutants-associated neurotoxicity and its effects on cognition in vulnerable populations. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 200:111432. [PMID: 34062204 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of neurotoxicity caused by xenobiotics such as pesticides (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, organophosphates, pyrethroids, etc.) or metals (mercury, lead, aluminum, arsenic, etc.) is a growing concern around the world, particularly in vulnerable populations with difficulties on both detection and symptoms treatment, due to low economic status, remote access, poor infrastructure, and low educational level, among others features. Despite the numerous molecular markers and questionnaires/clinical evaluations, studying neurotoxicity and its effects on cognition in these populations faces problems with samples collection and processing, and information accuracy. Assessing cognitive changes caused by neurotoxicity, especially those that are subtle in the initial stages, is fundamentally challenging. Finding accurate, non-invasive, and low-cost strategies to detect the first signals of brain injury has the potential to support an accelerated development of the research with these populations. Saliva emerges as an ideal pool of biomarkers (with interleukins and neural damage-related proteins, among others) and potential alternative diagnostic fluid to molecularly investigate neurotoxicity. As a source of numerous neurological biomarkers, saliva has several advantages compared to blood, such as easier storage, requires less manipulation, and the procedure is cheaper, safer and well accepted by patients compared with drawing blood. Regarding cognitive dysfunction, neuropsychological batteries represent, with their friendly interface, a feasible and accurate method to evaluate the eventual cognitive deficits associated with neurotoxicity in people from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds. The association of these two tools, saliva and neuropsychological batteries, to cover the molecular and cognitive aspects of neurotoxicity in vulnerable populations, could potentially increase the prevalence of early intervention and successful treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Augusto-Oliveira
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - Gabriela de Paula Arrifano
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - Amanda Lopes-Araújo
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - Letícia Santos-Sacramento
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - Rafael Rodrigues Lima
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - Marcelo Lazzaron Lamers
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil.
| | | | - Maria Elena Crespo-Lopez
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil.
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Li B, Qiao C, Jin X, Chan HM. Characterizing the Low-Dose Effects of Methylmercury on the Early Stages of Embryo Development Using Cultured Human Embryonic Stem Cells. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:77007. [PMID: 34328791 PMCID: PMC8323991 DOI: 10.1289/ehp7349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Global concerns of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure have been raised, especially on its effects on pregnant women. Recent epidemiological studies have revealed associations between maternal blood/hair MeHg concentrations, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and developmental deficits. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. OBJECTIVES In this study, we characterized the effects of MeHg exposure on undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and extrapolated the effects to human embryonic development. METHODS hESCs were exposed to 0, 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 or 200nM MeHg for 24 h or 6 d. Cell adherence and colony formation and expansion were examined under the microscope. Cell attachment, viability/proliferation, apoptosis, stress response, cell cycle, autophagy, and expression of cell lineage marker genes and proteins were measured at the end of exposures. RESULTS Our results indicated that exposure to nanomolar concentrations of MeHg was associated with a) higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), suggesting increased stress and adaptive responses; b) lower cellular adhesion, viability/proliferation, and colony formation and expansion; c) higher levels of apoptosis, reflected by higher cleaved caspase-3 expression and Annexin V binding; d) higher levels of cytoskeleton protein α-tubulin expression; e) higher rates of G1/S phase cell cycle arrest; and f) autophagy inhibition, as shown by a lower LC3BII/LC3BI ratio and accumulation of SQSTM1 (p62). These outcomes were accompanied by higher expressions of self-renewal genes or proteins or both, including OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, and cytokine receptor IL6ST, as well as pluripotency and the cell fate regulator cyclin D1. DISCUSSION These results revealed that under the selection pressure of exposure to low doses of MeHg, some hESCs underwent apoptosis, whereas others adapted and survived with enhanced self-renewal gene expression and specific morphological phenotypes. Findings from the present study provide in vitro evidence that low doses of MeHg adversely affect hESCs when exposed during a period of time that models embryonic pre-, during, and early postimplantation stages. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7349.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bai Li
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cunye Qiao
- Biostatistics and Modeling Division, Bureau of Food Surveillance and Science Integration, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB), Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xiaolei Jin
- Regulatory Toxicology Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, HPFB, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hing Man Chan
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Revisiting Astrocytic Roles in Methylmercury Intoxication. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:4293-4308. [PMID: 33990914 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02420-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Intoxication by heavy metals such as methylmercury (MeHg) is recognized as a global health problem, with strong implications in central nervous system pathologies. Most of these neuropathological conditions involve vascular, neurotransmitter recycling, and oxidative balance disruption leading to accelerated decline in fine balance, and learning, memory, and visual processes as main outcomes. Besides neurons, astrocytes are involved in virtually all the brain processes and perform important roles in neurological response following injuries. Due to astrocytes' strategic functions in brain homeostasis, these cells became the subject of several studies on MeHg intoxication. The most heterogenous glial cells, astrocytes, are composed of plenty of receptors and transporters to dialogue with neurons and other cells and to monitor extracellular environment responding tightly through fluctuation of cytosolic ions. The overall toxicity of MeHg might be determined on the basis of the balance between MeHg-mediated injury to neurons and protective responses from astrocytes. Although the role of neurons in MeHg intoxication is relatively well-established, the role of the astrocytes is only beginning to be understood. In this review, we update the information on astroglial modulation of the MeHg-induced neurotoxicity, providing remarks on their protective and deleterious roles and insights for future studies.
