Elsevier

Neurotoxicology and Teratology

Volume 19, Issue 6, November–December 1997, Pages 417-428
Neurotoxicology and Teratology

Articles
Cognitive Deficit in 7-Year-Old Children with Prenatal Exposure to Methylmercury

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0892-0362(97)00097-4Get rights and content
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Abstract

A cohort of 1022 consecutive singleton births was generated during 1986–1987 in the Faroe Islands. Increased methylmercury exposure from maternal consumption of pilot whale meat was indicated by mercury concentrations in cord blood and maternal hair. At approximately 7 years of age, 917 of the children underwent detailed neurobehavioral examination. Neuropsychological tests included Finger Tapping; Hand–Eye Coordination; reaction time on a Continuous Performance Test; Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised Digit Spans, Similarities, and Block Designs; Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test; Boston Naming Test; and California Verbal Learning Test (Children). Clinical examination and neurophysiological testing did not reveal any clear-cut mercury-related abnormalities. However, mercury-related neuropsychological dysfunctions were most pronounced in the domains of language, attention, and memory, and to a lesser extent in visuospatial and motor functions. These associations remained after adjustment for covariates and after exclusion of children with maternal hair mercury concentrations above 10 μg/g (50 nmol/g). The effects on brain function associated with prenatal methylmercury exposure therefore appear widespread, and early dysfunction is detectable at exposure levels currently considered safe.

Keywords

Environmental pollution
Food contamination
Methylmercury compounds
Neuropsychological tests
Prenatal exposure delayed effects
Preschool child

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