Cassio Dos Santos-Lima1, Dennys de Souza Mourão2, Chrissie Ferreira de Carvalho3, Breno Souza-Marques4, Cláudia M Vega5, Rodrigo Araújo Gonçalves6, Nayara Argollo7, José Antonio Menezes-Filho8, Neander Abreu9, Sandra de Souza Hacon10. 1. Clinical and Cognitive Neuropsychology Research Laboratory, Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil; Graduate Program in Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil. Electronic address: cassio.lima@ufba.br. 2. Graduate Program in Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Espírito Santo, Brazil. 3. Clinical and Cognitive Neuropsychology Research Laboratory, Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil; Department of Psychology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina, Brazil. 4. Clinical and Cognitive Neuropsychology Research Laboratory, Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil; Graduate Program in Medicine and Health, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil. 5. Graduate Program in Public Health and Environment, National School of Public Health Sergio Arouca, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Center for Amazonian Scientific Innovation, Wake Forest University, Madre de Dios, Peru. 6. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 7. Department of Pediatry, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil. 8. Graduate Program in Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil. 9. Clinical and Cognitive Neuropsychology Research Laboratory, Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil; Graduate Program in Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil. 10. Graduate Program in Public Health and Environment, National School of Public Health Sergio Arouca, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies with children exposed to methylmercury (MeHg) through fish consumption in the Brazilian Amazon region report that the high levels of hair Hg are associated with significant decreases in intelligence, memory, attention, and visuospatial processing. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between mercury exposure and neuropsychological functions in riverside communities of the Brazilian Amazon. METHOD: 263 participants aged 6 to 14 years old were assessed, from resettlement regions, near the Madeira river, Rondônia, Brazil. To assess the neuropsychological functions we used the following instruments: intelligence (WASI), working memory (Corsi Block-Tapping Task and Digit Span), verbal fluency (Word Generation - NEPSY II), inhibitory control (Inhibition Errors - NEPSY II), shifting (Trail Making Test) and manual motor dexterity (Grooved PegBoard Test). Socioeconomic status was obtained through household surveys. Total Hg levels were quantified hair samples (Total HgH) collected from the occipital region of the scalp and analyzed by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. RESULTS: The group in the upper quartile of Total HgH levels presented lower scores on the tasks that assessed estimated IQ, visuospatial working memory, semantic knowledge and phonological verbal fluency, when compared to the group in the lower quartile level. A regression analysis controlled for age, sex, and maternal education showed that for each increase of 10 μg/g of Total HgH, there was a decrease around half standard deviation in Verbal IQ, estimated IQ scores, semantic knowledge, phonological verbal fluency and for verbal and visuospatial working memory. CONCLUSIONS: High concentrations of Total Hg in hair were associated with a lower performance in neuropsychological functions tests. The results show that environmental exposure to Hg is associated to children and adolescents' lower neuropsychological performance in the riverine and resettled areas of the Brazilian Amazon region.
BACKGROUND: Studies with children exposed to methylmercury (MeHg) through fish consumption in the Brazilian Amazon region report that the high levels of hair Hg are associated with significant decreases in intelligence, memory, attention, and visuospatial processing. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between mercury exposure and neuropsychological functions in riverside communities of the Brazilian Amazon. METHOD: 263 participants aged 6 to 14 years old were assessed, from resettlement regions, near the Madeira river, Rondônia, Brazil. To assess the neuropsychological functions we used the following instruments: intelligence (WASI), working memory (Corsi Block-Tapping Task and Digit Span), verbal fluency (Word Generation - NEPSY II), inhibitory control (Inhibition Errors - NEPSY II), shifting (Trail Making Test) and manual motor dexterity (Grooved PegBoard Test). Socioeconomic status was obtained through household surveys. Total Hg levels were quantified hair samples (Total HgH) collected from the occipital region of the scalp and analyzed by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. RESULTS: The group in the upper quartile of Total HgH levels presented lower scores on the tasks that assessed estimated IQ, visuospatial working memory, semantic knowledge and phonological verbal fluency, when compared to the group in the lower quartile level. A regression analysis controlled for age, sex, and maternal education showed that for each increase of 10 μg/g of Total HgH, there was a decrease around half standard deviation in Verbal IQ, estimated IQ scores, semantic knowledge, phonological verbal fluency and for verbal and visuospatial working memory. CONCLUSIONS: High concentrations of Total Hg in hair were associated with a lower performance in neuropsychological functions tests. The results show that environmental exposure to Hg is associated to children and adolescents' lower neuropsychological performance in the riverine and resettled areas of the Brazilian Amazon region.
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