Cytogenetic damage related to low levels of methyl mercury contamination in the Brazilian Amazon
The mercury rejected in the water system, from mining operations and lixiviation of soils after deforestation, is considered to be the main contributors to the contamination of the ecosystem in the Amazon Basin. The objectives of the present study were to examine cytogenetic functions in peripheral...
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Academia Brasileira de Ciências
2000-12-01
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doaj-970dab3bbe1543a180c1f690faef68e42020-11-25T00:46:50ZengAcademia Brasileira de CiênciasAnais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências0001-37651678-26902000-12-0172449750710.1590/S0001-37652000000400004Cytogenetic damage related to low levels of methyl mercury contamination in the Brazilian AmazonMARÚCIA I. M. AMORIMDONNA MERGLERMARCELO O. BAHIAHÉLÈNE DUBEAUDANIELA MIRANDAJEAN LEBELROMMEL R. BURBANOMARC LUCOTTEThe mercury rejected in the water system, from mining operations and lixiviation of soils after deforestation, is considered to be the main contributors to the contamination of the ecosystem in the Amazon Basin. The objectives of the present study were to examine cytogenetic functions in peripheral lymphocytes within a population living on the banks of the Tapajós River with respect to methylmercury (MeHg) contamination, using hair mercury as a biological indicator of exposure. Our investigation shows a clear relation between methylmercury contamination and cytogenetic damage in lymphocytes at levels well below 50 micrograms/gram, the level at which initial clinical signs and symptoms of mercury poisoning occur. The first apparent biological effect with increasing MeHg hair level was the impairment of lymphocyte proliferation measured as mitotic index (MI). The relation between mercury concentration in hair and MI suggests that this parameter, an indicator of changes in lymphocytes and their ability to respond to culture conditions, may be an early marker of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in humans and should be taken into account in the preliminary evaluation of the risks to populations exposed in vivo. This is the first report showing clear cytotoxic effects of long-term exposure to MeHg. Although the results strongly suggest that, under the conditions examined here, MeHg is both a spindle poison and a clastogen, the biological significance of these observations are as yet unknown. A long-term follow-up of these subjects should be undertaken.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0001-37652000000400004Brazilian AmazonMercuryMitotic IndexCytogenetics |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
MARÚCIA I. M. AMORIM DONNA MERGLER MARCELO O. BAHIA HÉLÈNE DUBEAU DANIELA MIRANDA JEAN LEBEL ROMMEL R. BURBANO MARC LUCOTTE |
spellingShingle |
MARÚCIA I. M. AMORIM DONNA MERGLER MARCELO O. BAHIA HÉLÈNE DUBEAU DANIELA MIRANDA JEAN LEBEL ROMMEL R. BURBANO MARC LUCOTTE Cytogenetic damage related to low levels of methyl mercury contamination in the Brazilian Amazon Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências Brazilian Amazon Mercury Mitotic Index Cytogenetics |
author_facet |
MARÚCIA I. M. AMORIM DONNA MERGLER MARCELO O. BAHIA HÉLÈNE DUBEAU DANIELA MIRANDA JEAN LEBEL ROMMEL R. BURBANO MARC LUCOTTE |
author_sort |
MARÚCIA I. M. AMORIM |
title |
Cytogenetic damage related to low levels of methyl mercury contamination in the Brazilian Amazon |
title_short |
Cytogenetic damage related to low levels of methyl mercury contamination in the Brazilian Amazon |
title_full |
Cytogenetic damage related to low levels of methyl mercury contamination in the Brazilian Amazon |
title_fullStr |
Cytogenetic damage related to low levels of methyl mercury contamination in the Brazilian Amazon |
title_full_unstemmed |
Cytogenetic damage related to low levels of methyl mercury contamination in the Brazilian Amazon |
title_sort |
cytogenetic damage related to low levels of methyl mercury contamination in the brazilian amazon |
publisher |
Academia Brasileira de Ciências |
series |
Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências |
issn |
0001-3765 1678-2690 |
publishDate |
2000-12-01 |
description |
The mercury rejected in the water system, from mining operations and lixiviation of soils after deforestation, is considered to be the main contributors to the contamination of the ecosystem in the Amazon Basin. The objectives of the present study were to examine cytogenetic functions in peripheral lymphocytes within a population living on the banks of the Tapajós River with respect to methylmercury (MeHg) contamination, using hair mercury as a biological indicator of exposure. Our investigation shows a clear relation between methylmercury contamination and cytogenetic damage in lymphocytes at levels well below 50 micrograms/gram, the level at which initial clinical signs and symptoms of mercury poisoning occur. The first apparent biological effect with increasing MeHg hair level was the impairment of lymphocyte proliferation measured as mitotic index (MI). The relation between mercury concentration in hair and MI suggests that this parameter, an indicator of changes in lymphocytes and their ability to respond to culture conditions, may be an early marker of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in humans and should be taken into account in the preliminary evaluation of the risks to populations exposed in vivo. This is the first report showing clear cytotoxic effects of long-term exposure to MeHg. Although the results strongly suggest that, under the conditions examined here, MeHg is both a spindle poison and a clastogen, the biological significance of these observations are as yet unknown. A long-term follow-up of these subjects should be undertaken. |
topic |
Brazilian Amazon Mercury Mitotic Index Cytogenetics |
url |
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0001-37652000000400004 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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