Delayed brainstem auditory evoked potential latencies in 14-year-old children exposed to methylmercury

Objective To determine possible exposure-associated delays in auditory brainstem evoked potential latencies as an objective measure of neurobehavioral toxicity in 14-year-old children with developmental exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) from seafood. Study design Prospective study of a birth cohort i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of Pediatrics
Main Authors: Murata, Katsuyuki, Weihe, Pál, Budtz-Jørgensen, Esben, Jørgensen, Poul J., Grandjean, Philippe
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2004
Subjects:
BAEP
Benchmark dose
Benchmark dose level
Benchmark response
BMD
BMDL
BMR
Brainstem auditory evoked potential
MeHg
Methylmercury
National Research Council
NRC
PCB
Polychlorinated biphenyl
Faroe Islands
Online Access:https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/delayed-brainstem-auditory-evoked-potential-latencies-in-14yearold-children-exposed-to-methylmercury(77964435-c37b-4b81-b464-551aae628680).html
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2003.10.059
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1542287427&partnerID=8YFLogxK
Description
Summary:Objective To determine possible exposure-associated delays in auditory brainstem evoked potential latencies as an objective measure of neurobehavioral toxicity in 14-year-old children with developmental exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) from seafood. Study design Prospective study of a birth cohort in the Faroe Islands, where 878 of eligible children (87%) were examined at age 14 years. Latencies of brainstem evoked potential peaks I, III, and V at 20 and 40 Hz constituted the outcome variables. Mercury concentrations were determined in cord blood and maternal hair, and in the child's hair at ages 7 and 14. Results Latencies of peaks III and V increased by about 0.012 ms when the cord blood mercury concentration doubled. As seen at age 7 years, this effect appeared mainly within the I-III interpeak interval. Despite lower postnatal exposures, the child's hair mercury level at age 14 years was associated with prolonged III-V interpeak latencies. All benchmark dose results were similar to those obtained for dose-response relationships at age 7 years. Conclusions The persistence of prolonged I-III interpeak intervals indicates that some neurotoxic effects from intrauterine MeHg exposure are irreversible. A change in vulnerability to MeHg toxicity is suggested by the apparent sensitivity of the peak III-V component to recent MeHg exposure.

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