Neurodevelopment of Amazonian infants: antenatal and postnatal exposure to methyl- and ethylmercury

J Biomed Biotechnol. 2012:2012:132876. doi: 10.1155/2012/132876. Epub 2012 Apr 26.

Abstract

Neurodevelopment as Gesell development scores (GDSs) in relation to mercury exposure in infants (<6 months of age) of one urban center and two rural villages, respectively, of fisherman and cassiterite miners. Mean total hair-Hg (HHg) concentrations of infants from Itapuã (3.95 ± 1.8 ppm) were statistically (P = 0.0001) different from those of infants from Porto Velho (3.84 ± 5.5 ppm) and Bom Futuro (1.85 ± 0.9 ppm). Differences in vaccine coverage among these populations resulted in significantly higher (P = 0.0001) mean ethylmercury (EtHg) exposure in urban infants (150 μg) than in infants from either village (41.67 μg, Itapuã; 42.39 μg, Bom Futuro). There was an inverse significant (Spearman r = -0.2300; P = 0.0376) correlation between HHg and GDS for infants from Porto Velho, but not for the rural infants from Bom Futuro (Spearman r = 0.1336; P = 0.0862) and Itapuã (Spearman r = 0.1666; P = 0.5182). Logistic regression applied to variables above or below the median GDS showed that EtHg exposure (estimated probability = -0.0157; P = 0.0070) and breastfeeding score (estimated probability = -0.0066; P = 0.0536) score were significantly associated with GDS. Conclusion. In nurslings whose mothers are exposed to different levels of fish-MeHg (HHg), a higher score of neurological development at six months was negatively associated with exposure to additional TCV-EtHg. Results should be interpreted with caution because of unaccounted variables.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brazil
  • Breast Feeding
  • Developmental Disabilities / chemically induced
  • Diet
  • Diet Surveys
  • Ethylmercury Compounds / pharmacokinetics
  • Ethylmercury Compounds / poisoning*
  • Female
  • Hair / chemistry*
  • Hair / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Maternal Exposure*
  • Mercury / analysis*
  • Mercury / pharmacokinetics
  • Methylmercury Compounds / pharmacokinetics
  • Methylmercury Compounds / poisoning*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
  • Psychomotor Performance / drug effects
  • Rural Population
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Urban Population

Substances

  • Ethylmercury Compounds
  • Methylmercury Compounds
  • Mercury