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Nyanza EC, Bernier FP, Martin JW, Manyama M, Hatfield J, Dewey D. Effects of prenatal exposure and co-exposure to metallic or metalloid elements on early infant neurodevelopmental outcomes in areas with small-scale gold mining activities in Northern Tanzania. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 149:106104. [PMID: 32948351 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is associated with release of neurotoxic metallic or metalloid chemical elements including lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As). OBJECTIVE To examine associations between prenatal exposure and co-exposure to total lead (T-Pb), total mercury (T-Hg), total cadmium (T-Cd) and total arsenic (T-As) and infant neurodevelopment at 6 to 12 months of age in areas with ASGM activities in Tanzania. METHODS Women in their second trimester of pregnancy who resided in ASGM areas were enrolled from 2015 to 2017 (n = 883). At 6 to 12 months of age, children were assessed with the Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool (MDAT) (n = 439). We measured T-Pb, T-Hg, and T-Cd in maternal dried blood spots and T-As in maternal urines. Poisson regression was used to examine associations between prenatal concentrations of these elements and neurodevelopmental outcomes. RESULTS Prenatal T-Hg concentration was associated with global neurodevelopment status (aPR 1.03, CI:1.01-1.04; p < 0.001) and language impairment (aPR 1.05, CI:1.03-1.07; p < 0.001) on the MDAT. When prenatal T-Hg and T-As values were at or above the human biomonitoring reference values (≥95%) of the German Environmental Survey for Human Biomonitoring, that is 0.80 µg/L and 15 µg/L, respectively, the prevalence ratio of global neurodevelopmental impairment was two times higher (aPR 2.1, CI:1.0-4.3; p = 0.034). There was a 40% increase in the prevalence ratio of global neurodevelopmental impairment (aPR 1.4, CI:0.90-2.10, p = 0.027), when prenatal T-Hg was at or above the reference value of 0.80 µg/L and T-Pb was at or above the reference value of 35 µg/L. When prenatal T-Hg was at or above the reference value of 0.80 µg/L and T-As was at or above the reference value of 15 µg/L, the prevalence ratio of global neurodevelopmental impairment was two times higher (aPR 2.1, CI:1.0-4.3; p < 0.034). DISCUSSION Infants born to women in areas with ASGM activities are at significant risk for neurodevelopmental impairment and this is associated with exposure to higher concentrations of Hg prenatally. Co-exposure to high concentrations of Hg and Pb, or Hg and As appeared to have negative potentiated effects on infants' neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias C Nyanza
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada; Department of Environmental, Occupational Health and GIS, School of Public Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Bugando, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Francois P Bernier
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Calgary, Alberta Children's Hospital, 28 Oki Drive NW, Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, 3330 Hospital Drive NW University of Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Room 294, Heritage Medical Research Building, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Martin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Mange Manyama
- Division of Medical Education, Weill-Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Jennifer Hatfield
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, University of Calgary, Alberta Children's Hospital, 28 Oki Drive NW, Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, 3330 Hospital Drive NW University of Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Room 294, Heritage Medical Research Building, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Owerko Centre, #397 Child Development Centre, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
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Svavarsson J, Guls HD, Sham RC, Leung KMY, Halldórsson HP. Pollutants from shipping - new environmental challenges in the subarctic and the Arctic Ocean. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 164:112004. [PMID: 33540274 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Maritime activities in the subarctic and Arctic Ocean are predicted to substantially increase in the future due to climate change and declining sea ice cover. Inevitably, the consequences will be seen in impacts on marine ecosystems in this region at many different levels, such as increased pollution load due to antifouling biocides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metals and pharmaceuticals. Here we discuss the current situation and evaluate the effect of increased shipping on the environmental status of subarctic and Arctic waters, in relation to elevated loads of both legacy and emerging pollutants in the region. It is of high importance to evaluate the current levels of selected pollutants, which will most likely rise in near future. Furthermore, it is important to improve our understanding of the effects of these pollutants on marine organisms at high latitudes, as the pollutants may behave differently in cold environments compared to organisms at lower latitudes, due to dissimilar physiological responses and adaptations of the cold-water organisms. Integrative studies are needed to better understand the impact of pollutants on the marine fauna while monitoring programmes and research should be continued, with an increased capacity for emerging pollutants of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörundur Svavarsson
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland; The University of Iceland's Research Centre in Suðurnes, Garðvegi 1, 245 Suðurnesjabær, Iceland
| | - Hermann Dreki Guls
- The University of Iceland's Research Centre in Suðurnes, Garðvegi 1, 245 Suðurnesjabær, Iceland.
