Open AccessTotal Mercury Content in Hair and Neurologic Signs
Author(s) -
Takashi Yorifuji,
Toshihide Tsuda,
Soshi Takao,
Etsuji Suzuki,
Mine Harada
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.901
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1531-5487
pISSN - 1044-3983
DOI - 10.1097/ede.0b013e318190e73f
Subject(s) - methylmercury , medicine , mercury (programming language) , confidence interval , odds ratio , population , veterinary medicine , toxicology , environmental health , biology , ecology , bioaccumulation , computer science , programming language
Large-scale methylmercury poisonings have occurred in Japan (Minamata and Niigata) and in Iraq. The current WHO threshold for adult exposure (hair level: 50 microg/g) was based on evidence from Niigata, which included only acute and severe cases. That study leaves open the possibility of more subtle effects at lower exposure levels.