How Toxic How Toxic is Mercury?is Mercury?

Searching forSearching for

AnswersAnswers

Daniel Weberdweber@uwm.edu

Toxicity is anToxicity is an ARTART

Amount Rate Type

Uses of MercuryUses of Mercury

Industrial

Cosmetic &Medicinal

Residential &Commercial

How Does Mercury Enter the How Does Mercury Enter the Environment?Environment?

Anthropogenic Sources Natural Sources

The Making of Methyl MercuryThe Making of Methyl Mercury

From: US Geological Survey -- http://www.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/146-00/

Bacteria

Biomagnification

Transport &Deposition Humans: The

Top Carnivore

Mercury and Public HealthMercury and Public Health

Mercury easily passes to developing fetusMercury easily passes to developing fetus15% of all US babies born each year are 15% of all US babies born each year are

at risk for mercury-caused problemsat risk for mercury-caused problemsDeveloping nervous systems are at Developing nervous systems are at

greatest risk for mercurialismgreatest risk for mercurialismStructure and function of neurons affectedStructure and function of neurons affectedPositive correlation between mercury Positive correlation between mercury

exposure and cognitive effectsexposure and cognitive effects

What Does Mercury Do?What Does Mercury Do?Key Words in the LiteratureKey Words in the Literature

Birth Defects

Sensory Deficits

Learning Problems

Endocrine Disruption

Loss of Coordination

Immunosuppression

GI and Kidney Dysfunction

Altered Biochemistry

Heart Arrythmias

Gene Function

Social EnvironmentSocial EnvironmentSocialSocial

PsychosocialPsychosocial

Physical EnvironmentPhysical EnvironmentPhysical, Chemical, Biological AgentsPhysical, Chemical, Biological Agents

Home, Work, and Play Home, Work, and Play

including the Built Environmentincluding the Built Environment Genetic EndowmentGenetic Endowment

IndividualIndividualResponseResponse• BehaviorBehavior• BiologyBiology

Health &Health &FunctionFunction DiseaseDisease Health CareHealth Care

Well BeingWell Being ProsperityProsperity

Adapted from Evans, R. G., & Stoddart, G. L. (1990). Producing health, consuming health care. Social Science and Medicine, 31, 1347-1363.

Toxic Chemicals

Genetic PredispositionGenetic Predispositionto Diseaseto Disease

TOXIC CHEMICAL

Meiosis

Mitosis

Living with Mercury:Living with Mercury:A Life History AssessmentA Life History Assessment

Embryo*, Fetal/Fetus,Maternal Transfer

Juvenile

Baby, Neo/Post Natal,Early Child*

AdultOccupation*

Elder*, Neurodegenerat*

The 3 S’s of Mercury Toxicity:The 3 S’s of Mercury Toxicity:Finding Safety Levels in the Human DietFinding Safety Levels in the Human Diet

SizeSizeSpeciesSpeciesSourceSource

http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/consumption/

Are All Fish Off Limits?Are All Fish Off Limits?Lo

w

[

Hg]

Hig

h

Young/Small Age/Size of Fish Old/Large

Do All Fish Species Have the Same Do All Fish Species Have the Same Amount of Mercury?Amount of Mercury?

Look at the mouth!!!

Mercury Sources:Mercury Sources:A National ProblemA National Problem

From: US Geological Survey Fact Sheet 146-00, October 2000

WDNR Booklet: http://dhfs.wi.gov/eh/fish/index.htm

What Can We Do?What Can We Do?

Diet Test Know

Omega-3-Fatty Acids

Selenium

http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/localhealth/

http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/

mercury/walletcard.pdf

Key Mercury Search WordsKey Mercury Search Words CAUSE & EFFECTCAUSE & EFFECT

Methylmercury (MeHg)Methylmercury (MeHg) Neurotoxic*Neurotoxic* Endocrine Disrupt*Endocrine Disrupt* Behav*/Neurobehav*Behav*/Neurobehav* Gene-Environment*Gene-Environment* Maternal transferMaternal transfer Oxidative stressOxidative stress

STUDY METHODSSTUDY METHODS Biomarker*Biomarker* Gene* expressionGene* expression Clinic*Clinic* ProspectiveProspective ModelModel Transgeneration*Transgeneration* Behav*Behav*

Neuro*Neuro* Learn*Learn*

SOURCESSOURCES HumanHuman

Industr*/Occupation*Industr*/Occupation* ArtisanalArtisanal Medicin*/Dent*/Cosmetic*Medicin*/Dent*/Cosmetic*

NaturalNatural Geolog*Geolog* Biolog*Biolog* Bioconcentrat*Bioconcentrat* Biomagnif*Biomagnif*

CURES & TREATMENTSCURES & TREATMENTS Fish advisor*Fish advisor* Diet*Diet*

Selen*Selen* Omega-3-fatty acidOmega-3-fatty acid FishFish

Chelat*Chelat* DMPSDMPS DMSADMSA