Vitamin-mineral supplements do not guarantee the minimum recommendations and may imply risks of mercury poisoning in dogs and cats.

Given the importance of using the vitamin-mineral supplements to guarantee the minimum nutritional recommendations for pets in homemade foods, and hypothesizing that these products may contribute to toxic metals contamination, the present study aimed to determine the concentrations of essential minerals and toxic metals in vitamin-mineral supplements available in the Brazilian market and calculate if the amount recommended by the manufacturer guarantees the minimum recommendations of NRC (2006) and FEDIAF (2020), as well as calculating the amount of toxic metals that animals would consume, according to the amounts recommended by the manufacturer. Seven vitamin-mineral supplements were analyzed. The determination of essential minerals and toxic metals was performed using ICP-OES. Comparisons were made with the minimum recommendations for essential minerals, and with the maximum tolerated levels of toxic metals established by the FDA (2011), descriptively. Most of the vitamin-mineral supplements, in the quantities recommended by the manufacturers, do not guarantee the minimum recommendations of NCR (2006) and FEDIAF (2020) for the following elements: calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc. Only one supplement had detectable selenium concentrations. Three supplements provided more than 0.02mg of mercury/kg of body weight, the safe upper limit used to establish the maximum tolerated level of this element. It is concluded that most vitamin-mineral supplements do not meet the minimum recommendations for most essential minerals and, if formulated by untrained professionals, even with supplementation, homemade foods may still be nutritionally deficient. Furthermore, some vitamin-mineral supplements analyzed may imply risks of mercury poisoning in pets.

Mercury Poisoning in a Toddler from Home Contamination due to Skin-Lightening Cream.

A 17-month-old child presented with hypertension, fussiness, constipation, and arthralgia due to mercury toxicity from a skin-lightening cosmetic used by her mother and grandmother. Blood mercury level was 26 mcg/L and urine level was 243 mcg/g creatinine. She was chelated with succimer. The home was contaminated and needed remediation.

Egg white-derived peptides prevent male reproductive dysfunction induced by mercury in rats.

Oxidative stress in known to contribute to the male reproductive dysfunction induced by mercury (Hg). Our study tested the hypothesis that the egg white hydrolysate (EWH), a potent antioxidant in vitro, is able to prevent the effects of prolonged Hg exposure on male reproductive system in rats. For this, rats were treated for 60 days with: a) Untreated - saline solution (i.m.); b) Hydrolysate - EWH (1 g/kg/day, gavage); c) Mercury - HgCl2 (1st dose 4.6 µg/kg, subsequent doses 0.07 µg/kg/day, i.m.); d) Hydrolysate-Mercury. At the end of the treatment, sperm motility, count and morphological studies were performed; Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant capacity, histological and immunohistochemical assays on testis and epididymis were also carried out. As results, HgCl2-treatment decreased sperm number, increased sperm transit time in epididymis and impaired sperm morphology. However, these harmful effects were prevented by EWH. HgCl2-treatment also increased ROS levels, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity in testis and epididymis as well as promoted testicular inflammation and histological changes in epididymis. EWH improved histological and immunohistochemical alterations, probably due to its antioxidant property. In conclusion, the EWH could represent a powerful natural alternative to protect the male reproductive system against Hg-induced sperm toxicity.

Parenteral nutrition as an unexpected and preventable source of mercury exposure in preterm infants.

Perinatal mercury exposure has neurodevelopmental consequences, which may be worse in preterm infants. In our cohort (N = 60), maternal and infant prenatal exposures were low, but infant levels increased during hospitalization and correlated only with duration of parenteral nutrition. A non-negligible exposure resulted from the nutrition preparation on equipment shared with adult preparations.

'Fishy' make-up on the hook for mercury exposure: a case series / Maquillaje 'sospechoso' de anzuelo para la exposición al mercurio: un estudio de serie de casos

OBJECTIVE: This report examines the source and outcome of four Barbadian women with extremely high hair mercury concentrations (361-5617 ug/g inorganic mercury) due to topical application of mercury containing skin-lightening cosmetics. METHODS: Inorganic hair and urine mercury analysis was done at the toxicological centre laboratory of the Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (Standard Council of Canada accredited). The clinical examinations were performed on location at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital of Barbados. RESULTS: Urine samples [7-135 ug/L, normal < 2 ug/L] revealed elevated mercury concentrations signifying systemic exposure. Reported symptoms during the clinical examination were consistent but nonspecific to chronic mercury exposure. CONCLUSION: Evidently, cosmetics containing dangerous levels of mercury are still available for purchase in Barbados and should be entirely banned.

