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Ralston NVC, Raymond LJ, Gilman CL, Soon R, Seale LA, Berry MJ. Maternal seafood consumption is associated with improved selenium status: Implications for child health. Neurotoxicology 2024; 101:26-35. [PMID: 38272071 PMCID: PMC10978253 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2024.01.003] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is required for synthesis of selenocysteine (Sec), an amino acid expressed in the active sites of Se-dependent enzymes (selenoenzymes), including forms with essential functions in fetal development, brain activities, thyroid hormone metabolism, calcium regulation, and to prevent or reverse oxidative damage. Homeostatic mechanisms normally ensure the brain is preferentially supplied with Se to maintain selenoenzymes, but high methylmercury (CH3Hg) exposures irreversibly inhibit their activities and impair Sec synthesis. Due to Hg's high affinity for sulfur, CH3Hg initially binds with the cysteine (Cys) moieties of thiomolecules which are selenoenzyme substrates. These CH3Hg-Cys adducts enter selenoenzyme active sites and transfer CH3Hg to Sec, thus irreversibly inhibiting their activities. High CH3Hg exposures are uniquely able to induce a conditioned Se-deficiency that impairs synthesis of brain selenoenzymes. Since the fetal brain lacks Se reserves, it is far more vulnerable to CH3Hg exposures than adult brains. This prompted concerns that maternal exposures to CH3Hg present in seafood might impair child neurodevelopment. However, typical varieties of ocean fish contain far more Se than CH3Hg. Therefore, eating them should augment Se-status and thus prevent Hg-dependent loss of fetal selenoenzyme activities. To assess this hypothesis, umbilical cord blood and placental tissue samples were collected following delivery of a cohort of 100 babies born on Oahu, Hawaii. Dietary food frequency surveys of the mother's last month of pregnancy identified groups with no (0 g/wk), low (0-12 g/wk), or high (12 + g/wk) levels of ocean fish consumption. Maternal seafood consumption increased Hg contents in fetal tissues and resulted in ∼34% of cord blood samples exceeding the EPA Hg reference level of 5.8 ppb (0.029 µM). However, Se concentrations in these tissues were orders of magnitude higher and ocean fish consumption caused cord blood Se to increase ∼9.4 times faster than Hg. Therefore, this study supports the hypothesis that maternal consumption of typical varieties of ocean fish provides substantial amounts of Se that protect against Hg-dependent losses in Se bioavailability. Recognizing the pivotal nature of the Hg:Se relationship provides a consilient perspective of seafood benefits vs. risks and clarifies the reasons for the contrasting findings of certain early studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura J Raymond
- Sage Green Nutrition Research Guidance, Grand Forks, ND, 58203, USA
| | - Christy L Gilman
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Reni Soon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Lucia A Seale
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Marla J Berry
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
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2
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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: 1.0] [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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3
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Kendricks DR, Boomhower SR, Newland MC. Adolescence as a sensitive period for neurotoxicity: Lifespan developmental effects of methylmercury. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 217:173389. [PMID: 35452710 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Neurotoxicity resulting from the environmental contaminant, methylmercury (MeHg), is a source of concern for many human populations that rely heavily on the consumption of fish and rice as stable ingredients in the diet. The developmental period of exposure is important both to the qualitative effects of MeHg and to the dose required to produce those effects. MeHg exposure during the sensitive prenatal period causes deleterious and long-lasting changes in neurodevelopment at particularly low doses. The effects include a wide host of cognitive and behavioral outcomes expressed in adulthood and sometimes not until aging. However, neurotoxic outcomes of methylmercury when exposure occurs during adolescence are only recently revealing impacts on human populations and animal models. This review examines the current body of work and showcases the sensitivity of adolescence, a period that straddles early development and adulthood, to methylmercury neurotoxicity and the implications such toxicity has in our understanding of methylmercury's effects in human populations and animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalisa R Kendricks
- Department of Psychology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States of America.
| | - Steven R Boomhower
- Gradient, Boston, MA, United States of America; Harvard Division of Continuing Education, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
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Garí M, Grzesiak M, Krekora M, Kaczmarek P, Jankowska A, Król A, Kaleta D, Jerzyńska J, Janasik B, Kuraś R, Tartaglione AM, Calamandrei G, Hanke W, Polańska K. Prenatal exposure to neurotoxic metals and micronutrients and neurodevelopmental outcomes in early school age children from Poland. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112049. [PMID: 34520749 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to environmental factors, such as neurotoxic metals and micronutrients, during critical periods of development can contribute to long-term consequences in offspring's health, including neurodevelopmental outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between simultaneous prenatal exposure to metals [lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg)] and micronutrients [selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu)] and neurodevelopmental outcomes in school-age children from the Polish Mother and Child Cohort (REPRO_PL). Metals and micronutrients concentrations were measured in cord blood (Pb, Cd, Se, Zn, Cu) and in maternal hair (Hg) collected during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Behavioral and emotional problems, as well as children's cognitive and psychomotor development, were assessed in 436 school-age children using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ, filled in by the mothers) and the Polish adaptation of the Intelligence and Development Scales (IDS, administered by trained psychologists). Multivariate regression models were applied after imputation of missing values, using two approaches: (i) a joint analysis taking into account all metals and micronutrients simultaneously, and (ii) an ExWAS study (single-exposure model). In the SDQ, Hyperactivity/Inattention problems and Total difficulties were associated with higher Hg concentrations in maternal hair (0.18, 95% CI: 0.05; 0.3; and 0.14, 95% CI: 0.01; 0.3, respectively), whereas Emotional symptoms were inversely associated with Se and Zn levels in cord blood (-0.13, 95% CI: -0.3; 0.004; and -0.10, 95% CI: -0.2; 0.02, respectively). In the IDS, cord blood Pb levels were found to be negatively associated with Fluid and Crystallized IQ (-0.12, 95% CI: -0.3; 0.02; and -0.14, 95% CI: -0.3; 0.007, respectively) as well as Mathematical skills (-0.15, 95% CI: -0.3; 0.01). The current research has been able to simultaneously assess the exposure to various interacting chemicals during the prenatal period. We demonstrate that prenatal co-exposures to Pb, Hg, Zn and Se have long-term influences on the neuropsychological outcome of school-age children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercè Garí
- Institute of Computational Biology, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Mariusz Grzesiak
- Department of Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital" Research Institute, Lodz, Poland; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, IInd Chair of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
| | - Michał Krekora
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, IInd Chair of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical University of Lodz, Poland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital" Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Piotr Kaczmarek
- Department of Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital" Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Jankowska
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Hazards, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Anna Król
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Hazards, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Dorota Kaleta
- Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
| | - Joanna Jerzyńska
- Department of Paediatrics and Allergy, Copernicus Memorial Hospital, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
| | - Beata Janasik
- Department of Biological and Environmental Monitoring, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Renata Kuraś
- Department of Biological and Environmental Monitoring, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Anna Maria Tartaglione
- Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
| | - Gemma Calamandrei
- Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
| | - Wojciech Hanke
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Kinga Polańska
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Hazards, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland; Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
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Liu C, Ralston NVC. Seafood and health: What you need to know? ADVANCES IN FOOD AND NUTRITION RESEARCH 2021; 97:275-318. [PMID: 34311902 DOI: 10.1016/bs.afnr.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Seafood, including fish and shellfish, provides an ideal package of nutrients and is an important part of a healthy diet. Strong evidence has shown that eating fish and other seafoods improve brain, eye, and heart health. The new 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommend that Americans of all ages should eat more seafood-at least twice a week-particularly pregnant women and young children. However, less than one in five Americans heed that advice. About one-third of Americans eat seafood once a week, while nearly half eat fish only occasionally or not at all. This calls for a drastic shift in the American diet to vary protein sources and include more seafood products in order to receive the most health benefits. This chapter covers (1) seafood nutrition and health benefits, (2) seafood's protective effects against mercury toxicity, (3) selenium health benefit values (HBVs), and (4) challenges and opportunities for seafood production, demand and sustainability. This chapter aims to convey recent advances in science-based information to increase public awareness of seafood safety, nutrition and health benefits of seafood as part of a healthy diet, and to advocate healthy eating with smart food choices by promoting two servings of seafood per week. This will support the healthy eating patterns and promotes a minimum two to three servings of seafood recommended by the current DGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengchu Liu
- University of Maryland-UME Sea Grant Extension Program, Center for Food Science and Technology, Princess Anne, MD, United States.
| | - Nicholas V C Ralston
- Earth System Science and Policy, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, United States
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Tournoud C, Capaldo L, Garnier R, Gnansia E, Jarreau PH, Moesch C, Nisse P, Quénel P, Yazbeck C, Labadie M. [Reprint of: Guidelines for pregnant women and their unborn children exposed to methylmercury. Recommendations of the French Society of Clinical Toxicology associated with the French Society of Analytical Toxicology, the French Society of Public Health, the French Society of Environnmental Health, the French Society of Pediatrics, the French Society of Neonatalogy, the National College of Obstetrician Gynecologists]. GYNECOLOGIE, OBSTETRIQUE, FERTILITE & SENOLOGIE 2021; 49:225-238. [PMID: 33423946 DOI: 10.1016/j.gofs.2020.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christine Tournoud
- Centre antipoison Est, CHRU, 54000 Nancy, France; Société de toxicologie clinique, 75010 Paris, France.