| | - Ronia C Sham
- Department of Science and Environmental Studies, the Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kenneth M Y Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Azar J, Yousef MH, El-Fawal HAN, Abdelnaser A. Mercury and Alzheimer's disease: a look at the links and evidence. Metab Brain Dis 2021; 36:361-374. [PMID: 33411216 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-020-00649-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
This review paper investigates a specific environmental-disease interaction between mercury exposure and Alzheimer's disease hallmarks. Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting predominantly the memory of the affected individual. It prevails mostly in the elderly, rendering many factors as possible causative agents, which potentially contribute to the disease pathogenicity cumulatively. Alzheimer's disease affects nearly 50 million people worldwide and is considered one the most devastating diseases not only for the patient, but also for their families and caregivers. Mercury is a common environmental toxin, found in the atmosphere mostly due to human activity, such as coal burning for heating and cooking. Natural release of mercury into the atmosphere occurs by volcanic eruptions, in the form of vapor, or weathering rocks. The most toxic form of mercury to humans is methylmercury, to which humans are exposed to by ingestion of fish. Methylmercury was found to exert its toxic effects on different parts of the human body, with predominance on the brain. There is no safe concentration for mercury in the atmosphere, even trace amounts can elicit harm to humans in the long term. Mercury's effect on Alzheimer's disease hallmarks formation, extracellular senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, has been widely studied. This review demonstrates the involvement of mercury, in its different forms, in the pathway of amyloid beta deposition and tau tangles formation. It aims to understand the link between mercury exposure and Alzheimer's disease so that, in the future, prevention strategies can be applied to halt the progression of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihan Azar
- Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, P.O. Box: 74, New Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed H Yousef
- Biotechnology Graduate Program, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hassan A N El-Fawal
- Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, P.O. Box: 74, New Cairo, Egypt
| | - Anwar Abdelnaser
- Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, P.O. Box: 74, New Cairo, Egypt.
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Landrigan PJ, Stegeman JJ, Fleming LE, Allemand D, Anderson DM, Backer LC, Brucker-Davis F, Chevalier N, Corra L, Czerucka D, Bottein MYD, Demeneix B, Depledge M, Deheyn DD, Dorman CJ, Fénichel P, Fisher S, Gaill F, Galgani F, Gaze WH, Giuliano L, Grandjean P, Hahn ME, Hamdoun A, Hess P, Judson B, Laborde A, McGlade J, Mu J, Mustapha A, Neira M, Noble RT, Pedrotti ML, Reddy C, Rocklöv J, Scharler UM, Shanmugam H, Taghian G, van de Water JA, Vezzulli L, Weihe P, Zeka A, Raps H, Rampal P. Human Health and Ocean Pollution. Ann Glob Health 2020; 86:151. [PMID: 33354517 PMCID: PMC7731724 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.2831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pollution - unwanted waste released to air, water, and land by human activity - is the largest environmental cause of disease in the world today. It is responsible for an estimated nine million premature deaths per year, enormous economic losses, erosion of human capital, and degradation of ecosystems. Ocean pollution is an important, but insufficiently recognized and inadequately controlled component of global pollution. It poses serious threats to human health and well-being. The nature and magnitude of these impacts are only beginning to be understood. Goals (1) Broadly examine the known and potential impacts of ocean pollution on human health. (2) Inform policy makers, government leaders, international organizations, civil society, and the global public of these threats. (3) Propose priorities for interventions to control and prevent pollution of the seas and safeguard human health. Methods Topic-focused reviews that examine the effects of ocean pollution on human health, identify gaps in knowledge, project future trends, and offer evidence-based guidance for effective intervention. Environmental Findings Pollution of the oceans is widespread, worsening, and in most countries poorly controlled. It is a complex mixture of toxic metals, plastics, manufactured chemicals, petroleum, urban and industrial wastes, pesticides, fertilizers, pharmaceutical chemicals, agricultural runoff, and sewage. More than 80% arises from land-based sources. It reaches the oceans through rivers, runoff, atmospheric deposition and direct discharges. It is often heaviest near the coasts and most highly concentrated along the coasts of low- and middle-income countries. Plastic is a rapidly increasing and highly visible component of ocean pollution, and an estimated 10 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the seas each year. Mercury is the metal pollutant of greatest concern in the oceans; it is released from two main sources - coal combustion and small-scale gold mining. Global spread of industrialized agriculture with increasing use of chemical fertilizer leads to extension of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) to previously unaffected regions. Chemical pollutants are ubiquitous and contaminate seas and marine organisms from the high Arctic to the abyssal depths. Ecosystem Findings Ocean pollution has multiple negative impacts on marine ecosystems, and these impacts are exacerbated by global climate change. Petroleum-based pollutants reduce photosynthesis in marine microorganisms that generate oxygen. Increasing absorption of carbon dioxide into the seas causes ocean acidification, which destroys coral reefs, impairs shellfish development, dissolves calcium-containing microorganisms at the base of the marine food web, and increases the toxicity of some pollutants. Plastic pollution threatens marine mammals, fish, and seabirds and accumulates in large mid-ocean gyres. It breaks down into microplastic and nanoplastic particles containing multiple manufactured chemicals that can enter the tissues of marine organisms, including species consumed by humans. Industrial releases, runoff, and sewage increase frequency and severity of HABs, bacterial pollution, and