OBJETIVO: Este reporte examina la fuente y evolución clínica de cuatro mujeres barbadenses con concentraciones de mercurio extremadamente altas (mercurio inorgánico de 361-5617 ug/g) en el pelo debido a la aplicación tópica de cosméticos para el aclaramiento de la piel, que contienen mercurio. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un análisis del mercurio inorgánico en el cabello y la orina, en el laboratorio del centro toxicológico del Institut National de Santé Publique du Quebec (acreditado por el Consejo de Normalización de Canadá). Los exámenes clínicos fueron realizados en el Hospital Queen Elizabeth de Barbados. RESULTADOS: Las muestras de orina [7-135 ug/L, normal < 2 ug/L] revelaron concentraciones elevadas de mercurio, indicando una exposición sistémica. Los síntomas reportados durante el examen clínico se correspondían, aunque no deforma específica, con una exposición crónica al mercurio. CONCLUSIÓN: Evidentemente, cosméticos que contienen niveles peligrosos de mercurio se hallan todavía disponibles a la venta en Barbados, y deben ser totalmente prohibidos.

Intoxicación familiar por mercurio elemental: caso clínico / Family poisoned by elemental mercury: a case report

Introduction: mercury is a heavy metal widely dispersed in nature, occurring in three chemical forms. Exposure to mercury at work sites and even at home may be clinically significant. Objective: to update the knowledge about the risks of this toxic element. Case report: the case of a teenager and his family poisoned by elemental mercury is reported. The diagnostic process was difficult, mainly due to an initial presumption of probable infectious etiology, unavailability of key anamnestic data and unusual clinical behavior, with signs and symptoms of multisystem compromise (neurological, hepatic, renal and dermatological compromise). Discussion: the study was based on literature review of various clinical presentations regarding this poisoning and its management, emphasizing the need for dimercaptosuccinic acid chelator. As a major public health problem, the importance of education and implementation of public policies to have a mercury-free environment is discussed.

Introducción: el mercurio es un metal pesado ampliamente distribuido en el medio ambiente, en sus tres formas químicas. La exposición a dicho metal en recintos laborales e incluso en el hogar, puede llegar a ser clínicamente significativa. Objetivo: actualizar el conocimiento acerca de los riesgos de este tóxico. Caso clínico: se presenta el caso clínico de un adolescente y su familia intoxicados por mercurio elemental, cuyo proceso diagnóstico fue difícil, principalmente por la presunción inicial de una probable etiología infecciosa, falta de disponibilidad de datos anamnésticos claves y el inusual comportamiento clínico, con signos y síntomas de compromiso multisistémico (neurológico, hepático, renal y dermatológico). Discusión: se revisa la literatura en relación a las diversas formas de presentación clínica de esta intoxicación y su manejo, destacando la utilidad del quelante ácido dimercaptosuccínico. Por ser un importante problema de salud pública, se destaca la trascendencia de la educación e implementación de políticas públicas por un ambiente libre de mercurio.

Mercury exposure among household users and nonusers of skin-lightening creams produced in Mexico - California and Virginia, 2010.

Mercury exposure has been reported among users of skin-lightening creams produced outside the United States but not among nonusers in their households. Mercury exposure can result in irreversible renal and central nervous system damage or death. In March 2010, coordinators of a health study notified members of a Mexican-American family in California with four study participants that they had elevated blood mercury levels and also notified the local health department, which in turn asked the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to investigate. CDPH interviewed the four study participants and a fifth household member and identified unlabeled skin-lightening creams with mercury content measured at 2.0%-5.7% by weight as the likely source of mercury exposure. CDPH also interviewed friends of the study participants in California who had used similar skin-lightening products, and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) interviewed relatives in that state who had used skin-lightening products. In all, investigators in the two states collected information and urine specimens for 22 persons in five households. The results indicated that 15 persons had elevated urinary mercury concentrations, including nine users of the cream (six with nonspecific symptoms) and six nonusers. Mercury vapor concentrations as high as 50 µg/m3 were measured in spot household locations; however, the overall concentration for each room in all five households was <1.0 µg/m3, considered a safe level. Both health departments advised users and the public to stop using these creams and issued clinical health alerts notifying physicians about this potential cause of mercury toxicity.

