Impact of Prenatal Methylmercury Exposure on Neurobehavioral Function at Age 14 Years

Details

• Personal Author:
  Budtz-Jorgensen E ; Debes F ; Grandjean P ; Weihe P ; White RF
• Description:
  A cohort of 1022 consecutive singleton births was generated during 1987-1988 in the Faroe Islands, where increased methylmercury exposure occurs from traditional seafood diets that include pilot whale meat. The prenatal exposure level was determined from mercury analyses of cord blood, cord tissue, and maternal hair. At age 14 years, 878 of 1010 living cohort members underwent detailed neurobehavioral examination. Eighteen participants with neurological disorders were excluded. Blood and hair samples obtained from the participants were analyzed for mercury. The neuropsychological test battery was designed based on the same criteria as applied at the examination at age 7 years. Multiple regression analysis was carried out and included adjustment for confounders. Indicators of prenatal methylmercury exposure were significantly associated with deficits in finger tapping speed, reaction time on a continued performance task, and cued naming. Postnatal methylmercury exposure had no discernible effect. These findings are similar to those obtained at age 7 years, and the relative contribution of mercury exposure to the predictive power of the multiple regression models was also similar. An analysis of the test score difference between results at 7 and 14 years suggested that mercury-associated deficits had not changed between the two examinations. In structural equation model analyses, the neuropsychological tests were separated into five groups; methylmercury exposure was significantly associated with deficits in motor, attention, and verbal tests. These findings are supported by independent assessment of neurophysiological outcomes. The effects on brain function associated with prenatal methylmercury exposure therefore appear to be multi-focal and permanent. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Behavior Chemistry Diet Environmental Exposure Mercury Nervous System Occupational Health Pregnancy Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Women

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• Keywords:
  Adolescents Author Keywords: Adolescent Brain Function Chemical Properties Chemicals Exposure Levels Food Contaminants Food Contamination Humans Methylmercury Compounds Models Neurological System Neurophysiology Neuropsychological Tests Neurotoxicity Syndromes Prenatal Exposure Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects Risk Factors

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• ISSN:
  0892-0362
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  28
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055151
• Citation:
  Neurotoxicol Teratol 2006 Sep-Oct; 28(5):536-547
• Contact Point Address:
  Philippe Grandjean, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Winslowparken 17, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
• Email:
  pgrand@health.sdu.dk
• CAS Registry Number:
  Methylmercury(1+) (CAS RN 22967-92-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2007
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Neurotoxicology and Teratology
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9c0eae01148e175f6ffe4172f4c75641ef6b5ea9de9745c8412186efa1e1d535172bef68d39da4c3bce1f7f03d6b31ad68953ac5a10f7725f39b99171f6aa598
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/217512/cdc_217512_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 244.36 KB ]