Johan Ohlander1, Stella Maria Huber1, Michael Schomaker2, Christian Heumann3, Rudolf Schierl1, Bernhard Michalke4, Oskar G Jenni5, Jon Caflisch5, Daniel Moraga Muñoz6,7, Ondine S von Ehrenstein8, Katja Radon1. 1. a Center for International Health Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) at the Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine , University Hospital Munich (LMU) , Munich , Germany. 2. b Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa. 3. c Department for Statistics , Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich , Munich , Germany. 4. d Research Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry , Helmholtz Center Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health GmbH , Neuherberg , Germany. 5. e Department of Pediatrics, Child Development Center , University Children's Hospital Zürich , Zürich , Switzerland. 6. f Facultad de Medicina , Universidad Diego Portales , Santiago , Chile. 7. g Past staff of Facultad de Medicina, Latin American Center of the Center for International Health Ludwig-Maximilians-University , Universidad Católica del Norte , Coquimbo , Chile. 8. h Department of Community Health Sciences , University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mercury (Hg) exposure from artisanal gold mining has adverse effects on the neuromotor function in adults. However, few studies have examined this relationship in children. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of Hg exposure on children's neuromotor function. METHODS: Cross-sectional data on Hg risk factors and demographics were collected from n = 288 children (response = 68.9%). Based on complete cases (CCs) (n = 130) and multiple imputations (n = 288), associations between fingernail Hg and four different neuromotor function components were calculated using multiple logistic regression adjusted for confounders. RESULTS: Of the children, 11.1, 14.9, 63.9, and 10.4% had pathologic pure motor skills, adaptive fine motor skills, adaptive gross motor skills, and static balance, respectively. No significant association between fingernail Hg and any neuromotor component was found. However, Hg burning in the household was significantly associated with children's pathologic pure motor skills (OR 3.07 95% CI 1.03-9.18). CONCLUSION: Elemental Hg exposure in the household might have adverse long-term effects on children's pure motor skills.
BACKGROUND:Mercury (Hg) exposure from artisanal gold mining has adverse effects on the neuromotor function in adults. However, few studies have examined this relationship in children. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of Hg exposure on children's neuromotor function. METHODS: Cross-sectional data on Hg risk factors and demographics were collected from n = 288 children (response = 68.9%). Based on complete cases (CCs) (n = 130) and multiple imputations (n = 288), associations between fingernail Hg and four different neuromotor function components were calculated using multiple logistic regression adjusted for confounders. RESULTS: Of the children, 11.1, 14.9, 63.9, and 10.4% had pathologic pure motor skills, adaptive fine motor skills, adaptive gross motor skills, and static balance, respectively. No significant association between fingernail Hg and any neuromotor component was found. However, Hg burning in the household was significantly associated with children's pathologic pure motor skills (OR 3.07 95% CI 1.03-9.18). CONCLUSION: Elemental Hg exposure in the household might have adverse long-term effects on children's pure motor skills.
Authors: David C Bellinger; Felicia Trachtenberg; Lars Barregard; Mary Tavares; Elsa Cernichiari; David Daniel; Sonja McKinlay Journal: JAMA Date: 2006-04-19 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Johan Ohlander; Stella Maria Huber; Michael Schomaker; Christian Heumann; Rudolf Schierl; Bernhard Michalke; Oskar G Jenni; Jon Caflisch; Daniel Moraga Muñoz; Ondine S von Ehrenstein; Katja Radon Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-11-20 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Chao-Yu Shen; Jun-Cheng Weng; Jeng-Dau Tsai; Pen-Hua Su; Ming-Chih Chou; Shu-Li Wang Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-04-30 Impact factor: 3.390