Assessment of mercury in muscle of fish from Cartagena Bay, a tropical estuary at the north of Colombia.

Fish belonging to several trophic levels from Cartagena Bay, a tropical estuary, were collected and analyzed for total mercury (T-Hg) concentrations in muscle. T-Hg concentrations varied from 0.010-0.526 microg/g, and the overall average was 0.051 +/- 0.002 microg/g. Carnivorous species presented the highest T-Hg mean value (0.100 +/- 0.006 microg/g), followed by omnivorous (0.076 +/- 0.014 microg/g) and detritivorous (0.028 +/- 0.001 microg/g). The relationships between weight and T-Hg content were found for the carnivorous species Sciades herzbergi (r = 0.508, p < 0.001) and not for the detritivorous Mugil incilis (r = 0.086, p = 0.207). Although results suggest fish from the bay pose a low health threat for humans in terms of Hg exposure, vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, should avoid eating large size carnivorous species. Knowledge about species with low Hg content should be widespread within fishing communities, guaranteeing adequate nutrition by including fish in the diet and reducing the risk of Hg poisoning.

Feeding mice with diets containing mercury-contaminated fish flesh from French Guiana: a model for the mercurial intoxication of the Wayana Amerindians.

BACKGROUND: In 2005, 84% of Wayana Amerindians living in the upper marshes of the Maroni River in French Guiana presented a hair mercury concentration exceeding the limit set up by the World Health Organization (10 microg/g). To determine whether this mercurial contamination was harmful, mice have been fed diets prepared by incorporation of mercury-polluted fish from French Guiana. METHODS: Four diets containing 0, 0.1, 1, and 7.5% fish flesh, representing 0, 5, 62, and 520 ng methylmercury per g, respectively, were given to four groups of mice for a month. The lowest fish regimen led to a mercurial contamination pressure of 1 ng mercury per day per g of body weight, which is precisely that affecting the Wayana Amerindians. RESULTS: The expression of several genes was modified with mercury intoxication in liver, kidneys, and hippocampus, even at the lowest tested fish regimen. A net genetic response could be observed for mercury concentrations accumulated within tissues as weak as 0.15 ppm in the liver, 1.4 ppm in the kidneys, and 0.4 ppm in the hippocampus. This last value is in the range of the mercury concentrations found in the brains of chronically exposed patients in the Minamata region or in brains from heavy fish consumers. Mitochondrial respiratory rates showed a 35-40% decrease in respiration for the three contaminated mice groups. In the muscles of mice fed the lightest fish-containing diet, cytochrome c oxidase activity was decreased to 45% of that of the control muscles. When mice behavior was assessed in a cross maze, those fed the lowest and mid-level fish-containing diets developed higher anxiety state behaviors compared to mice fed with control diet. CONCLUSION: We conclude that a vegetarian diet containing as little as 0.1% of mercury-contaminated fish is able to trigger in mice, after only one month of exposure, disorders presenting all the hallmarks of mercurial contamination.

Human mercury exposure and adverse health effects in the Amazon: a review.

This paper examines issues of human mercury (Hg) exposure and adverse health effects throughout the Amazon region. An extensive review was conducted using bibliographic indexes as well as secondary sources. There are several sources of Hg (mining, deforestation, reservoirs), and exposure takes place through inhalation or from fish consumption. There is a wide range of exposure, with mean hair-Hg levels above 15 microg/g in several Amazonian communities, placing them among the highest reported levels in the world today. Dietary Hg intake has been estimated in the vicinity of 1-2 microg/kg/day, considerably higher than the USEPA RfD of 0.1 microg/kg/day or the World Health Organization recommendation of 0.23 microg/kg/day. Neurobehavioral deficits and, in some cases, clinical signs have been reported both for adults and children in relation to Hg exposure in several Amazonian countries. There is also some evidence of cytogenetic damage, immune alterations, and cardiovascular toxicity. Since fish provide a highly nutritious food source, there is an urgent need to find realistic and feasible solutions that will reduce exposure and toxic risk, while maintaining healthy traditional dietary habits and preserving this unique biodiversity.