anti-microbial resistance. Pollution and sea surface warming are triggering poleward migration of dangerous pathogens such as the Vibrio species. Industrial discharges, pharmaceutical wastes, pesticides, and sewage contribute to global declines in fish stocks. Human Health Findings Methylmercury and PCBs are the ocean pollutants whose human health effects are best understood. Exposures of infants in utero to these pollutants through maternal consumption of contaminated seafood can damage developing brains, reduce IQ and increase children's risks for autism, ADHD and learning disorders. Adult exposures to methylmercury increase risks for cardiovascular disease and dementia. Manufactured chemicals - phthalates, bisphenol A, flame retardants, and perfluorinated chemicals, many of them released into the seas from plastic waste - can disrupt endocrine signaling, reduce male fertility, damage the nervous system, and increase risk of cancer. HABs produce potent toxins that accumulate in fish and shellfish. When ingested, these toxins can cause severe neurological impairment and rapid death. HAB toxins can also become airborne and cause respiratory disease. Pathogenic marine bacteria cause gastrointestinal diseases and deep wound infections. With climate change and increasing pollution, risk is high that Vibrio infections, including cholera, will increase in frequency and extend to new areas. All of the health impacts of ocean pollution fall disproportionately on vulnerable populations in the Global South - environmental injustice on a planetary scale. Conclusions Ocean pollution is a global problem. It arises from multiple sources and crosses national boundaries. It is the consequence of reckless, shortsighted, and unsustainable exploitation of the earth's resources. It endangers marine ecosystems. It impedes the production of atmospheric oxygen. Its threats to human health are great and growing, but still incompletely understood. Its economic costs are only beginning to be counted.Ocean pollution can be prevented. Like all forms of pollution, ocean pollution can be controlled by deploying data-driven strategies based on law, policy, technology, and enforcement that target priority pollution sources. Many countries have used these tools to control air and water pollution and are now applying them to ocean pollution. Successes achieved to date demonstrate that broader control is feasible. Heavily polluted harbors have been cleaned, estuaries rejuvenated, and coral reefs restored.Prevention of ocean pollution creates many benefits. It boosts economies, increases tourism, helps restore fisheries, and improves human health and well-being. It advances the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). These benefits will last for centuries. Recommendations World leaders who recognize the gravity of ocean pollution, acknowledge its growing dangers, engage civil society and the global public, and take bold, evidence-based action to stop pollution at source will be critical to preventing ocean pollution and safeguarding human health.Prevention of pollution from land-based sources is key. Eliminating coal combustion and banning all uses of mercury will reduce mercury pollution. Bans on single-use plastic and better management of plastic waste reduce plastic pollution. Bans on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have reduced pollution by PCBs and DDT. Control of industrial discharges, treatment of sewage, and reduced applications of fertilizers have mitigated coastal pollution and are reducing frequency of HABs. National, regional and international marine pollution control programs that are adequately funded and backed by strong enforcement have been shown to be effective. Robust monitoring is essential to track progress.Further interventions that hold great promise include wide-scale transition to renewable fuels; transition to a circular economy that creates little waste and focuses on equity rather than on endless growth; embracing the principles of green chemistry; and building scientific capacity in all countries.Designation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will safeguard critical ecosystems, protect vulnerable fish stocks, and enhance human health and well-being. Creation of MPAs is an important manifestation of national and international commitment to protecting the health of the seas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John J. Stegeman
- Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
| | - Lora E. Fleming
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, GB
- University of Exeter Medical School, GB
| | | | - Donald M. Anderson
- Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
| | | | | | - Nicolas Chevalier
- Université Côte d’Azur, FR
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Inserm, C3M, FR
| | - Lilian Corra
- International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE), CH
- Health and Environment of the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP), AR
| | | | - Marie-Yasmine Dechraoui Bottein
- Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, FR
- IOC Science and Communication Centre on Harmful Algae, University of Copenhagen, DK
- Ecotoxicologie et développement durable expertise ECODD, Valbonne, FR
| | - Barbara Demeneix
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, FR
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, FR
| | | | - Dimitri D. Deheyn
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, US
| | | | - Patrick Fénichel
- Université Côte d’Azur, FR
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Inserm, C3M, FR
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mark E. Hahn
- Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
| | | | - Philipp Hess
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation des Mers, FR
| | | | | | - Jacqueline McGlade
- Institute for Global Prosperity, University College London, GB
- Strathmore University Business School, Nairobi, KE
| | | | - Adetoun Mustapha
- Nigerian Institute for Medical Research, Lagos, NG
- Imperial College London, GB
| | | | | | | | - Christopher Reddy
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
| | - Joacim Rocklöv
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Umeå, SE
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Pál Weihe
- University of the Faroe Islands and Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, FO
| | | | - Hervé Raps
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, MC
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Health and Sustainable Development, MC
| | - Patrick Rampal
