Artigo Revisado por pares

Neurotoxic mechanisms of fish-borne methylmercury

2002; Elsevier BV; Volume: 12; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s1382-6689(02)00028-5

ISSN

1872-7077

Autores

Michael Aschner,

Tópico(s)

Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

Resumo

Methylmercury (MeHg) epidemics and studies in fish-eating populations have provided invaluable insights into the neurotoxic sequelae of MeHg exposure. MeHg is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, and its accumulation in the food chain will continue to pose health risks given anthropogenic and natural contamination. This review briefly addresses recent epidemiological data associated with exposure to MeHg in fish-eating populations, identifies mechanisms of MeHg transport into the central nervous system (CNS), and discusses various theories on cellular processes afflicted by MeHg, which most certainly include astrocytic failure to maintain the composition of the extracellular fluid.

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