This paper describes a novel approach for analysis of mercury speciation in fish using gas chromatography coupled with microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometry (GC-MIP-OES) in surfatron resonant cavity. Sample treatment was based on quantitative leaching of mercury species from fish tissue with ultrasound-assisted acidtoluene extraction. The extracted mercury species analyzed with...

Epidemiologic studies commonly use mercury (Hg) level in hair as a valid proxy to estimate human exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) through fish consumption. This study presents the results yielded by a complete data set on fish consumption habits, Hg levels in edible fish resources, and corresponding Hg accumulation in hair, gathered in three distinct communities of eastern Canada. For one of th...

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxic compound that threatens wildlife and human health across the Arctic region. Though much is known about the source and dynamics of its inorganic mercury (Hg) precursor, the exact origin of the high MeHg concentrations in Arctic biota remains uncertain. Arctic coastal sediments, coastal marine waters and surface snow are known sites for MeHg production. Observ...

Methylmercury (MeHg)-resistant sublines of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells were isolated by repeated exposure to stepwise increased concentrations of MeHg. One of the sublines (PC12/TM) showed an 8- to 10-fold increase in resistance to MeHg compared with parent PC12 cells on the basis of the concentration required for 50% inhibition (IC50) of growth. PC12/TM cells accumulated smaller amounts ...

Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental pollutant known to cause neurobehavioral defects and is especially toxic to the developing brain. With recent studies showing that fetal exposure to low-dose MeHg causes developmental abnormalities, it is therefore important to find ways to combat its effects as well as to clarify the mechanism(s) underlying MeHg toxicity. In the present study, the effec...

OBJECTIVE To examine whether an FFQ can be used for assessing exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) by estimating MeHg intake from seafood consumption using the FFQ and confirming the accuracy of the estimated value. DESIGN Seafood consumption of pregnant women was assessed using the FFQ. Total mercury (T-Hg) concentrations of maternal red blood cells (RBC) and hair were measured as exposure indic...

BACKGROUND Developmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or methylmercury (MeHg) can result in a variety of neurotoxic effects, including long-term auditory deficits. However, little is known about the effects of combined exposure to PCBs and MeHg on auditory function. OBJECTIVE We developmentally exposed rats to PCBs and/or MeHg and assessed auditory function in adulthood to det...

Fish eyes and brain are highly susceptible to environmental Hg exposure but this issue is still scarcely investigated, mainly regarding methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation. Yet, Hg levels in fish lens have not been previously examined under field conditions. Total Hg (tHg), MeHg and inorganic Hg (iHg) levels were assessed in the brain, eye wall and lens of the golden grey mullet (Liza aurata) fro...

We previously reported that methylmercury (MeHg) exposure is associated with DNA hypomethylation in the brain stem of male polar bears. Here, we conveniently use archived tissues obtained from controlled laboratory exposure studies to look for evidence that MeHg can disrupt DNA methylation across taxa. Brain (cerebrum) tissues from MeHg-exposed mink (Neovison vison), chicken (Gallus gallus) and...

Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental neurotoxicant whose molecular mechanisms underlying toxicity remain elusive. Here, we investigated molecular events involved in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity in cultured cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) as well as potential protective strategies for such toxicity. Glutathione peroxidase, isozyme 1 (GPx-1) activity was significantly (p = 0.0017) decreased at ...