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, MC
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Health and Sustainable Development, MC
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Gionfriddo CM, Wymore AM, Jones DS, Wilpiszeski RL, Lynes MM, Christensen GA, Soren A, Gilmour CC, Podar M, Elias DA. An Improved hgcAB Primer Set and Direct High-Throughput Sequencing Expand Hg-Methylator Diversity in Nature. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:541554. [PMID: 33123100 PMCID: PMC7573106 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.541554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The gene pair hgcAB is essential for microbial mercury methylation. Our understanding of its abundance and diversity in nature is rapidly evolving. In this study we developed a new broad-range primer set for hgcAB, plus an expanded hgcAB reference library, and used these to characterize Hg-methylating communities from diverse environments. We applied this new Hg-methylator database to assign taxonomy to hgcA sequences from clone, amplicon, and metagenomic datasets. We evaluated potential biases introduced in primer design, sequence length, and classification, and suggest best practices for studying Hg-methylator diversity. Our study confirms the emerging picture of an expanded diversity of HgcAB-encoding microbes in many types of ecosystems, with abundant putative mercury methylators Nitrospirae and Chloroflexi in several new environments including salt marsh and peat soils. Other common microbes encoding HgcAB included Phycisphaerae, Aminicenantes, Spirochaetes, and Elusimicrobia. Combined with high-throughput amplicon specific sequencing, the new primer set also indentified novel hgcAB sequences similar to Lentisphaerae, Bacteroidetes, Atribacteria, and candidate phyla WOR-3 and KSB1 bacteria. Gene abundance data also corroborate the important role of two "classic" groups of methylators (Deltaproteobacteria and Methanomicrobia) in many environments, but generally show a scarcity of hgcAB+ Firmicutes. The new primer set was developed to specifically target hgcAB sequences found in nature, reducing degeneracy and providing increased sensitivity while maintaining broad diversity capture. We evaluated mock communities to confirm primer improvements, including culture spikes to environmental samples with variable DNA extraction and PCR amplification efficiencies. For select sites, this new workflow was combined with direct high-throughput hgcAB sequencing. The hgcAB diversity generated by direct amplicon sequencing confirmed the potential for novel Hg-methylators previously identified using metagenomic screens. A new phylogenetic analysis using sequences from freshwater, saline, and terrestrial environments showed Deltaproteobacteria HgcA sequences generally clustered among themselves, while metagenome-resolved HgcA sequences in other phyla tended to cluster by environment, suggesting horizontal gene transfer into many clades. HgcA from marine metagenomes often formed distinct subtrees from those sequenced from freshwater ecosystems. Overall the majority of HgcA sequences branch from a cluster of HgcAB fused proteins related to Thermococci, Atribacteria (candidate division OP9), Aminicenantes (OP8), and Chloroflexi. The improved primer set and library, combined with direct amplicon sequencing, provide a significantly improved assessment of the abundance and diversity of hgcAB+ microbes in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M Gionfriddo
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Ann M Wymore
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Daniel S Jones
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States.,Department of Earth Sciences, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Regina L Wilpiszeski
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Mackenzie M Lynes
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Geoff A Christensen
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Ally Soren
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, United States
| | | | - Mircea Podar
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Dwayne A Elias
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
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Bridges KN, Furin CG, Gerlach RF. Subsistence fish consumption in rural Alaska: Using regional monitoring data to evaluate risk and bioavailability of dietary methylmercury. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 736:139676. [PMID: 32497892 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
On average, Alaskans in rural communities consume over three times the Federally recommended maximum weekly fish ingestion rate (IR), the overwhelming majority of which is Pacific salmon. Results of statewide monitoring efforts consistently show that Pacific salmon from Alaska have low concentrations of mercury, yet concerns regarding dietary exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) and other aquatic contaminants continue to contribute to declining subsistence fish consumption rates in rural communities. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to use statewide biomonitoring datasets and regional fish IRs to quantitatively evaluate potential risk from dietary MeHg exposure via subsistence consumption of salmon from Alaska. Hazard Indices (HIs) did not exceed 1 for any of the groups evaluated, indicating negligible risk for the average Alaskan subsistence consumer. Selenium health benefit values (HBVSe) of various fish species from AK were also calculated, with positive results for all commonly consumed subsistence species. Additionally, mercury concentrations in the hair of Alaskan women were evaluated as a proxy for dietary MeHg exposure. Results reveal that Alaskan women of childbearing age have substantially lower hair Hg concentrations than their counterparts in other large-scale biomonitoring studies, despite similar fish IRs. Collectively, results of the present study suggest that MeHg in Pacific salmon does not pose an unacceptable hazard for the average subsistence consumer in Alaska.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin N Bridges
- Alaska Division of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, 3601 C Street Ste. 540, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States of America; Geosyntec Consultants, 3003 Minnesota Dr. Ste. 302, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States of America; Alaska Pacific University, 4101 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508, United States of America.