| | - Lise Capaldo
- Société de toxicologie clinique, 75010 Paris, France; Urgences adultes, hôpital Pellegrin, CHU, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Robert Garnier
- Société de toxicologie clinique, 75010 Paris, France; Centre antipoison, AP-HP, 75010 Paris, France
| | | | - Pierre-Henri Jarreau
- Service de médecine et réanimation néonatales de Port-Royal, hôpitaux universitaires Paris Centre, université Paris Descartes, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75014 Paris, France; Société française de pédiatrie et société française de néonatologie, France
| | - Christian Moesch
- Laboratoire de pharmacologie et de toxicologie, CHU, 87042 Limoges, France; Société française de toxicologie analytique, 92380 Garches, France
| | - Patrick Nisse
- Société de toxicologie clinique, 75010 Paris, France; Centre antipoison, CHU, 59037 Lille, France
| | - Philippe Quénel
- Inserm, EHESP, Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail (Irset), UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes, 35000 Rennes, France; Société française de santé publique, 54520 Laxou, France
| | - Chadi Yazbeck
- Gynécologie-obstétrique et médecine de la reproduction, hôpital Foch, 92150 Suresnes, France; Gynécologie-obstétrique et médecine de la reproduction, CMC Pierre-Cherest, Hartmann, 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France; Collège national des gynécologues obstétriciens français, 75002 Paris, France
| | - Magali Labadie
- Société de toxicologie clinique, 75010 Paris, France; Centre antipoison, CHU, 33076 Bordeaux, France
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Branco V, Aschner M, Carvalho C. Neurotoxicity of mercury: an old issue with contemporary significance. ADVANCES IN NEUROTOXICOLOGY 2021; 5:239-262. [PMID: 34263092 PMCID: PMC8276940 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ant.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Mercury exerts a variety of toxic effects, depending on the specific compound and route of exposure. However, neurotoxicity in virtue of its consequence to health causes the greatest concern for toxicologists. This is particularly true regarding fetal development, where neurotoxic effects are much more severe than in adults, and the toxicity threshold is lower. Here, we review the major concepts regarding the neurotoxicity of mercury compounds (mercury vapor; methylmercury and ethylmercury), from exposure routes to toxicokinetic particularities leading to brain deposition and the development of neurotoxic effects. Albeit research on the neurotoxicity of mercury compounds has significantly advanced from the second half of the twentieth century onwards, several grey areas regarding the mechanism of toxicity still exist. Thus, we emphasize research advances during the last two decades concerning the molecular interactions of mercury which cause neurotoxic effects. Highlights include the disruption of glutamate signaling and excitotoxicity resulting from exposure to mercury and the interaction with redox active residues such as cysteines and selenocysteines which are the premise accounting for the disruption of redox homeostasis caused by mercurials. We also address how immunotoxic effects at the CNS, namely microglia and astrocyte activation modulate developmental neurotoxicity, a major topic in contemporary research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasco Branco
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, USA
| | - Cristina Carvalho
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
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Lozano M, Murcia M, Soler-Blasco R, González L, Iriarte G, Rebagliato M, Lopez-Espinosa MJ, Esplugues A, Ballester F, Llop S. Exposure to mercury among 9-year-old children and neurobehavioural function. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 146:106173. [PMID: 33096466 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is an environmental neurotoxicant whose main route of exposure in humans is the consumption of seafood. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between Hg exposure at 9 years old and behaviour assessed at 9 and 11 years old. Study subjects were mother-child pairs participating in the INMA (Environment and Childhood) Project in Valencia (Spain). Total Hg (THg) was measured in hair samples from the children at 9 years old. Behaviour and emotions were assessed at 9 (n = 472) years and 11 (n = 385) years of age using the Child Behaviour Checklist test (CBCL) and the Conners Parents Rating Scale-Revised: Short Form (CPRS-R:S). Furthermore, the attention function was assessed by the Attention Network Test at 11 years old. Socio-demographic, lifestyle and dietary information was collected through questionnaires during pregnancy and childhood. Polymorphism in BDNF, APOE and GSTP1 were genotyped in cord blood DNA. Multivariable negative binomial regression models were built in order to study the association between THg concentrations and the scores obtained by the children at 9 and 11 years old. Effect modification by sex and genetic polymorphisms was assessed. The association between Hg levels and CBCL scores was positive (worse neurobehavioural development) for the CBCL internalizing and total problem scales (Incidence Rate Ratio [95% confidence interval] = 1.07 [1.01, 1.13] and 1.05 [0.99, 1.11], respectively). The association between Hg and the externalizing and total problems CBCL scales and the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) index of the CPRS-R:S was different according to sex, with boys obtaining worse scores with increasing Hg, compared to girls. Statistically significant interactions were also observed for genetic polymorphisms affecting the association between early exposure to Hg and both CBCL and CPRS-R:S scores. In conclusion, postnatal Hg exposure is associated with poorer neurobehavioural development in 9- and 11-year-old children. Sex and the presence of certain genetic polymorphisms modified this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Lozano
- 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; Servicio de Análisis de Sistemas de Información Sanitaria, Conselleria de Sanitat, Generalitat Valenciana, Valencia, Spain
| | - Raquel Soler-Blasco
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Llúcia González
- 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
| | - Gorka Iriarte
- Laboratorio de Salud Pública, Alava, Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Marisa Rebagliato
- 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; Department of Medicine, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló, Spain
| | - Maria-Jose Lopez-Espinosa
- 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; Department of Nursing School, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Esplugues
- 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; Department of Nursing School, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Ferran Ballester
- 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; Department of Nursing School, Universitat de València, Valencia, 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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9
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Weng JC, Hong CI, Tasi JD, Shen CY, Su PH, Wang SL. The association between prenatal endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure and altered resting-state brain fMRI in teenagers. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 225:1669-1684. [PMID: 32448957 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02089-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Many studies have reported that prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can cause adverse behavioral effects or cognitive dysfunction in children. This study aimed to investigate a relationship of the concentration of prenatal EDCs and brain function in teenagers. We recruited 59 mother-child pairs during the third trimester of pregnancy, and collected and examined the concentration of EDCs, such as heavy metals, phthalates and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), in maternal urine and serum. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were collected in teenagers 13-16 years of age, and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) were performed to find the association between maternal EDC concentrations and the functional development of the teenage brain. We found a correlation between MBP concentration and activity in the superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus and inferior temporal gyrus in the combined group of boys and girls. We also observed a correlation between MBzP concentration and activity in the anterior cingulum gyrus and insula in girls. We found a correlation between lead concentration and activity in the cuneus in the combined group. We also observed a correlation between MeHg concentration and activity in the superior temporal gyrus, caudate nucleus and putamen in the combined group. The PFOS results revealed a negative relationship between activity in the right putamen in boys, girls and the combined group after phthalate or heavy metals were applied as covariates. The PFNA results showed a negative correlation between activity in the left/right putamen and left caudate nucleus in boys, girls and the combined group after phthalate, heavy metals or PFOS were applied as covariates. We examined the correlations between maternal EDC concentrations and brain development and found that the associations with resting-state teenage brains in some circumstances are sex-related.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Cheng Weng
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Medical Imaging Research Center, Institute for Radiological Research, Chang Gung University and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Chi Ieong Hong
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jeng-Dau Tasi
- School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Yu Shen
- School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Imaging, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Pen-Hua Su
- School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Li Wang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Rd., Zhunan, Miaoli County 350, Taiwan.