Human mercury exposure and adverse health effects in the Amazon: a review / Exposição humana ao mercúrio e efeitos adversos à saúde na Amazônia: uma revisão

This paper examines issues of human mercury (Hg) exposure and adverse health effects throughout the Amazon region. An extensive review was conducted using bibliographic indexes as well as secondary sources. There are several sources of Hg (mining, deforestation, reservoirs), and exposure takes place through inhalation or from fish consumption. There is a wide range of exposure, with mean hair-Hg levels above 15µg/g in several Amazonian communities, placing them among the highest reported levels in the world today. Dietary Hg intake has been estimated in the vicinity of 1-2µg/kg/day, considerably higher than the USEPA RfD of 0.1µg/kg/day or the World Health Organization recommendation of 0.23µg/kg/day. Neurobehavioral deficits and, in some cases, clinical signs have been reported both for adults and children in relation to Hg exposure in several Amazonian countries. There is also some evidence of cytogenetic damage, immune alterations, and cardiovascular toxicity. Since fish provide a highly nutritious food source, there is an urgent need to find realistic and feasible solutions that will reduce exposure and toxic risk, while maintaining healthy traditional dietary habits and preserving this unique biodiversity.

Este artigo examina questões sobre exposição humana ao mercúrio (Hg) e seus efeitos adversos à saúde na Amazônia, com base em extensa revisão da literatura. Diferentes bioindicadores revelam uma ampla faixa de exposição, com teores médios de Hg em cabelo acima de 15µg/g em diversas comunidades amazônicas, situando-as dentre as mais expostas no mundo atualmente. Taxas de ingestão diária de Hg foram estimadas em alguns estudos e situam-se entre 1-2µg/kg/dia, consideravelmente acima das doses de referência estabelecidas pela USEPA (0,1µg/kg/dia) ou pela OMS (0,23µg/kg/dia). Déficits neurocomportamentais e, em alguns casos, sinais clínicos relacionados à exposição mercurial têm sido relatados tanto em adultos quanto em crianças de diversos países amazônicos. Há também evidências de dano citogenético, mudanças imunológicas e toxicidade cardiovascular. Visto que peixe é altamente nutritivo e há diversas fontes de Hg nesta região, existe uma necessidade urgente de encontrar soluções realistas e viáveis capazes de reduzir os níveis de exposição e de risco tóxico, ao mesmo tempo mantendo os hábitos alimentares tradicionais, preservando a biodiversidade píscea e frutífera e melhorando a saúde das populações desfavorecidas e afetadas.

Total mercury in sharks along the southern Brazilian Coast / Mercúrio total em tubarões capturados na costa brasileira

Pesquisou-se a concentração de mercúrio total na porção muscular de 39 exemplares de tubarões de três diferentes espécies Prionace glauca, Isurus oxyrhynchus, Sphyrna zygaena, capturados na costa sul do Brasil, Santa Catarina. O teor de mercúrio foi determinado por espectrofotometria de absorção atômica por vapor frio. Observou-se ampla variação na concentração de mercúrio total com valor individual máximo excedendo o limite estabelecido pela legislação brasileira, de 1.0µg.g-1 em um exemplar fêmea de P. glauca. Nessa espécie, a concentração de Hg-total aumentou proporcionalmente ao comprimento total (r=0,62; P<0,0001). Não foi evidenciada diferença estatisticamente significativa entre exemplares fêmeas e machos

Total mercury in sharks along the southern Brazilian Coast / Mercúrio total em tubarões capturados na costa brasileira

Pesquisou-se a concentração de mercúrio total na porção muscular de 39 exemplares de tubarões de três diferentes espécies Prionace glauca, Isurus oxyrhynchus, Sphyrna zygaena, capturados na costa sul do Brasil, Santa Catarina. O teor de mercúrio foi determinado por espectrofotometria de absorção atômica por vapor frio. Observou-se ampla variação na concentração de mercúrio total com valor individual máximo excedendo o limite estabelecido pela legislação brasileira, de 1.0µg.g-1 em um exemplar fêmea de P. glauca. Nessa espécie, a concentração de Hg-total aumentou proporcionalmente ao comprimento total (r=0,62; P<0,0001). Não foi evidenciada diferença estatisticamente significativa entre exemplares fêmeas e machos(AU)

Airborne total gaseous mercury and exposure in a Venezuelan mining area.

