Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury

Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 9780309071406
eISBN Pdf: 9780309569705
eISBN Epub: 9780309171717
Place of publication: United States
Year of digital publication: 2000
Month: September
Pages: 365
Language: English

Caption

Mercury is widespread in our environment. Methylmercury, one organic form of mercury, can accumulate up the aquatic food chain and lead to high concentrations in predatory fish. When consumed by humans, contaminated fish represent a public health risk.

Combustion processes, especially coal-fired power plants, are major sources of mercury contamination in the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering regulating mercury emissions from those plants.

Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury reviews the health effects of methylmercury and discusses the estimation of mercury exposure from measured biomarkers, how differences between individuals affect mercury toxicity, and appropriate statistical methods for analysis of the data and thoroughly compares the epidemiological studies available on methylmercury. Included are discussions of current mercury levels on public health and a delineation of the scientific aspects and policy decisions involved in the regulation of mercury.

This report is a valuable resource for individuals interested in the public health effects and regulation of mercury. The report also provides an excellent example of the implications of decisions in the risk assessment process for a larger audience.

Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury
Copyright
PREFACE
Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- THE CHARGE TO THE COMMITTEE
- THE COMMITTEE'S APPROACH TO ITS CHARGE
- THE COMMITTEE'S EVALUATION
  - Health Effects of Methylmercury
  - Determination of the Critical Study for the RfD
  - Estimation of Dose and Biological Variability
  - Modeling the Dose-Response Relationships
  - Public-Health Implications
- RESEARCH NEEDS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
1 INTRODUCTION
- SOURCES OF HG
- FATE AND TRANSPORT
- HEALTH EFFECTS
- EXPOSURE EVENTS AND STUDIES
- SUMMARY OF RISK ASSESSMENTS FOR MEHG
- SCIENTIFIC CONTROVERSIES AND SOURCES OF UNCERTAINTY
- ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT
- REFERENCES
2 CHEMISTRY, EXPOSURE, TOXICOKINETICS, AND TOXICODYNAMICS
- PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
- METHODS OF CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
- EXPOSURES TO MEHG IN THE U.S. POPULATION
- TOXICOKINETICS
  - Absorption and Distribution
    - Methylmercury
    - Dimethylmercury
    - Elemental Mercury
    - Inorganic Mercury
  - Biotransformation
    - Excretion
- MOBILIZATION OF BODY HG
- CHEMICAL FORMS OF HG IN TOXICITY
- TOXIC EFFECTS AND TARGET ORGANS
- BIOCHEMICAL MECHANISMS OF TOXICITY
- SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- REFERENCES
3 BIOLOGICAL VARIABILITY
- AGE-RELATED SUSCEPTIBILITY
- GENDER DIFFERENCES
- GENETICS
- MECHANISMS OF NUTRITIONAL INFLUENCE ON MEHG HEALTH EFFECTS
  - Dietary Interactions and Confounding
    - Selenium
    - Garlic
    - Omega-3 Fatty Acids
    - Protein
    - Alcohol
    - Other Foods That Might Influence Hg Uptake
    - Vitamin E
    - Nutrient Enhancement of Toxicity
    - Beneficial Effects of Fish Consumption
- TOXICOKINETIC VARIABILITY
- CONCLUSIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- REFERENCES
4 DOSE ESTIMATION
- DIETARY ASSESSMENT
- BIOMARKERS OF EXPOSURE
  - Methylmercury in Blood
  - Methylmercury in Hair
  - Comparison of Biomarkers of Exposure
- ANALYTICAL ERROR IN BIOMARKER MEASUREMENTS
- EXPOSURE AND DOSE ASSESSMENT IN THE SEYCHELLES, FAROE ISLANDS, AND NEW ZEALAND STUDIES
- SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- REFERENCES
5 HEALTH EFFECTS OF METHYLMERCURY
- CARCINOGENICITY
  - Human Studies
  - Animal Studies
- GENOTOXICITY
  - Human Studies
  - Animal Studies
  - In Vitro Studies
- IMMUNOTOXICITY
  - Human Studies
  - Animal Studies
    - Effects on the Adult Immune System
    - Effects on the Developing Immune System
  - In Vitro Studies
  - Autoimmune Response
    - Human Studies
    - Animal Studies
- REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS
  - Human Studies
  - Animal Studies
- RENAL TOXICITY
  - Human Studies
  - Animal Studies
- CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS
  - Human Studies
  - Animal Studies
- HEMATOLOGICAL EFFECTS
- DEVELOPING CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM TOXICITY
  - Human Studies
    - High-Dose Poisonings
      - Poisoning Episode in Japan
      - Poisoning Episode in Iraq
    - Chronic Low-Dose-Exposure Epidemiological Studies
      - Status on Neurological Examination
      - Age at Achievement of Developmental Milestones
      - Infant and Preschool Development
      - Childhood Development
      - Sensory, Neurophysiological, and Other End Points in Children
  - Animal Studies
    - Developmental Effects in Animals
      - Fetal Minamata Disease
      - Neurobehavioral Effects
- ADULT CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM TOXICITY
  - Adult Human Neurological, Neurophysiological, and Sensory Function
  - Neurotoxic Effects in Adult Animals
- CONCLUSIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- REFERENCES
6 COMPARISON OF STUDIES FOR USE IN RISK ASSESSMENT
- ASSESSMENT OF PRENATAL HG EXPOSURE: CORD BLOOD VERSUS MATERNAL HAIR AND TIMING OF EXPOSURE
- DIFFERENCES IN THE NEUROBEHAVIORAL END POINTS ASSESSED AND THE CHILDREN'S AGES AT ASSESSMENT
- STABLE VERSUS EPISODIC PATTERN OF EXPOSURE
- STUDY DIFFERENCES IN CONTROL FOR CONFOUNDERS
- POPULATION DIFFERENCES IN VULNERABILITY
- RANDOM VARIATION IN THE DETECTABILITY OF EFFECTS AT LOW EXPOSURES
- CONCLUSIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- REFERENCES
7 DOSE-RESPONSE ASSESSMENT
- RISK ASSESSMENT FOR NONCANCER END POINTS
- BENCHMARK-DOSE CALCULATIONS FOR CONTINUOUS OUTCOMES
- SOME SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR MEHG
- COMPARING BENCHMARK DOSES
- CHOOSING A CRITICAL DOSE FOR A POINT OF DEPARTURE
- AN INTEGRATIVE ANALYSIS
- MODEL CHOICE ISSUES
- SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- REFERENCES
8 RISK CHARACTERIZATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS
- THE CURRENT EPA REFERENCE DOSE
- EVALUATING THE RFD–END POINTS OF MEHG TOXICITY
  - Carcinogenicity
  - Immunotoxicity
  - Reproductive Effects
  - Renal Toxicity
  - Cardiovascular Effects
  - Central-Nervous-System Toxicity
- SELECTION OF THE END POINT FOR THE RFD
- EXAMINATION OF THE CRITICAL STUDIES FOR THE RFD
- BMD CONSIDERATIONS: SELECTING A POINT OF DEPARTURE
- SELECTION OF THE CRITICAL STUDY AND POINT OF DEPARTURE FOR THE REVISED RFD
- SOURCES OF UNCERTAINTY: CONSIDERATION FOR UNCERTAINTY FACTORS
- IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND RISK MANAGEMENT
- COMMITTEE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- REFERENCES
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER 7
- REFERENCES
GLOSSARY

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