| | - Christoff G Furin
- Division of Environmental Health, Office of The State Veterinarian, 5251 Dr. MLK Jr. Ave., Anchorage, AK 99507, United States of America
| | - Robert F Gerlach
- Division of Environmental Health, Office of The State Veterinarian, 5251 Dr. MLK Jr. Ave., Anchorage, AK 99507, United States of America
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Cheroni C, Caporale N, Testa G. Autism spectrum disorder at the crossroad between genes and environment: contributions, convergences, and interactions in ASD developmental pathophysiology. Mol Autism 2020; 11:69. [PMID: 32912338 PMCID: PMC7488083 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00370-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder encompasses interactions between genetic and environmental factors. On the one hand, hundreds of genes, converging at the functional level on selective biological domains such as epigenetic regulation and synaptic function, have been identified to be either causative or risk factors of autism. On the other hand, exposure to chemicals that are widespread in the environment, such as endocrine disruptors, has been associated with adverse effects on human health, including neurodevelopmental disorders. Interestingly, experimental results suggest an overlap in the regulatory pathways perturbed by genetic mutations and environmental factors, depicting convergences and complex interplays between genetic susceptibility and toxic insults. The pervasive nature of chemical exposure poses pivotal challenges for neurotoxicological studies, regulatory agencies, and policy makers. This highlights an emerging need of developing new integrative models, including biomonitoring, epidemiology, experimental, and computational tools, able to capture real-life scenarios encompassing the interaction between chronic exposure to mixture of substances and individuals' genetic backgrounds. In this review, we address the intertwined roles of genetic lesions and environmental insults. Specifically, we outline the transformative potential of stem cell models, coupled with omics analytical approaches at increasingly single cell resolution, as converging tools to experimentally dissect the pathogenic mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as to improve developmental neurotoxicology risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cheroni
- High Definition Disease Modelling Lab, Stem Cell and Organoid Epigenetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Nicolò Caporale
- High Definition Disease Modelling Lab, Stem Cell and Organoid Epigenetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
- Human Technopole, Via Cristina Belgioioso 171, Milan, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Testa
- High Definition Disease Modelling Lab, Stem Cell and Organoid Epigenetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
- Human Technopole, Via Cristina Belgioioso 171, Milan, Italy.
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Sakamoto M, Kakita A, Sakai K, Kameo S, Yamamoto M, Nakamura M. Methylmercury exposure during the vulnerable window of the cerebrum in postnatal developing rats. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 188:109776. [PMID: 32592939 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The developing brain is known to be sensitive to the toxic effects of methylmercury (MeHg). The effects of toxic levels of MeHg exposure during the most seemingly vulnerable window of the cerebrum are not well studied. In this study, we aimed to examine the specific effects of toxic levels of MeHg on neurobehavior, neurodegeneration, and selenoenzyme activity in the cerebrum of infant rats. Male Wistar rats (n = 8/group) were orally treated with MeHg at an acute toxic dose (8 mg Hg/kg/day) for 10 consecutive days starting on postnatal day 14 (P14). The MeHg-exposed rats showed a significant reduction in body weight after day 8 and severe neurological symptoms similar to dystonia on day 12 (P25). Motor coordination deficits determined using the rotarod performance test and short-term memory impairment determined using the Y-maze task were observed in the MeHg-exposed rats on day 11 (P24). The MeHg-exposed rats sacrificed on day 12 showed severe cerebral neuronal degeneration, reactive astrocytosis, and TUNEL-positive apoptotic nuclei, with the cerebral Hg concentration of 15.0 ± 1.6 μg/g. Furthermore, the activities of glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase in the cerebrum in MeHg-exposed rats were lower than those in control. These results indicate that MeHg exposure to infant rats will be useful to predict the effects of MeHg at the cerebral growth spurt in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Akiyoshi Kakita
- Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Kazuo Sakai
- Japan Institute for the Control of Aging, Nikken SEIL Co., Ltd., Japan
| | - Satomi Kameo
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Japan; Department of Nutrition, Koshien University, Hyogo, Japan
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46
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Pecoraro L, Tenero L, Pietrobelli A, Dalle Carbonare L, Czernin S, Widhalm K, Alvarez-Perea A, Piacentini G. Canned tuna tolerance in children with IgE-mediated fish allergy: an allergological and nutritional view. Minerva Pediatr 2020; 72:408-415. [PMID: 32686923 DOI: 10.23736/s0026-4946.20.05972-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Scientific research, diagnostic tools and clinical experience have shown that children suffering from IgE-mediated fish allergy do not need to follow a strict exclusion diet. In fact, they could tolerate some species of fish, which could be reintroduced in the diet by verifying their tolerance with an oral food challenge in a clinical setting. Consequently, it is possible to look a new insight on diagnosis and management of IgE-mediated fish allergy in children, considering the use of canned tuna in clinical settings. Authors performed a literature search through the Cochrane Library and Medline/PubMed databases. All quantitative and qualitative pediatric studies involving diagnosis and management of IgE-mediated fish allergy and the use of canned tuna in clinical settings were considered. Articles related to allergological and nutritional features of fish, and especially canned tuna, were selected. This research was conducted on May 2020. Canned tuna shows peculiar allergological and nutritional characteristics. Relating to allergy, canning process, characterized by cooking the fish under pressure for a time equal to about 7 hours, can lead a conformational change in parvalbumin, making it less allergenic. In terms of nutrition, canned tuna contains B, D and A vitamins and, above all, omega-3 fatty acids and shows a favourable and significantly sustainable nutritional profile. Lower allergenicity, adequate nutritional value and its rich availability in markets at reasonable costs, could make the use of canned tuna as a solution with an excellent risk/benefit ratio in the field of IgE-mediated fish allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Pecoraro