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McSorley EM, van Wijngaarden E, Yeates AJ, Spence T, Mulhern MS, Harrington D, Thurston SW, Love T, Jusko TA, Allsopp PJ, Conway MC, Davidson PW, Myers GJ, Watson GE, Shamlaye CF, Strain JJ. Methylmercury and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are associated with immune dysregulation in young adults from the Seychelles child development study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 183:109072. [PMID: 32007747 PMCID: PMC7213642 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.109072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to the environmental toxicant mercury (Hg) has been associated with immune dysregulation, including autoimmune disease, but few human studies have examined methylmercury (MeHg) exposure from fish consumption. OBJECTIVES We examined associations between MeHg exposure and biological markers of autoimmunity and inflammation while adjusting for long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA). METHOD At age 19 years, hair total Hg (Y19Hg), LCPUFA status, a panel of 13 antinuclear antibodies (ANA), total serum immunoglobulins (Ig) IgG, IgA, and IgM and serum markers of inflammation (IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, C-reactive protein (CRP), IFN-γ, TNF-α) were measured in the Seychelles Child Development Study (SCDS) Main Cohort (n = 497). Multivariable regression models investigated the association between Y19Hg and biomarkers, adjusting for prenatal total hair Hg (MatHg) and other relevant covariates, and with and without adjustment for LCPUFA. RESULTS With each 1 ppm increase in Y19Hg (mean 10.23 (SD 6.02) ppm) we observed a 4% increased odds in a positive Combined ANA following adjustment for the n6:n3 LCPUFA ratio (β = 0.036, 95%; CI: 0.001, 0.073). IgM was negatively associated with Y19Hg (β = -0.016, 95%CI: 0.016, -0.002) in models adjusted for n-3, n-6 LCPUFA and when separately adjusted for the n-6:n-3 LCPUFA ratio. No associations were observed with MatHg. Total n-3 LCPUFA status was associated with reduced odds of a positive anti-ribonuclear protein (RNP) A. The n-3 LCPUFA were negatively associated with IL-6, IL-10, CRP, IFN-γ, TNF-α and positively with TNF-α:IL-10. There were positive associations between the n-6:n-3 ratio and IL-6, IL-10, CRP, IFN-γ, TNF-α and a negative association with TNF-α:IL-10. DISCUSSION The Y19Hg exposure was associated with higher ANA and lower IgM albeit only following adjustment for the n-3 LCPUFA or the n-6:n-3 LCPUFA ratio. The clinical significance of these findings is unclear, but warrant follow up at an older age to determine any relationship to the onset of autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emeir M McSorley
- The Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
| | | | - Alison J Yeates
- The Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Toni Spence
- The Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Maria S Mulhern
- The Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Donald Harrington
- The School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Sally W Thurston
- The School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Tanzy Love
- The School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Todd A Jusko
- The School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Philip J Allsopp
- The Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Marie C Conway
- The Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Philip W Davidson
- The School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Gary J Myers
- The School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Gene E Watson
- The School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY, United States
| | | | - J J Strain
- The Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
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Orlando MS, Dziorny AC, Love T, Harrington D, Shamlaye CF, Watson G, van Wijngaarden E, Zareba G, Davidson PW, Mulhern MS, McSorley EM, Yeates AJ, Strain JJ, Myers GJ. Association of Audiometric Measures with plasma long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in a high-fish eating population: The Seychelles Child Development Study. Neurotoxicology 2020; 77:137-144. [PMID: 31982419 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2020.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine if auditory function is associated with current long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) concentrations in a cohort of young adults who consume oceanic fish with naturally acquired methylmercury (MeHg). We measured participants plasma LCPUFA concentrations (total n-3, total n-6 and the n-6:n-3 ratio) and looked for an association with Auditory Brain Response (ABR) latencies and Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) amplitudes. DESIGN Auditory function of 534 participants from the Seychelles Child Development Study (SCDS) main cohort was examined at 19 years of age. Tests included standard pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, ABR and both Click-Evoked OAE (CEOAE) and Distortion-Product OAE (DPOAE). Associations of LCPUFA status, measured at the time of examination, and auditory outcomes were examined using covariate-adjusted linear regression models. All models were adjusted for sex, prenatal and current MeHg exposure and hearing status. RESULTS LCPUFA concentrations were similar for both sexes and when comparing participants with normal hearing (90.4 %) to those who had a sensorineural hearing loss in one or both ears (9.6 %). When looking at a subset of only hearing impaired participants, LCPUFA concentrations were similar in those participants who had a mild sensorineural hearing loss as compared with participants that had a moderate sensorineural hearing loss. LCPUFA concentrations were not correlated with current hair MeHg. LCPUFA concentrations were statistically significantly associated with only 6 of 174 ABR and OAE endpoints examined. Four of the 6 significant associations were present in only one sex. In female participants as n-6 concentrations increased, the ABR wave I absolute latency increased for a 60 dBnHL 19 click/sec stimulus. For male participants the interwave I-III latencies for a 60 dBnHL 69 clicks/sec stimulus increased as the n-6:n-3 LCPUFA ratio increased and the interwave I-V interval decreased for a 60 dBnHL 39 clicks/sec stimulus as the n-6 concentration increased. For both sexes interwave latencies were prolonged for the III-V interwave interval for an 80 dBnHL 39 clicks/sec as n-3 LCPUFA concentration increased. As the n-3 LCPUFA concentrations increased, the amplitude of the 6000 Hz DPOAE in the right ear increased for both sexes. As the n-6:n-3 ratio increased, the amplitude of the 1500 Hz DPOAE in the left ear decreased for females. The amplitude of the CEOAE was not associated with n-3, n-6 LCPUFA concentrations or the n-6:n-3 ratio. CONCLUSION There was no evidence to suggest LCPUFA status was associated with hearing acuity, ABR latencies or OAE amplitudes, even though our participants tended to have higher LCPUFA concentrations as compared to individuals consuming a more western diet. No association was observed between LCPUFA status and a participants hearing status (normal hearing or hearing loss). Although we found a few associations between current plasma LCPUFA status and ABR and OAE auditory endpoints examined, no clear pattern exists. Some of these associations would be considered detrimental resulting in prolonged ABR latencies or smaller OAE amplitudes, while others would be considered beneficial resulting in shortened ABR latencies or larger OAE amplitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Orlando
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
| | - Adam C Dziorny
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Tanzy Love
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Donald Harrington
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | | | - Gene Watson
- Department of Dentistry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA; Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Edwin van Wijngaarden
- Department of Dentistry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA; Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Grazyna Zareba
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Philip W Davidson
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Maria S Mulhern
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Co. Londonderry, UK
| | - Emeir M McSorley
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Co. Londonderry, UK
| | - Alison J Yeates
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Co. Londonderry, UK
| | - J J Strain
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Co. Londonderry, UK
| | - Gary J Myers
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
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Joubert BR, Mantooth SN, McAllister KA. Environmental Health Research in Africa: Important Progress and Promising Opportunities. Front Genet 2020; 10:1166. [PMID: 32010175 PMCID: PMC6977412 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization in 2016 estimated that over 20% of the global disease burden and deaths were attributed to modifiable environmental factors. However, data clearly characterizing the impact of environmental exposures and health endpoints in African populations is limited. To describe recent progress and identify important research gaps, we reviewed literature on environmental health research in African populations over the last decade, as well as research incorporating both genomic and environmental factors. We queried PubMed for peer-reviewed research articles, reviews, or books examining environmental exposures and health outcomes in human populations in Africa. Searches utilized medical subheading (MeSH) terms for environmental exposure categories listed in the March 2018 US National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, which includes chemicals with worldwide distributions. Our search strategy retrieved 540 relevant publications, with studies evaluating health impacts of ambient air pollution (n=105), indoor air pollution (n = 166), heavy metals (n = 130), pesticides (n = 95), dietary mold (n = 61), indoor mold (n = 9), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs, n = 0), electronic waste (n = 9), environmental phenols (n = 4), flame retardants (n = 8), and phthalates (n = 3), where publications could belong to more than one exposure category. Only 23 publications characterized both environmental and genomic risk factors. Cardiovascular and respiratory health endpoints impacted by air pollution were comparable to observations in other countries. Air pollution exposures unique to Africa and some other resource limited settings were dust and specific occupational exposures. Literature describing harmful health effects of metals, pesticides, and dietary mold represented a context unique to Africa. Studies of exposures to phthalates, PFASs, phenols, and flame retardants were very limited. These results underscore the need for further focus on current and emerging environmental and chemical health risks as well as better integration of genomic and environmental factors in African research studies. Environmental exposures with distinct routes of exposure, unique co-exposures and co-morbidities, combined with the extensive genomic diversity in Africa may lead to the identification of novel mechanisms underlying complex disease and promising potential for translation to global public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie R Joubert
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
| | | | - Kimberly A McAllister
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
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Harley J, Gaxiola-Robles R, Zenteno-Savín T, Méndez-Rodríguez LC, Bencomo-Alvarez AE, Thiede A, O'Hara TM. Using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope modelling to assess dietary mercury exposure for pregnant women in Baja California Sur, Mexico. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 234:702-714. [PMID: 31234087 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.06.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Revised: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Previous studies of mercury (Hg) in pregnant women in the area of La Paz, Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico found a proportion of individuals had concentrations of total Hg ([THg]) above some thresholds of concern set by health agencies. The [THg] were associated with fish and seafood consumption as well as other factors; although it was unclear which marine diet items could potentially be contributing to the concentrations observed. METHOD We examined [THg] and monomethylmercury concentration ([MeHg+]) in the archived hair of 70 pregnant women from BCS as well as in diet items including fish, shellfish, and staple items (rice, beans, corn, and flour). We measured stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen and employed a Bayesian stable isotope mixing model to investigate the proportion of fish and seafood in the isotopic profiles of archived hair samples. RESULTS Concentrations of Hg species were low in staple foods and ranged from below detection limit to 5.71 parts per billion (ppb) wet weight. In hair, geometric mean [THg] was 658 ppb and [MeHg+] was 395 ppb, which were lower than previous reports. Percent MeHg+ was positively correlated with higher δ15N values. CONCLUSIONS The largest carbon contributors to the diet of the study participants were corn and rice, and our analysis of fish contribution to diet varyingly agreed with the self-reported fish consumption. This report highlights the ability to discriminate potential sources of Hg from a diverse diet and the limitations of dietary recall studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Harley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 900 Yukon Drive Rm 194, Fairbanks, AK, 99775-6160, USA.
| | - Ramón Gaxiola-Robles
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur, C.P. 23096. Mexico; Hospital General de Zona No.1. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. 5 de Febrero y Héroes de la Independencia, Centro, La Paz, Baja California Sur, C.P. 23000. Mexico.
| | - Tania Zenteno-Savín
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur, C.P. 23096. Mexico.
| | - Lía Celina Méndez-Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur, C.P. 23096. Mexico.
| | - Alfonso Enrique Bencomo-Alvarez
- Hospital General de Zona No.1. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. 5 de Febrero y Héroes de la Independencia, Centro, La Paz, Baja California Sur, C.P. 23000. Mexico.
| | - Alisa Thiede
- Department of Biology and Wildlife, 211 Irving I, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA.
| | - Todd M O'Hara
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 901 Koyukuk Dr, Fairbanks, AK, 99775-7750, USA.
