Author: Croes K, De Coster S, De Galan S, Morrens B, Loots I, Van de Mieroop E, Nelen V, Sioene I, Bruckers L,Nawroth T, Colles A, Den Hondj E, Schoeters G, van Larebekeb N, Baeyensa W, Gaoa Y.
Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health.
Year: 2013
Comment:
The researchers conclude, "A number of associations between Hg exposure in adolescents and the expression of specific genes were studied. Since it is well known that mercury and especially methylmercury is a toxicant that disturbs the functioning of the nervous system and at even low concentrations can exert adverse health effects, we tested whether some of the genes that showed significant correlations with the low Hg concentrations were linked to the functioning of the nervous system. For 5 out of the 8 genes we found in the literature that they might directly affect neurological functions."
Abstract / Excerpt:
“Due to possible health risks, quantification of mercury accumulation in humans was included in the Flem-ish biomonitoring programmes FLEHS I (2002–2006) and FLEHS II (2007–2011). The general objectiveof FLEHS I was to assess regional exposure levels in order to link possible differences in these internalexposure levels to different types of local environmental pressure. Therefore, Hg and MMHg (methylmer-cury) were only measured in pooled blood samples per region and per age class. In FLEHS II, mercuryconcentrations were measured in hair of each participant. About 200 adolescents and 250 mothers (ref-erence group) and two times 200 adolescents (2 hotspots) were screened. The main objectives of theFLEHS II study were: (1) to determine reference levels of mercury in hair for Flanders; (2) to assess rela-tions between mercury exposure and possible sources like fish consumption; (3) to assess dose–effectrelations between mercury exposure and health effect markers. The results showed that mercury con-centrations in the Flemish population were rather low compared to other studies. Mercury levels in the Flemish populations were strongly related to the age of the participants and consumption of fish. Significant negative associations were observed between mercury in hair and asthma, having received breastfeeding as a newborn, age at menarche in girls, allergy for animals and free testosterone levels. Significant correlations were also observed between mercury in hair and genes JAK2, ARID4A, Hist1HA4L (boys) andHLAdrb5, PIAS2, MANN1B1, GIT and ABCA1 (girls).”
Citation:
Croes K, De Coster S, De Galan S, Morrens B, Loots I, Van de Mieroop E, Nelen V, Sioene I, Bruckers L,Nawroth T, Colles A, Den Hondj E, Schoeters G, van Larebekeb N, Baeyensa W, Gaoa Y. Health effects in the Flemish population in relation to low levels ofmercury exposure: From organ to transcriptome level. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 2013.