Methylmercury exposure and neurological outcomes in Taiji residents accustomed to consuming whale meat
Methylmercury exposure and neurological outcomes in Taiji residents accustomed to consuming whale meat
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DOI：
10.1016/j.envint.2014.03.005
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发表时间：
2014-07-01
影响因子：
11.8
通讯作者：
Sakamoto, Mineshi
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Nakamura, Masaald;Hachiya, Noriyuki;Sakamoto, Mineshi
甲基汞（MeHg）是一种主要的环境神经毒物，会对中枢神经系统造成损害。在日本，甲基汞的工业排放导致了水俣和新潟的甲基汞中毒，即所谓的水俣病。人类会接触到来自天然来源的甲基汞，主要是鱼类和以鱼为食的动物。因此，甲基汞仍然是对人类健康的一种环境风险，特别是在经常大量食用鱼类或像鲸鱼这样以鱼为食的动物的易感人群中。本研究旨在调查成年人接触甲基汞对健康的影响。研究对象是194名居民（117名男性，77名女性；年龄20 - 85岁），他们居住在日本传统捕鲸发源地太地的沿海城镇。我们分析了头发中的汞含量，并进行了详细的神经学检查和饮食调查。还进行了听力测试、磁共振成像和肌电图检查以诊断神经缺陷。对23名受试者测量了全血汞和硒（Se）水平。头发汞含量的几何平均值为14.9微克/克。12名受试者的头发汞含量>世界卫生组织设定的50微克/克（无可见有害作用水平）。头发汞含量与每日鲸肉摄入量显著相关。这些结果表明太地居民因摄入受甲基汞污染的鲸肉而高度暴露于甲基汞。多元回归分析表明头发汞含量与神经学结果之间没有显著相关性，然而一些发现与年龄显著相关。观察到全血汞和硒水平之间存在显著的正相关，并且所有受试者的全血汞/硒摩尔比为……
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a major environmental neurotoxicant that causes damage to the central nervous system. In Japan, industrial emission of MeHg has resulted in MeHg intoxication in Minamata and Niigata, the so-called Minamata disease. Humans are exposed to MeHg derived from natural sources, primarily fish and fish predators. Therefore, MeHg continues to be an environmental risk to human health, particularly in susceptible populations that frequently consume substantial amounts of fish or fish predators such as whale. This study aimed to investigate the health effects of MeHg exposure in adults. The subjects were 194 residents (117 males, 77 females; age 20-85 years) who resided in the coastal town of Taiji, the birthplace of traditional whaling in Japan. We analyzed hair for mercury content and performed detailed neurological examinations and dietary surveys. Audiometry, magnetic resonance imaging, and electromyography were performed to diagnose neurological defects. Whole blood mercury and selenium (Se) levels were measured in 23 subjects. The geometric mean of the hair mercury levels was 14.9 mu g/g. Twelve subjects revealed hair mercury levels >50 mu g/g (NOAEL) set by WHO. Hair mercury levels significantly correlated with daily whale meat intake. These results suggested that residents in Taiji were highly exposed to MeHg by ingesting MeHg-contaminated whale meat. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated no significant correlations between hair mercury levels and neurological outcomes, whereas some of the findings significantly correlated with age. A significantly positive correlation between whole blood mercury and Se levels was observed and the whole blood mercury/Se molar ratios of all subjects were