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Irwin JL, McSorley EM, Yeates AJ, Mulhern MS, Strain JJ, Watson GE, Grzesik K, Thurston SW, Love TM, Smith TH, Broberg K, Shamlaye CF, Myers GJ, Davidson PW, van Wijngaarden E. Maternal immune markers during pregnancy and child neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 20 months in the Seychelles Child Development Study. J Neuroimmunol 2019; 335:577023. [PMID: 31445378 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2019.577023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Immune dysregulation during pregnancy may influence behavior and neurodevelopment in offspring, but few human studies have tested this hypothesis. Using structural equation modeling, we examined associations between maternal inflammatory markers at 28 weeks gestation and child neurodevelopmental outcomes at 20 months of age in a sample of 1453 mother-child pairs. We observed several associations between maternal inflammatory markers measured in the late second or early third trimester and child neurodevelopmental outcomes. The direction of association for some markers was unexpected. Further research is warranted to confirm and elucidate the exact nature of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Irwin
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, United States of America
| | - Emeir M McSorley
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, BT52 1SA Co. Londonderry, UK
| | - Alison J Yeates
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, BT52 1SA Co. Londonderry, UK
| | - Maria S Mulhern
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, BT52 1SA Co. Londonderry, UK
| | - J J Strain
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, BT52 1SA Co. Londonderry, UK
| | - Gene E Watson
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, United States of America
| | - Katherine Grzesik
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, United States of America
| | - Sally W Thurston
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, United States of America
| | - Tanzy M Love
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, United States of America
| | - Tristram H Smith
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, United States of America
| | - Karin Broberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 13, SE-17177, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Gary J Myers
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, United States of America
| | - Philip W Davidson
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, United States of America
| | - Edwin van Wijngaarden
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, United States of America.
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15
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Sung JH, Back SK, Lee ES, Jang HN, Seo YC, Kang YS, Lee MH. Application of powdered activated carbon coating to fabrics in a hybrid filter to enhance mercury removal. J Environ Sci (China) 2019; 80:58-65. [PMID: 30952353 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2018.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Elemental mercury (Hg0) is predominant constituent of flue gas emitted from coal-fired power plants. Adsorption has been considered the best available technology for removal of Hg0 from flue gas. However, adsorbent injection increases the amount of ash generated. In the present study, powdered activated carbon (PAC) was coated on polytetrafluoroethylene/glass fiber filters to increase Hg0 removal while concurrently reducing the amount of ash generated. The optimal PAC coating rate was determined in laboratory experiments to ensure better Hg0 removal with low pressure drop. When PAC of particle size less than 45 μm was used, and the areal density was 50 g/m2, the pressure drop remained under 30 Pa while the Hg0 removal efficiency increased to 15.8% from 4.3%. The Hg0 removal efficiency also increased with decrease in filtration velocity. The optimal PAC coating rate was applied on a hybrid filter (HF), which was combined with a bag filter and an electrostatic precipitator in a single chamber. Originally designed to remove fine particulates matter, it was retrofitted to the flue gas control device for simultaneous Hg0 removal. By employing the PAC coating, the Hg removal efficiency of the HF increased to 79.79% from 66.35%. Also, a temporary reduction in Hg removal was seen but this was resolved following a cleaning cycle in which the dust layer was removed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Ho Sung
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Ki Back
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Song Lee
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha-Na Jang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Chil Seo
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Republic of Korea.
| | | | - Myong-Hwa Lee
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
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Zareba W, Thurston SW, Zareba G, Couderc JP, Evans K, Xia J, Watson GE, Strain JJ, McSorley E, Yeates A, Mulhern M, Shamlaye CF, Bovet P, van Wijngaarden E, Davidson PW, Myers GJ. Prenatal and recent methylmercury exposure and heart rate variability in young adults: the Seychelles Child Development Study. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2019; 74:106810. [PMID: 31128243 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2019.106810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiologic evidence of an adverse association between exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) from consuming fish and heart rate variability (HRV) is inconclusive. We aimed to evaluate MeHg exposure in relation to HRV parameters in a large cohort of young adults from a high fish consuming population in the Republic of Seychelles. Main Cohort participants in the Seychelles Child Development Study were evaluated at a mean age of 19 years. Prenatal MeHg exposure was determined in maternal hair growing during pregnancy and recent exposure in participant's hair taken at the evaluation. The evaluation consisted of short (~2 h) and long (overnight) Holter recordings obtained in 514 and 203 participants, respectively. Multivariable analyses examined the association of prenatal and recent MeHg exposure (in separate models) with time-domain and frequency-domain HRV parameters in different physiologic circumstances: supine position, standing position, mental stress when undergoing a mathematics test, sleep, and long recording. Prenatal MeHg exposure was not associated with any of the 23 HRV parameters studied after adjustment for multiplicity. The recent MeHg showed a trend toward significance only for few variables in the primary model. However, after additional adjustment for activity levels, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and multiplicity none were significant after a Bonferroni adjustment. In conclusion, prenatal and recent MeHg exposure had no consistent pattern of associations to support the hypothesis that they are adversely associated with heart rate variability in this study population that consumes large amounts of fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Zareba
- Heart Research, Cardiology Division, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America.
| | - Sally W Thurston
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology; University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Grazyna Zareba
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Jean Philippe Couderc
- Heart Research, Cardiology Division, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Katie Evans
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology; University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Jean Xia
- Heart Research, Cardiology Division, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Gene E Watson
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America; Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - J J Strain
- University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Emeir McSorley
- University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Alison Yeates
- University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Mulhern
- University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | | | - Pascal Bovet
- University Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Edwin van Wijngaarden
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America; Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Philip W Davidson
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Gary J Myers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America; Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America; Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
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Tournoud C, Capaldo L, Garnier R, Gnansia E, Jarreau PH, Moesch C, Nisse P, Quénel P, Yazbeck C, Labadie M. Recommandations de bonne pratique sur la prise en charge des femmes enceintes exposées au mercure organique et leurs enfants à naître. Recommandations de la Société de toxicologie clinique, associée à la Société française de toxicologie analytique, à la Société française de santé publique, à la Société francophone de santé environnement, à la Société française de pédiatrie, à la Société française de néonatalogie, au Collège national des gynécologues obstétriciens. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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18
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Maternal Gestational Immune Response and Autism Spectrum Disorder Phenotypes at 7 Years of Age in the Seychelles Child Development Study. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:5000-5008. [PMID: 30430410 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1424-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Findings from observational and experimental studies suggest that maternal inflammation during pregnancy is associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We report the first study in humans to examine this association in a large prospective birth cohort. We studied 788 mother-child pairs from the Seychelles Child Development Study Nutrition Cohort 2. Thirteen inflammatory markers were measured in mothers' serum at 28 weeks' gestation, along with the sum of T-helper 1 (Th1) and 2 (Th2) cytokines. The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) were administered at age 7 years to obtain information on ASD phenotype. We evaluated associations between maternal inflammatory markers and ASD phenotype using multivariable linear regression. For the SCQ, increased MCP-1 (a chemokine that is upregulated in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines) was associated with fewer ASD symptoms (B = - 0.40; 95% CI = - 0.72, - 0.09). Increased IL-4 (a cytokine that is typically associated with an enhanced anti-inflammatory response) was associated with more ASD symptoms (B = 2.10; 95% CI = 0.78, 3.43). For the SRS, higher concentrations of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were associated with fewer ASD symptoms (B = - 0.18; 95% CI = - 0.35, - 0.01), but only after removal of outliers. No associations were observed for other markers. These findings suggest that a shift in the maternal immune balance during pregnancy may be associated with ASD symptomatology. While the use of well-established measures that capture ASD phenotypic variability is a strength of the study, measurement of peripheral immune markers only once during gestation is a limitation. Our results should be confirmed using maternal immune markers measured throughout gestation.
