Assessment of aging process and health effects of the population living in a methylmercury polluted area

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This study compares the health conditions of residents living in the Minamata disease outbreak area(Tsunagi town) with a control area(town "A"), and is based on date from medical heath examinations conducted in 1999 and 2003. The mean values of 8 items related to cardiovascular disease risks, including the prevalence of high-and/or low-cholesterol levels, were also compared. In 1999 the prevalence of high HbAlc levels and low HDL cholesterol levels was greater in Tsunagi than in town "A" in both sexes, but the prevalence of HbAlc was not greater in Tsunagi than in town "A" in 2003. The mean and prevalence of the other items tested were not significantly higher in Tsunagi than the control area. In other words, there is no evidence of higher levels of unhealthiness in Tsunagi than in the control area. However, the prevalence of higher HDL levels in Tsunagi and a higher SMR(standardized mortality rate) than the control area suggests there is a reason to look into the current state atherosclerosis in Tsunagi.These results indicate that follow-up examination are a necessary aspect of health care management and guidance, and further follow-up studies to analyze life expectancies are also required.