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy - .,Clinic of Pediatric, ASST Mantova, Mantova, Italy -
| | - Laura Tenero
- , Division of Pediatric, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Gynecology and Pediatrics, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Angelo Pietrobelli
- , Division of Pediatric, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Gynecology and Pediatrics, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.,Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | | | - Sarah Czernin
- Division of Nutrition and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Austrian Academic Institute for Clinical Nutrition, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kurt Widhalm
- Division of Nutrition and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Austrian Academic Institute for Clinical Nutrition, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Giorgio Piacentini
- , Division of Pediatric, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Gynecology and Pediatrics, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Gokoel AR, Zijlmans WCWR, Covert HH, Abdoel Wahid F, Shankar A, MacDonald-Ottevanger MS, Hindori-Mohangoo AD, Wickliffe JK, Lichtveld MY, Harville EW. Influence of Prenatal Exposure to Mercury, Perceived Stress, and Depression on Birth Outcomes in Suriname: Results from the MeKiTamara Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17124444. [PMID: 32575788 PMCID: PMC7344838 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17124444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to mercury, stress, and depression may have adverse effects on birth outcomes. Little is known on the influence of chemical and non-chemical stressors on birth outcomes in the country of Suriname. We assessed the influence of prenatal exposure to mercury, perceived stress, and depression on adverse birth outcomes in 1143 pregnant Surinamese women who participated in the Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health-MeKiTamara prospective cohort study. Associations between mercury (≥1.1 μg/g hair, USEPA action level/top versus bottom quartile), probable depression (Edinburgh Depression Scale ≥12), high perceived stress (Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale ≥20), and adverse birth outcomes (low birthweight (<2500 g), preterm birth (<37 completed weeks of gestation), and low Apgar score (<7 at 5 min)) were assessed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions. Prevalence of elevated mercury levels, high perceived stress, and probable depression were 37.5%, 27.2%, and 22.4%, respectively. Mercury exposure was significantly associated with preterm birth in the overall study cohort (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.05-5.83) and perceived stress with a low Apgar score (OR 9.73; 95% CI 2.03-46.70). Depression was not associated with any birth outcomes. These findings can inform policy- and practice-oriented solutions to improve maternal and child health in Suriname.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anisma R. Gokoel
- Scientific Research Center Suriname, Academic Hospital Paramaribo, Paramaribo, Suriname; (W.C.W.R.Z.); (F.A.W.); (M.S.M.-O.)
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname
- Correspondence: (A.R.G.); (H.H.C.)
| | - Wilco C. W. R. Zijlmans
- Scientific Research Center Suriname, Academic Hospital Paramaribo, Paramaribo, Suriname; (W.C.W.R.Z.); (F.A.W.); (M.S.M.-O.)
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (A.D.H.-M.); (J.K.W.); (M.Y.L.)
| | - Hannah H. Covert
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (A.D.H.-M.); (J.K.W.); (M.Y.L.)
- Correspondence: (A.R.G.); (H.H.C.)
| | - Firoz Abdoel Wahid
- Scientific Research Center Suriname, Academic Hospital Paramaribo, Paramaribo, Suriname; (W.C.W.R.Z.); (F.A.W.); (M.S.M.-O.)
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (A.D.H.-M.); (J.K.W.); (M.Y.L.)
| | - Arti Shankar
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA;
| | - M. Sigrid MacDonald-Ottevanger
- Scientific Research Center Suriname, Academic Hospital Paramaribo, Paramaribo, Suriname; (W.C.W.R.Z.); (F.A.W.); (M.S.M.-O.)
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic University Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ashna D. Hindori-Mohangoo
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (A.D.H.-M.); (J.K.W.); (M.Y.L.)
- Foundation for Perinatal Interventions and Research in Suriname (Perisur), Paramaribo, Suriname
| | - Jeffrey K. Wickliffe
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (A.D.H.-M.); (J.K.W.); (M.Y.L.)
| | - Maureen Y. Lichtveld
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (A.D.H.-M.); (J.K.W.); (M.Y.L.)
| | - Emily W. Harville
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA;
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48
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da Silva SF, Pereira JPG, Oliveira DC, Lima MDO. Methylmercury in Predatory and Non-predatory Fish Species Marketed in the Amazon Triple Frontier. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2020; 104:733-737. [PMID: 32342110 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-020-02862-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study assessed if the concentrations of methylmercury (MeHg) in predatory and non-predatory fish caught in the Upper Solimões River are safe for human consumption, according to the reference values established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). MeHg concentrations were evaluated in muscle of 5 predatory and 4 non-predatory fish species by gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD). MeHg concentrations in predatory (0.09 mg kg-1) and non-predatory (0.04 mg kg-1) fish were under the safe upper limit for human consumption. The general average concentration of MeHg in these fish were 0.05 mg kg-1. The Estimated Weekly Intake of MeHg was higher than the provisional tolerable weekly intake in both predatory and non-predatory fish, especially for women. Due to the high rates of fish consumption in the Amazon, the risk assessment based only on the concentration of MeHg in fish may not be accurate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephani Ferreira da Silva
- Multiprofessional Health Residency Program, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Pará, Brazil.