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Taylor CM, Emond AM, Lingam R, Golding J. Prenatal lead, cadmium and mercury exposure and associations with motor skills at age 7 years in a UK observational birth cohort. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 117:40-47. [PMID: 29723752 PMCID: PMC6024074 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lead and mercury are freely transferred across the placenta, while cadmium tends to accumulate in the placenta. Each contributes to adverse neurological outcomes for the child. Although prenatal heavy metal exposure has been linked with an array of neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood, its association with the development of motor skills in children has not been robustly studied. AIMS/OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between prenatal exposure to lead, cadmium and mercury, measured as maternal blood concentrations during pregnancy, and motor skills, measured as subtests of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (Movement ABC) at age 7 years in a large sample of mother-child pairs enrolled in a UK observational birth cohort study (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, ALSPAC). METHODS Whole blood samples from pregnant women enrolled in ALSPAC were analysed for lead, cadmium and mercury. In a complete case analysis (n = 1558), associations between prenatal blood concentrations and child motor skills assessed by Movement ABC subtests of manual dexterity, ball skills and balance at 7 years were examined in adjusted regression models. Associations with probable developmental coordination disorder (DCD) were also investigated. RESULTS The mean prenatal blood levels were: lead 3.66 ± 1.55 μg/dl; cadmium 0.45 ± 0.54 μg/l; mercury 2.23 ± 1.14 μg/l. There was no evidence for any adverse associations of prenatal lead, cadmium or mercury exposure with motor skills measured at age 7 years with Movement ABC subtests in adjusted regression models. Further, there were no associations with probable DCD. CONCLUSIONS There was no evidence to support a role of prenatal exposure to heavy metals at these levels on motor skills in the child at age 7 years measured using the Movement ABC. Early identification of symptoms of motor skills impairment is important, however, to enable investigation, assessment and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M Taylor
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK.
| | - Alan M Emond
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Raghu Lingam
- School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jean Golding
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
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Jacob S, Thangarajan S. Effect of Gestational Intake of Fisetin (3,3',4',7-Tetrahydroxyflavone) on Developmental Methyl Mercury Neurotoxicity in F 1 Generation Rats. Biol Trace Elem Res 2017; 177:297-315. [PMID: 27815688 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-016-0886-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Methyl mercury (MeHg) is a developmental neurotoxin that causes irreversible cognitive damage in offspring of gestationally exposed mothers. Currently, no preventive drugs are established against MeHg developmental neurotoxicity. The neuroprotective effect of gestational administration of a flavanoid against in utero toxicity of MeHg is not explored much. Hence, the present study validated the effect of a bioactive flavanoid, fisetin, on MeHg developmental neurotoxicity outcomes in rat offspring at postnatal weaning age. Pregnant Wistar rats were simultaneously given MeHg (1.5 mg/kg b.w.) and two doses of fisetin (10 and 50 mg/kg b.w. in two separate groups) orally from gestational day (GD) 5 till parturition. Accordingly, after parturition, on postnatal day (PND) 24, weaning F1 generation rats were studied for motor and cognitive behavioural changes. Biochemical and histopathological changes were also studied in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus on PND 25. Administration of fisetin during pregnancy prevented behavioural impairment due to transplacental MeHg exposure in weaning rats. Fisetin decreased the levels of oxidative stress markers, increased enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels and increased the activity of membrane-bound ATPases and cholinergic function in F1 generation rats. In light microscopic studies, fisetin treatment protected the specific offspring brain regions from significant morphological aberrations. Between the two doses of fisetin studied, 10 mg/kg b.w. was found to be more satisfactory and effective than 50 mg/kg b.w. The present study shows that intake of fisetin during pregnancy in rats ameliorated in utero MeHg exposure-induced neurotoxicity outcomes in postnatal weaning F1 generation rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherin Jacob
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 113, India
| | - Sumathi Thangarajan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 113, India.
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Gustin K, Tofail F, Mehrin F, Levi M, Vahter M, Kippler M. Methylmercury exposure and cognitive abilities and behavior at 10years of age. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2017; 102:97-105. [PMID: 28216013 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Revised: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methylmercury (MeHg) is a known developmental neurotoxicant present in fish, yet the impact of childhood exposure is uncertain, especially in children with poor nutrition. OBJECTIVES To evaluate associations of MeHg exposure with cognitive abilities and behavior in children from a poor rural area in Bangladesh. METHODS The MeHg exposure was assessed in 1434 ten-year-old children by measuring mercury concentrations in hair (hair-Hg), using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cognitive abilities were assessed with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (4th edition), and behavior by the parent-report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. RESULTS Children's median hair-Hg was 674μg/kg (range 70-17,561μg/kg). Concentrations did not differ by distance from scalp, indicating a similar exposure over time. No multivariable-adjusted associations were observed between the children's hair-Hg and their cognitive abilities. However, children in the highest tertile of hair-Hg had a lower prevalence of hyperactivity (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.45-0.83) and peer relationship problems (OR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.44-0.76), compared to children in the lowest tertile. The corresponding ORs were slightly stronger in children from families with lower socioeconomic status (OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.34-0.90 and OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.30-0.74) than in children from families with higher socioeconomic status (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.49-1.08 and OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.51-1.02). Similar stronger ORs were observed in underweight children. CONCLUSION MeHg exposure was not associated with cognitive function, but inversely associated with certain adverse behavior. More studies are needed concerning the risk-benefit of different fish consumption in rural Bangladesh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara Gustin
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fahmida Tofail
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fardina Mehrin
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Michael Levi
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marie Vahter
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Kippler
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Golding J, Gregory S, Emond A, Iles-Caven Y, Hibbeln J, Taylor CM. Prenatal mercury exposure and offspring behaviour in childhood and adolescence. Neurotoxicology 2016; 57:87-94. [PMID: 27633321 PMCID: PMC5138154 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2016.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is considerable discussion over the possible harm caused by fetal exposure to mercury, but evidence of such harm is contradictory at levels commonly found in populations with moderate intakes of fish. Further information is needed to inform debate and clarify policy recommendations. MATERIAL Data were collected prospectively for the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Whole blood taken in the first half of pregnancy was assayed for mercury. The outcomes were offspring behavioural assessments collected using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at seven time points between ages 4 and 16-17 years; five were completed by the mother and two by the teacher. Socioeconomic and biological confounders were first taken into account; further analyses added maternal blood selenium. Separate analyses compared the relationships between prenatal mercury levels and behaviour traits treated as continuous measures in women who ate fish with those who ate no fish in order to determine whether the relationships differed; the hypothesis was that fish consumption had benefits on the brain and masked any mercury effects. In order to prevent Type II errors, the P value for significance was set at 0.10. RESULTS Prenatal mercury measurements and offspring behaviour results were available for between 2776 (at 47 months) to 1599 mother-child pairs (at 16-17 years). Even given a P value of 0.10, the number of significant results was no greater than expected apart from the relationships with peer problems at 4, 6 and 10-11 years where the relationships with prenatal mercury were negative (i.e. the greater the level of mercury the fewer the problems the child had with his/her peers). There were no significant differences between the associations with mercury found among the offspring of women who ate fish in pregnancy and those who did not, nor did adjustment for selenium make a difference. CONCLUSIONS There were no adverse effects of maternal prenatal mercury levels on the behaviour of the offspring. A similar lack of relationship was found when the analyses were confined to those offspring whose mothers had eaten fish in pregnancy, and no consistent differences were found between the fish and non-fish eaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Golding
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, University of Bristol, UK.
| | - Steven Gregory
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Alan Emond
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, University of Bristol, UK
| | | | - Joseph Hibbeln
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, USA
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Llop S, Ballester F, Murcia M, Forns J, Tardon A, Andiarena A, Vioque J, Ibarluzea J, Fernández-Somoano A, Sunyer J, Julvez J, Rebagliato M, Lopez-Espinosa MJ. Prenatal exposure to mercury and neuropsychological development in young children: the role of fish consumption. Int J Epidemiol 2016; 46:827-838. [DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyw259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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van Wijngaarden E, Thurston SW, Myers GJ, Harrington D, Cory-Slechta DA, Strain JJ, Watson GE, Zareba G, Love T, Henderson J, Shamlaye CF, Davidson PW. Methyl mercury exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in the Seychelles Child Development Study Main cohort at age 22 and 24years. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2016; 59:35-42. [PMID: 27989696 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2016.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND All fish contain methyl mercury (MeHg), a known neurotoxicant at adequate dosage. There is still substantial scientific uncertainty about the consequences, if any, of mothers consuming fish with naturally-acquired levels of MeHg contamination. In 1989-1990, we recruited the Main Cohort of the Seychelles Child Development Study to assess the potential developmental effects of prenatal MeHg exposure. We report here on associations with neurodevelopmental outcomes obtained at 22 and 24years of age. METHODS Neurodevelopmental tests at 22years included the Boston Naming Test, Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), and the Profile of Mood States. At 24years, we administered the Stroop Word-Color Test, the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale, the Test of Variables of Attention, and the Finger Tapping test. We also administered a healthy behaviors survey at both ages. Primary analyses examined covariate-adjusted associations in multiple linear regression models with prenatal MeHg exposure. In secondary analyses we also examined associations with recent postnatal MeHg exposure. RESULTS We did not observe adverse associations between prenatal MeHg exposure and any of the measured endpoints. Some measures of attention, executive function, and delayed recall showed improved performance with increasing exposure. Secondary analysis did not show consistent patterns of association with postnatal exposure. CONCLUSIONS Our cohort has been examined at ten different ages over 24years of follow-up. Findings suggest that prenatal and recent postnatal MeHg exposure from ocean fish consumption is not adversely associated with neurobehavioral development at levels that are about ten times higher than typical U.S. exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin van Wijngaarden
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States.