This paper presents a short-term monitoring study of total gaseous mercury (TGM) in air, and exposure to airborne mercury. The evaluation was carried out in polluted mining sites (El Callao, Venezuela), where for decades mercury has been used in diverse stages of gold mining activities. The contamination is mainly due to emission of Hg0 during gold amalgamation and burning, which can cause direct human health risks. Total gaseous mercury (TGM) in air was analysed in mill, jewellery and indoor house sites, and at different heights (height profiles near the surface) at polluted and not polluted sites. Mercury concentration in air was measured with a portable mercury analyser (Lumex Ra-915+). Time weighted average mercury (TWA) was calculated for the evaluation of mercury exposure. TWA values ranged between 0.28 microg m(-3) and >100 microg m(-3). These measurements were done during sunny and dry days. In the case of mills and gold workshops, the values were over the limit recommended by the World Health Organization to exposure (25 microg m(-3)) and NIOSH limit (50 microg m(-3)). Indoors in a house, the air Hg average value was 2.58 microg m(-3) exceeding EPA (0.3 microg m(-3)) and ATSDR (1 microg m(-3)) guidelines. The mercury concentration at different height profiles, varied between 1766 microg m(-3) and 0.014 microg m(-3). Mercury height profiles were described by a power function model of the form c(Hg) = ah(-b), where a parameter describes the magnitude of Hg emission. For polluted sites there was a significant correlation between a and Hg in soil or Hg emission from soil to air, while b is only significantly correlated with air temperature. An air and soil mercury measurement transect was carried out at a mill site up to a distance of 1000 m, and it was observed that the air mercury concentration decreases with increasing distance from the mill site, and inversely to Hg soil content.

Antioxidants and metallothionein levels in mercury-treated mice.

Acute effects of mercury on mouse blood, kidneys, and liver were evaluated. Mice received a single dose of mercuric chloride (HgCl2, 4.6 mg/kg, subcutaneously) for three consecutive days. We investigated the possible beneficial effects of antioxidant therapy (N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)2) compared with the sodium salt of 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS), an effective chelating agent in HgCl2 exposure in mice. We also verified whether metallothionein (MT) induction might be involved in a possible mechanism of protection against HgCl2 poisoning and whether different treatments would modify MT levels and other toxicological parameters. The results demonstrated that HgCl2 exposure significantly inhibited delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (delta-ALA-D) activity in liver and only DMPS treatment prevented the inhibitory effect. Mercuric chloride caused an increase in renal non-protein thiol groups (NPSH) and none of the treatments modified renal NPSH levels. Urea concentration was increased after HgCl2 exposure. NAC plus (PhSe)2 was partially effective in protecting against the effects of mercury. DMPS and (PhSe)2 were effective in restoring the increment in urea concentration caused by mercury. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities and ascorbic acid levels were not modified after mercury exposure. Mercuric chloride poisoning caused an increase in hepatic and renal MT levels and antioxidant treatments did not modify this parameter. Our data indicated a lack of therapeutic effect of the antioxidants tested.

Subcutaneous injection of mercury: "warding off evil".

Deliberate injection of mercury, especially subcutaneous injection, is rare but is seen in psychiatric patients, individuals who attempt suicide, those who are accidentally injected, and boxers who wish to build muscle bulk. Metallic mercury plays a major role in ethnic folk medicine. Neurologic and renal complications can result from high systemic levels of mercury, and subcutaneous injection usually results in sterile abscesses. Urgent surgical evacuation and close monitoring for neurologic and renal functions as well as chelation (if toxicity is indicated) are key aspects of treatment. Education of the adverse effects and dangers of mercury is important, especially in pregnant women and children. As increased immigration changes demographic patterns, proper disposal of mercury and preventing its sale and use should become urgent societal priorities. Psychiatric consultation should be obtained whenever appropriate.