Delayed Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential Latencies in 14-Year-Old Children Exposed to Methylmercury

Details

• Personal Author:
  Budtz-Jorgensen E ; Grandjean P ; Jorgensen PJ ; Murata, Kiyoshi ; Weihe P
• Description:
  Objective: To determine possible exposure-associated delays in auditory brainstem evoked potential latencies as an objective measure of neurobehavioral toxicity in 14-year-old children with developmental exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) from seafood. Study design: Prospective study of a birth cohort in the Faroe Islands, where 878 of eligible children (87%) were examined at age 14 years. Latencies of brainstem evoked potential peaks I, III, and V at 20 and 40 Hz constituted the outcome variables. Mercury concentrations were determined in cord blood and maternal hair, and in the child's hair at ages 7 and 14. Results: Latencies of peaks III and V increased by about 0.012 ms when the cord blood mercury concentration doubled. As seen at age 7 years, this effect appeared mainly within the I-III interpeak interval. Despite lower postnatal exposures, the child's hair mercury level at age 14 years was associated with prolonged III-V interpeak latencies. All benchmark dose results were similar to those obtained for dose-response relationships at age 7 years. Conclusions: The persistence of prolonged I-III interpeak intervals indicates that some neurotoxic effects from intrauterine MeHg exposure are irreversible. A change in vulnerability to MeHg toxicity is suggested by the apparent sensitivity of the peak III-V component to recent MeHg exposure. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aging Blood Environmental Exposure Hematologic Tests Hunting Mercury Occupational Health Pregnancy Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety

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• Keywords:
  Age Groups Blood Samples Children Exposure Levels Fishing Industry Foodstuff Health Effects Humans Mercury Compounds Prenatal Exposure Risk Factors

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• ISSN:
  0022-3476
• 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
• Pages in Document:
  177-183
• Volume:
  144
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20058642
• Citation:
  J Pediatr 2004 Feb; 144(2):177-183
• Contact Point Address:
  Philippe Grandjean, MD, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Landmark Center East, Room 3-110, PO Box 15967, Boston, MA 02215
• Email:
  pgrand@hsph.harvard.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Methylmercury(1+) (CAS RN 22967-92-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2004
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20030701
• Source Full Name:
  The Journal of Pediatrics
• End Date:
  20050630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:28caffa857439e6fc213eacb0c195c22c4e3a6a25828707547b25eb99ffa8c13d0a87d5fa16d863669bfca9c2e3d7cb44571f5a9bebcb6ebe620e461fa738e75
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/221684/cdc_221684_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 192.06 KB ]