| | - Sally W Thurston
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Gary J Myers
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Donald Harrington
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | | | - J J Strain
- Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Gene E Watson
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Grazyna Zareba
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Tanzy Love
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
| | | | | | - Philip W Davidson
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
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Doering S, Bose-O’Reilly S, Berger U. Essential Indicators Identifying Chronic Inorganic Mercury Intoxication: Pooled Analysis across Multiple Cross-Sectional Studies. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0160323. [PMID: 27575533 PMCID: PMC5004870 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The continuous exposure to inorganic mercury vapour in artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) areas leads to chronic health problems. It is therefore essential to have a quick, but reliable risk assessing tool to diagnose chronic inorganic mercury intoxication. This study re-evaluates the state-of-the-art toolkit to diagnose chronic inorganic mercury intoxication by analysing data from multiple pooled cross-sectional studies. The primary research question aims to reduce the currently used set of indicators without affecting essentially the capability to diagnose chronic inorganic mercury intoxication. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is performed on established biomonitoring exposure limits for mercury in blood, hair, urine and urine adjusted by creatinine, where the biomonitoring exposure limits are compared to thresholds most associated with chronic inorganic mercury intoxication in artisanal small-scale gold mining. Methods Health data from miners and community members in Indonesia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe were obtained as part of the Global Mercury Project and pooled into one dataset together with their biomarkers mercury in urine, blood and hair. The individual prognostic impact of the indicators on the diagnosis of mercury intoxication is quantified using logistic regression models. The selection is performed by a stepwise forward/backward selection. Different models are compared based on the Bayesian information criterion (BIC) and Cohen`s kappa is used to evaluate the level of agreement between the diagnosis of mercury intoxication based on the currently used set of indicators and the result based on our reduced set of indicators. The sensitivity analysis of biomarker exposure limits of mercury is based on a sequence of chi square tests. Results The variable selection in logistic regression reduced the number of medical indicators from thirteen to ten in addition to the biomarkers. The estimated level of agreement using ten of thirteen medical indicators and all four biomarkers to diagnose chronic inorganic mercury intoxication yields a Cohen`s Kappa of 0.87. While in an additional stepwise selection the biomarker blood was not selected, the level of agreement based on ten medical indicators and only the three biomarkers urine, urine/creatinine and hair reduced Cohen`s Kappa to 0.46. The optimal cut-point for the biomarkers blood, hair, urine and urine/creatinine were estimated at 11. 6 μg/l, 3.84 μg/g, 24.4 μg/l and 4.26 μg/g, respectively. Conclusion The results show that a reduction down to only ten indicators still allows a reliable diagnosis of chronic inorganic mercury intoxication. This reduction of indicators will simplify health assessments in artisanal small-scale gold mining areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Doering
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health, University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Medical Information Sciences, Biometrics, and Epidemiology IBE, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stephan Bose-O’Reilly
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health, University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMIT (University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology), Hall i.T., Innsbruck, Austria
- * E-mail:
| | - Ursula Berger
- Department of Medical Information Sciences, Biometrics, and Epidemiology IBE, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
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26
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Oken E, Rifas-Shiman SL, Amarasiriwardena C, Jayawardene I, Bellinger DC, Hibbeln JR, Wright RO, Gillman MW. Maternal prenatal fish consumption and cognition in mid childhood: Mercury, fatty acids, and selenium. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2016; 57:71-78. [PMID: 27381635 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2016.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Revised: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies of maternal prenatal fish intake have included biomarkers of exposure to mercury, long-chain n-3 fatty acids, and selenium, which are hypothesized to mediate associations with child neurodevelopment. OBJECTIVES Examine associations of maternal prenatal fish intake with child neurodevelopment accounting for biomarkers. METHODS In 1999-2002 we enrolled pregnant women into the Project Viva cohort. At median 27.9weeks gestation, we estimated maternal fish intake using food frequency questionnaires, and collected blood. We assayed erythrocytes for total mercury and selenium, and plasma for fatty acids including n-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). In mid-childhood (median 7.7years), we administered cognitive tests including the Kauffman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT). We performed multivariable linear regression analyses adjusting for maternal and child characteristics including home environment and maternal intelligence. RESULTS Among 1068 pairs (872 with blood), mean (SD) exposures were: maternal fish intake 1.7 (1.5)servings/week, mercury 4.0 (3.6)ng/g, DHA+EPA 98.4 (41.8)mcg/ml, selenium 205.6 (34.6)ng/ml. Child KBIT verbal scores (mean 112.2, SD 15.0) were not related to any exposures: maternal fish intake (0.15; 95% CI: -0.50, 0.79), mercury (0.08; -0.18, 0.35), DHA+EPA (0.01; -0.22, 0.24), and selenium (0.20; -0.09, 0.50). Associations with KBIT nonverbal scores and tests of memory and visual motor abilities were similarly null. Mutual adjustment for each of the exposure measures did not substantially change estimates. CONCLUSIONS In this population with an average fish consumption of about 1 1/2 weekly servings, we did not see any evidence for an association of maternal prenatal fish intake, or of mercury, DHA+EPA, or selenium status, with verbal or non-verbal intelligence, visual motor function, or visual memory at median 7.7years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Oken
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chitra Amarasiriwardena
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Innocent Jayawardene
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David C Bellinger
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph R Hibbeln
- Section on Nutritional Neurosciences, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew W Gillman
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Environmental pollutants and child health-A review of recent concerns. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2016; 219:331-42. [PMID: 27216159 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, many new studies have evaluated associations between environmental pollutants and child health. This review aims to provide a broad summary of this literature, comparing the state of epidemiological evidence for the effects of a wide range of environmental contaminants (air pollutants, heavy metals, organochlorine compounds, perfluoroalkyl substances, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, pesticides, phthalates and bisphenol A) on child health outcomes. The review addresses effects on foetal growth and prematurity, neurodevelopment, respiratory and immune health, and childhood growth and obesity. Findings of recent prospective studies and meta-analyses have corroborated previous good evidence, often at lower exposure levels, for effects on foetal growth of air pollution and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), for neurotoxic effects of lead, methylmercury, PCBs and organophosphate pesticides, and for respiratory health effects of air pollution. Moderate evidence has emerged for a potential role of environmental pollutants in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism (lead, PCBs, air pollution), respiratory and immune health (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene - DDE - and PCBs), and obesity (DDE). In addition, there is now moderate evidence that certain chemicals of relatively recent concern may be associated with adverse child health outcomes, specifically perfluorooctanoate and foetal growth, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers and neurodevelopment. For other chemicals of recent concern, such as phthalates and bisphenol A, the literature is characterised by large inconsistencies preventing strong conclusions. In conclusion, since most of the recent literature evaluates common exposures in the general population, and not particularly high exposure situations, this accumulating body of evidence suggests that the unborn and young child require more protection than is currently provided. Large, coordinated research efforts are needed to improve understanding of long-term effects of complex chemical mixtures.
