Mercury exposure induces endothelial dysfunction leading to loss of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation due to decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability via increased oxidative stress. Our aim was to investigate whether acute treatment with methyl mercury chloride changes the endothelium-dependent vasodilator response and to explore the possible mechanisms behind the observed effects. Wistar...

Total and methyl mercury concentrations of cicada bodies, wings, and exuviae were investigated to study the mercury distribution characteristics. Results indicated that total and methyl mercury concentrations of cicada bodies were 2.64 mg/kg and 123.93 ng/g on average, respectively. In cicada tissues, total mercury concentrations were found to increase in the order of exuviae (0.50 mg/kg on ave...

The methylation of mercury has been investigated and documented mainly in sediments, fish and microorganisms, while limited number of relevant studies is available for wastewater. The procedure of mercury methylation can occur via biological pathway (by microorganisms) and via chemical or photochemical reactions. Methylation of mercury occurs mainly under anaerobic conditions, but some studies ...

We modeled the flow of methyl mercury, a toxic global pollutant, in the Faroe Islands marine ecosystem and compared average human methyl mercury exposure from consumption of pilot whale meat and fish (cod, Gadus morhua) with current tolerable weekly intake (TWI) levels. Under present conditions and climate change scenarios, methyl mercury increased in the ecosystem, translating into increased h...

a b s t r a c t introduction: mercury is the second most metal pollutant in the world and has the potential to induce many pathologic conditions, especially in nervous system, such as depression. here we tried to find out if nitric oxide has any possible role in the pathophysiology of depression induced by this metal. although the role of nitric oxide has been shown in mood control, here we use...

A model for the bioaccumulation of methyl-mercury in an aquatic ecosystem is described. This model combines predator-prey equations for interactions across three trophic levels with pharmacokinetic equations for toxin elimination at each level. The model considers the inflow and outflow of mercury via tributaries, precipitation, deposition and bacterial methylation to determine the concentratio...

List of Abbreviations: Hg – mercury; MeHg – methyl mercury; WHO – World Health Organization, OR – odds ratio; CI – confidence interval; TAM – tests of mechanical ability, POMS – profile of mood states; CEPA – Centro de Psicologica Aplicada as part of a large study of Confidential Page 2 17/04/2003 2 mercury contamination risks associated with the aquatic food chain, Baixada Cuiabana, Pantanal –...

Methyl mercury has previously been shown to inhibit DNA and RNA synthesis in intact HeLa cells (Gruenwedel, D. W., and Cruikshank, M. K. (1979) Biochem. Pharmacol. 28, 651-655). Its effect on nucleic acid synthesis in vitro in isolated nuclei has now been investigated. DNA synthesis in nuclei was inhibited by methyl mercury; 50% inhibition was obtained with a concentration of 8 p ~ , compared t...

It has been suggested that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or other n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may prevent or ameliorate methyl mercury's neurotoxicity. To examine interactions between PUFAs and methyl mercury exposure, sixty-six female Long-Evans rats were exposed to methyl mercury continuously via drinking water from fifteen weeks of age. Water included methyl mercury concentrations o...

Mercury is a ubiquitous environmental toxicant that causes a wide range of adverse health effects in humans. Three forms of mercury exist: elemental, inorganic and organic. Each of them has its own profile of toxicity. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of thimerosal, a topical antiseptic and preservative in vaccines routinely given to children, methyl mercury, and mercuri...