- Aquatic Ecology and Fisheries Graduate Program, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
| | | | | | - Marcelo de Oliveira Lima
- Aquatic Ecology and Fisheries Graduate Program, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
- Evandro Chagas Institute, Environmental Section, Ananindeua, Pará, Brazil
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49
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Ferreira da Silva S, de Oliveira Lima M. Mercury in fish marketed in the Amazon Triple Frontier and Health Risk Assessment. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 248:125989. [PMID: 32007773 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.125989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Fish has great socioeconomic, cultural, and nutritional importance for Amazonian populations. Despite all health benefits, fish can accumulate great amounts of mercury (Hg). The entry of Hg in aquatic trophic chains is an issue of concern to animal and human health. Higher risks of human exposure are strongly related to fish consumption. Upper Solimões population has one of the highest fish consumption rates of the Amazon. This study aimed to access the concentration of total Hg (THg) in muscle, liver, and gills of 17 species of fishes marketed in the Upper Solimões Region and Health Risk Assessment. Higher concentrations were observed in Carnivores/Piscivores. The highest THg concentration was found in liver of Cichla ocellaris (4.549 μg/g) and the lowest in gills of Hoplosternum littorale (0.002 μg/g). Most species had higher THg concentrations in muscle>liver>gills, in the Ebb period, and liver>muscle>gills, in the Flood period. Hoplias malabaricus, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum, Plagioscion squamosissimus, Ageneiosus inermis, and C. ocellaris presented average THg concentrations above the safe limit stablished by WHO. THg levels in C. ocellaris, H. malabaricus, P. squamosissimus, P. fasciatum, and Semaprochilodus insignis were higher than those found in fish of heavily impacted areas. Signs of bioaccumulation and biomagnifications of Hg can already be observed in this region. The Western Amazon Region urgently needs government actions to inhibit Hg release in aquatic ecosystems and to advise this population on the safe amount of fish to be eaten according to species and period of the year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephani Ferreira da Silva
- Federal University of Pará, Aquatic Ecology and Fisheries Graduate Program, Rua Augusto Corrêa 1, Guamá, 66075-110, Belém, PA, Brazil.
| | - Marcelo de Oliveira Lima
- Federal University of Pará, Aquatic Ecology and Fisheries Graduate Program, Rua Augusto Corrêa 1, Guamá, 66075-110, Belém, PA, Brazil; Evandro Chagas Institute, Environment Section, Rodovia BR-316, Km 7 s/n, Levilândia, 67030-000, Ananindeua, PA, Brazil.
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50
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Dzwilewski KLC, Merced-Nieves FM, Aguiar A, Korrick SA, Schantz SL. Characterization of performance on an automated visual recognition memory task in 7.5-month-old infants. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2020; 81:106904. [PMID: 32485220 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2020.106904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Infant looking behaviors measured during visual assessment paradigms may be more reliable predictors of long-term cognitive outcomes than standard measures such as the Bayley Scales of Infant Development typically used in environmental epidemiology. Infrared eye tracking technology offers an innovative approach to automate collection and processing of looking behavior data, making it possible to efficiently assess large numbers of infants. The goals of this study were to characterize infant looking behavior measures including side preference, fixation duration, and novelty preference using eye tracking and an automated version of an established visual recognition memory paradigm that includes both human faces and geometric figures as stimuli. An ancillary goal was to assess the feasibility of obtaining a precise measure of looking to the eye region of faces from the eye-tracking data. In this study, 309 7.5-month-old infants from a prospective birth cohort were assessed using a visual recognition memory (VRM) paradigm. Infrared eye tracking was used to record looking time as infants were shown nine blocks of trials with a pair of identical faces or shapes followed by two trials in which the familiar stimulus was paired with a novel one. Infants were assessed in one of four conditions: in conditions A and B, stimulus set 1 were the familiar stimuli and set 2 were novel; in conditions C and D, set 2 were familiar and set 1 novel. The novel stimuli were presented on the right first in conditions A and C and on the left first in conditions B and D. We observed a significant right side preference, which has not been reported before (57% of looking time spent looking at right side stimulus, p-value < 0.0001). Infants showed a preference for the novel stimuli similar to that published in prior studies (57-60% of looking time spent looking at the novel stimulus, p-value < 0.0001), as well as average fixation durations similar to previous studies. Infants also showed a strong preference for the eyes versus the rest of the face (p-value < 0.0001). Novelty preference was significantly higher when set 2 stimuli were novel (p-value < 0.0001), suggesting a preference among infants for set 2 stimuli compared to set 1 stimuli. The pattern of novelty preference across trials was significantly different between infants who saw the novel stimuli on the left first and those who saw them on the right first (p-value < 0.0001) but the overall mean novelty preference was not significantly different between these groups. There were also significant differences in average fixation duration and eyes preference measures across stimuli (p-values < 0.05). These findings show that VRM assessment can be automated for use in large-scale epidemiological studies using infrared eye tracking with looking behavior measure results similar to those obtained with standard non-automated methods, and that side and stimulus preferences are important modifiers of looking behavior that are critical to consider in this type of assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey L C Dzwilewski
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, United States of America; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, United States of America.
| | - Francheska M Merced-Nieves
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, United States of America; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, United States of America.
| | - Andrea Aguiar
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, United States of America; Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 3505 Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building, 2001 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana, IL 61802, United States of America.
| | - Susan A Korrick
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA 02115, United States of America; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, United States of America.
| | - Susan L Schantz
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, United States of America; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, United States of America; Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 3505 Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building, 2001 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana, IL 61802, United States of America.
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