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Karita K, Sakamoto M, Yoshida M, Tatsuta N, Nakai K, Iwai-Shimada M, Iwata T, Maeda E, Yaginuma-Sakurai K, Satoh H, Murata K. [Recent Epidemiological Studies on Methylmercury, Mercury and Selenium]. Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi 2016; 71:236-251. [PMID: 27725427 DOI: 10.1265/jjh.71.236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
More than sixty years has passed since the outbreak of Minamata disease, and high-level methylmercury contaminations now seem nonexistent in Japan. However, mercury has been continuously discharged from natural sources and industrial activities, and the health effects on children susceptible to methylmercury exposure at low levels, in addition to mercury contamination from mercury or gold mining areas in developing countries, become a worldwide concern. In this article, we provide a recent overview of epidemiological studies regarding methylmercury and mercury. The following findings were obtained. (1) Many papers on exposure assessment of methylmercury/mercury have been published since the Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted in 2013. (2) The most crucial problem is child developmental neurotoxicity resulting from prenatal exposure to methylmercury, but its precise assessment seems to be difficult because most of such effects are neither severe nor specific. (3) Several problems raised in birth cohort studies (e.g., whether IQ deficits due to prenatal methylmercury exposure remain when the children become adults, or whether the postnatal exposure at low levels also causes such adverse effects in children) remain unsolved. (4) Concurrent exposure models of methylmercury, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls, aresenic, and organochlorine pesticides, as well as possible antagonists such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and selenium, should be considered in the study design because the exposure levels of methylmercury are extremely low in developed countries. (5) Further animal experiments and molecular biological studies, in addition to human studies, are required to clarify the mechanism of methylmercury toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanae Karita
- Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Kyorin University School of Medicine
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Yeates AJ, Love TM, Engström K, Mulhern MS, McSorley EM, Grzesik K, Alhamdow A, Wahlberg K, Thurston SW, Davidson PW, van Wijngaarden E, Watson GE, Shamlaye CF, Myers GJ, Strain JJ, Broberg K. Genetic variation in FADS genes is associated with maternal long-chain PUFA status but not with cognitive development of infants in a high fish-eating observational study. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2015; 102-103:13-20. [PMID: 26474818 PMCID: PMC4746501 DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2015.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2015] [Revised: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Long-chain n-6 and n-3 PUFA (LC-PUFA), arachidonic acid (AA) (20:4n-6) and DHA (22:6n-3), are critical for optimal brain development. These fatty acids can be consumed directly from the diet, or synthesized endogenously from precursor PUFA by Δ-5 (encoded by FADS1) and Δ-6 desaturases (encoded by FADS2). The aim of this study was to determine the potential importance of maternal genetic variability in FADS1 and FADS2 genes to maternal LC-PUFA status and infant neurodevelopment in populations with high fish intakes. The Nutrition Cohorts 1 (NC1) and 2 (NC2) are longitudinal observational mother-child cohorts in the Republic of Seychelles. Maternal serum LC-PUFA was measured at 28 weeks gestation and genotyping for rs174537 (FADS1), rs174561 (FADS1), rs3834458 (FADS1-FADS2) and rs174575 (FADS2) was performed in both cohorts. The children completed the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II (BSID-II) at 30 months in NC1 and at 20 months in NC2. Complete data were available for 221 and 1310 mothers from NC1 and NC2 respectively. With increasing number of rs3834458 minor alleles, maternal concentrations of AA were significantly decreased (NC1 p=0.004; NC2 p<0.001) and precursor:product ratios for linoleic acid (LA) (18:2n-6)-to-AA (NC1 p<0.001; NC2 p<0.001) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) (18:3n-3)-to-DHA were increased (NC2 p=0.028). There were no significant associations between maternal FADS genotype and BSID-II scores in either cohort. A trend for improved PDI was found among infants born to mothers with the minor rs3834458 allele.In these high fish-eating cohorts, genetic variability in FADS genes was associated with maternal AA status measured in serum and a subtle association of the FADS genotype was found with neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison J Yeates
- The Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Tanzy M Love
- The School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Karin Engström
- The Laboratory of Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria S Mulhern
- The Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Emeir M McSorley
- The Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Grzesik
- The School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Ayman Alhamdow
- The Laboratory of Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Wahlberg
- The Laboratory of Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sally W Thurston
- The School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Philip W Davidson
- The School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY, United States
| | | | - Gene E Watson
- The School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY, United States
| | | | - G J Myers
- The School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY, United States
| | - J J Strain
- The Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Karin Broberg
- The Institute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Metals & Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Orlando MS, Dziorny AC, Harrington D, Love T, Shamlaye CF, Watson GE, van Wijngaarden E, Davidson PW, Myers GJ. Associations between prenatal and recent postnatal methylmercury exposure and auditory function at age 19 years in the Seychelles Child Development Study. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2015; 46:68-76. [PMID: 25462959 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2014.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Revised: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine if prenatal or recent postnatal methylmercury (MeHg) exposure from consuming ocean fish and seafood is associated with auditory deficits in young adults. Some investigators have reported adverse associations while others have found no associations. Ocean fish is an important nutrient source for billions of people around the world. Consequently, determining if there is an adverse association with objective auditory measures is important in assessing whether a risk is present or not. DESIGN The peripheral and central auditory function of 534 subjects in the Seychelles Child Development Study (SCDS) Main Cohort was examined at age of 19 years. The auditory test battery included standard pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, auditory brainstem response (ABR) latencies, and both click-evoked and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (OAE). Associations with MeHg were evaluated with multiple linear regression models, adjusting for sex, recent postnatal MeHg exposure, and hearing loss. RESULTS Bilateral hearing loss (defined as a mean pure-tone threshold of greater than 25 dB) was present in 1.1%of the subjects and was not associated with prenatal or recent postnatal MeHg exposure. As expected, absolute and interwave ABR latencies were shorter for women as compared to men, as the stimulus presentation rate decreased from 69.9 to 19.9 clicks/s and as the stimulus intensity increased from 60 to 80 dBnHL. Similarly, larger OAE amplitudes were elicited in women as compared to men and in the right ears as compared to the left. There was no association of prenatal MeHg exposure with hearing loss, ABR absolute and interwave latencies or OAE amplitudes. As recent postnatal MeHg increased, some associations were found with a few ABR absolute and interwave latencies and a few OAE amplitudes. However, the direction of these associations was inconsistent. As recent postnatal MeHg levels increased the wave I absolute latencies were shorter at 80 dBnHL for all three click rates, but the interwave I–V latency was longer for males for the 80 dBnHL 19 clicks/s and for the III–V interwave latencies for males and females for the dBnHL 69 clicks/s. Similarly, smaller OAE amplitudes were found at 1500, 2000, and 4000 Hz for males while larger OAE amplitudes were found for females at 1500 and 2000 Hz as the recent postnatal MeHg levels increased. CONCLUSIONS No consistent associations were present in this study between prenatal MeHg exposure from consumption of oceanic fish and seafood during pregnancy and auditory functions at 19 years of age. Given the level of prenatal exposure to MeHg, the number of audiologic measures tested, and the presence of the expected sex, click rate, and level dependent findings, it seems unlikely that an association was present and not detected. As recent postnatal MeHg exposure increased, a few associations with ABR latencies and OAE amplitudes were found. The direction of these associations was inconsistent as some showed improved performance as MeHg exposure levels increased while others showed poorer performance. The presence of the inconsistent postnatal MeHg exposure findings are intriguing and deserve further clarification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Orlando
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642,USA.
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Dzwilewski KLC, Schantz SL. Prenatal chemical exposures and child language development. JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS 2015; 57:41-65. [PMID: 26255253 PMCID: PMC4548902 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2015.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2014] [Revised: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The goal of this review is to summarize the evidence that prenatal and/or early postnatal exposure to certain chemicals, both manmade (insulating materials, flame retardants, pesticides) and naturally occurring (e.g., lead, mercury), may be associated with delays or impairments in language development. We focus primarily on a subset of more extensively studied chemicals-polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), lead, and methyl mercury-for which a reasonable body of literature on neurodevelopmental outcomes is available. We also briefly summarize the smaller body of evidence for other chemicals including polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants (PBDEs) and organophosphate pesticides. Very few studies have used specific assessments of language development and function. Therefore, we included discussion of aspects of cognitive development such as overall intellectual functioning and verbal abilities that rely on language, as well as aspects of cognition such as verbal and auditory working memory that are critical underpinnings of language development. A high percentage of prospective birth cohort studies of PCBs, lead, and mercury have reported exposure-related reductions in overall IQ and/or verbal IQ that persist into middle or late childhood. Given these findings, it is important that clinicians and researchers in communication sciences and disorders are aware of the potential for environmental chemicals to impact language development. LEARNING OUTCOMES The goal of this review is to summarize the evidence that prenatal and/or early postnatal exposure to certain chemicals may be associated with delays or impairments in language development. Readers will gain an understanding of the literature suggesting that early exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), lead, and mercury may be associated with decrements in cognitive domains that depend on language or are critical for language development. We also briefly summarize the smaller body of evidence regarding polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants (PBDEs) and organophosphate pesticides. Very few studies of exposure to these chemicals have used specific assessments of language development; thus, further investigation is needed before changes in clinical practice can be suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey L C Dzwilewski
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Neuroscience Program, 405 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Susan L Schantz
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Comparative Biosciences, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
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Debes F, Weihe P, Grandjean P. Cognitive deficits at age 22 years associated with prenatal exposure to methylmercury. Cortex 2015; 74:358-69. [PMID: 26109549 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2015.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2014] [Revised: 05/03/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to mercury has been associated with adverse effects on child neurodevelopment. The present study aims to determine the extent to which methylmercury-associated cognitive deficits persist into adult age. In a Faroese birth cohort originally formed in 1986-1987 (N = 1,022), prenatal methylmercury exposure was assessed in terms of the mercury concentration in cord blood and maternal hair. Clinical examinations of 847 cohort members at age 22 years were carried out in 2008-2009 using a panel of neuropsychological tests that reflected major functional domains. Subjects with neurological and psychiatric diagnoses were excluded from the data analysis, thus leaving 814 subjects. Multiple regression analysis included covariates previously identified for adjustment. Deficits in Boston Naming Test (BNT) and other tests of verbal performance were significantly associated with the cord-blood mercury concentration. Deficits were also present in all other tests applied, although most were not statistically significant. Structural equation models were developed to ascertain the possible differences in vulnerability of specific functional domains and the overall association with general intelligence. In models for individual domains, all of them showed negative associations, with crystallized intelligence being highly significant. A hierarchical model for general intelligence based on all domains again showed a highly significant negative association with the exposure, with an approximate deficit that corresponds to about 2.2 IQ points at a 10-fold increased prenatal methylmercury exposure. Thus, although the cognitive deficits observed were smaller than at examinations at younger ages, maternal diets with contaminated seafood were associated with adverse effects in this birth cohort at age 22 years. The deficits affected major domains of brain functions as well as general intelligence. Thus, prenatal exposure to this marine contaminant appears to cause permanent adverse effects on cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frodi Debes
- Faroese Hospital System, Torshavn, Faroe Islands
| | - Pal Weihe
- Faroese Hospital System, Torshavn, Faroe Islands
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
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Gilman CL, Soon R, Sauvage L, Ralston NVC, Berry MJ. Umbilical cord blood and placental mercury, selenium and selenoprotein expression in relation to maternal fish consumption. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2015; 30:17-24. [PMID: 25744505 PMCID: PMC4352208 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2015.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Revised: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Seafood is an important source of nutrients for fetal neurodevelopment. Most individuals are exposed to the toxic element mercury through seafood. Due to the neurotoxic effects of mercury, United States government agencies recommend no more than 340g (12oz) per week of seafood consumption during pregnancy. However, recent studies have shown that selenium, also abundant in seafood, can have protective effects against mercury toxicity. In this study, we analyzed mercury and selenium levels and selenoprotein mRNA, protein, and activity in placenta of a cohort of women in Hawaii in relation to maternal seafood consumption assessed with dietary surveys. Fish consumption resulted in differences in mercury levels in placenta and cord blood. When taken as a group, those who consumed no fish exhibited the lowest mercury levels in placenta and cord blood. However, there were numerous individuals who either had higher mercury with no fish consumption or lower mercury with high fish consumption, indicating a lack of correlation. Placental expression of selenoprotein mRNAs, proteins and enzyme activity was not statistically different in any region among the different dietary groups. While the absence of seafood consumption correlates with lower average placental and cord blood mercury levels, no strong correlations were seen between seafood consumption or its absence and the levels of either selenoproteins or selenoenzyme activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christy L Gilman
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, United States
| | - Reni Soon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, United States
| | - Lynnae Sauvage
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, United States
| | - Nicholas V C Ralston
- Energy & Environmental Research Center, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks ND 58202, United States
| | - Marla J Berry
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, United States.
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Strain JJ, Yeates AJ, van Wijngaarden E, Thurston SW, Mulhern MS, McSorley EM, Watson GE, Love TM, Smith TH, Yost K, Harrington D, Shamlaye CF, Henderson J, Myers GJ, Davidson PW. Prenatal exposure to methyl mercury from fish consumption and polyunsaturated fatty acids: associations with child development at 20 mo of age in an observational study in the Republic of Seychelles. Am J Clin Nutr 2015; 101:530-7. [PMID: 25733638 PMCID: PMC4340059 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.114.100503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fish is a rich source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) but also contains the neurotoxicant methyl mercury (MeHg). PUFAs may modify the relation between prenatal MeHg exposure and child development either directly by enhancing neurodevelopment or indirectly through the inflammatory milieu. OBJECTIVE The objective was to investigate the associations of prenatal MeHg exposure and maternal PUFA status with child development at 20 mo of age. DESIGN The Seychelles Child Development Study Nutrition Cohort 2 is an observational study in the Republic of Seychelles, a high-fish-eating population. Mothers were enrolled during pregnancy and their children evaluated at 20 mo of age by using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II (BSID-II), the MacArthur Bates Communicative Development Inventories (CDI), and the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised. There were 1265 mother-child pairs with complete data. RESULTS Prenatal MeHg exposure had no direct associations with neurodevelopmental outcomes. Significant interactions were found between MeHg and PUFAs on the Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI) of the BSID-II. Increasing MeHg was associated with lower PDI but only in children of mothers with higher n-6/n-3. Among mothers with higher n-3 PUFAs, increasing MeHg was associated with improved PDI. Higher maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was associated with improved CDI total gestures (language development) but was significantly adversely associated with the Mental Development Index (MDI), both with and without MeHg adjustment. Higher n-6:n-3 ratios were associated with poorer scores on all 3 CDI outcomes. CONCLUSIONS We found no overall adverse association between prenatal MeHg exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, maternal PUFA status as a putative marker of the inflammatory milieu appeared to modify the associations of prenatal MeHg exposure with the PDI. Increasing DHA status was positively associated with language development yet negatively associated with the MDI. These findings may indicate the existence of an optimal DHA balance with respect to arachidonic acid for different aspects of neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Strain
- From the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster (JJS, AJY, MSM, and EMM); the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (EvW, SWT, GEW, TML, THS, KY, DH, GJM, and PWD); and the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles (CFS and JH)
| | - Alison J Yeates
- From the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster (JJS, AJY, MSM, and EMM); the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (EvW, SWT, GEW, TML, THS, KY, DH, GJM, and PWD); and the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles (CFS and JH)
| | - Edwin van Wijngaarden
- From the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster (JJS, AJY, MSM, and EMM); the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (EvW, SWT, GEW, TML, THS, KY, DH, GJM, and PWD); and the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles (CFS and JH)
| | - Sally W Thurston
- From the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster (JJS, AJY, MSM, and EMM); the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (EvW, SWT, GEW, TML, THS, KY, DH, GJM, and PWD); and the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles (CFS and JH)
| | - Maria S Mulhern
- From the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster (JJS, AJY, MSM, and EMM); the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (EvW, SWT, GEW, TML, THS, KY, DH, GJM, and PWD); and the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles (CFS and JH)
| | - Emeir M McSorley
- From the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster (JJS, AJY, MSM, and EMM); the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (EvW, SWT, GEW, TML, THS, KY, DH, GJM, and PWD); and the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles (CFS and JH)
| | - Gene E Watson
- From the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster (JJS, AJY, MSM, and EMM); the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (EvW, SWT, GEW, TML, THS, KY, DH, GJM, and PWD); and the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles (CFS and JH)
| | - Tanzy M Love
- From the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster (JJS, AJY, MSM, and EMM); the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (EvW, SWT, GEW, TML, THS, KY, DH, GJM, and PWD); and the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles (CFS and JH)
| | - Tristram H Smith
- From the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster (JJS, AJY, MSM, and EMM); the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (EvW, SWT, GEW, TML, THS, KY, DH, GJM, and PWD); and the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles (CFS and JH)
| | - Kelley Yost
- From the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster (JJS, AJY, MSM, and EMM); the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (EvW, SWT, GEW, TML, THS, KY, DH, GJM, and PWD); and the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles (CFS and JH)
| | - Donald Harrington
- From the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster (JJS, AJY, MSM, and EMM); the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (EvW, SWT, GEW, TML, THS, KY, DH, GJM, and PWD); and the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles (CFS and JH)
| | - Conrad F Shamlaye
- From the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster (JJS, AJY, MSM, and EMM); the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (EvW, SWT, GEW, TML, THS, KY, DH, GJM, and PWD); and the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles (CFS and JH)
| | - Juliette Henderson
- From the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster (JJS, AJY, MSM, and EMM); the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (EvW, SWT, GEW, TML, THS, KY, DH, GJM, and PWD); and the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles (CFS and JH)
| | - Gary J Myers
- From the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster (JJS, AJY, MSM, and EMM); the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (EvW, SWT, GEW, TML, THS, KY, DH, GJM, and PWD); and the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles (CFS and JH)
| | - Philip W Davidson
- From the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster (JJS, AJY, MSM, and EMM); the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (EvW, SWT, GEW, TML, THS, KY, DH, GJM, and PWD); and the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles (CFS and JH)
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Myers GJ, Davidson PW, Watson GE, van Wijngaarden E, Thurston SW, Strain JJ, Shamlaye CF, Bovet P. Methylmercury exposure and developmental neurotoxicity. Bull World Health Organ 2014; 93:132. [PMID: 25883408 PMCID: PMC4339965 DOI: 10.2471/blt.14.141911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2014] [Revised: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gary J Myers
- University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue Rochester, New York, NY, 14642, United States of America
| | - Philip W Davidson
- University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue Rochester, New York, NY, 14642, United States of America
| | - Gene E Watson
- University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue Rochester, New York, NY, 14642, United States of America
| | - Edwin van Wijngaarden
- University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue Rochester, New York, NY, 14642, United States of America
| | - Sally W Thurston
- University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue Rochester, New York, NY, 14642, United States of America
| | - J J Strain
- Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
| | | | - Pascal Bovet
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Abstract
This article is based on the British Nutrition Foundation's Annual Lecture, which focused on maternal fish consumption and the effects of methylmercury (MeHg) on fetal development, with respect to current guidance and policy on fish consumption during pregnancy. Fish makes a valuable contribution to nutrient intakes across the globe and is the primary protein source for many individuals, particularly those in the developing world. Populations with a high fish consumption, such as in the Republic of the Seychelles, have a greater exposure to MeHg, which is present in varying amounts in all fish. Methylmercury is a toxic pollutant, which is known to impair neurodevelopment. The dose of MeHg from fish consumption, however, needed to impair neurodevelopment is unknown. Current UK and US guidance on fish consumption during pregnancy tend to focus more on avoiding risks rather than highlighting the benefits which can be obtained from eating fish. Such recommendations have been mainly based on data arising from epidemiological studies in the Faroe Islands, where methylmercury exposure was largely from pilot whale consumption. Although small adverse effects on child development have been reported in data from the Faroe Islands, data from the on-going Seychelles Child Development Studies have shown no adverse effects of prenatal methlymercury exposure from high maternal fish consumption (9-12 meals containing fish per week) on developmental outcomes. Instead these data suggest that nutrients, including long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), provided by fish may offer a beneficial effect and attenuate or modify any effects of MeHg on developmental outcomes. Recent expert consultations have concluded that the health benefits of fish consumption outweigh the risks posed by MeHg exposure and have argued the need for improved education and guidance to highlight the importance of consuming nutrients, including LC-PUFAs, from fish for optimal child development and to encourage fish consumption during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jj Strain
- Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
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