Abstract

LEON PEREZ, Daniel Esteban  and  PENUELA MESA, Gustavo Antonio. Transcendence of methylmercury in the environment, in food and human health. Rev. P+L [online]. 2011, vol.6, n.2, pp.108-116. ISSN 1909-0455.

Exposition to mercury is a growing peril for health worldwide. Recent studies show that the exposition to this metal can occur in the environment, and in labor or domestic places. Children and pregnant women are particularly more vulnerable to mercury intoxication. Effects such as deterioration of the central nervous system and lungs or kidneys damages, among others, have been demonstrated. The organic speciation of this metal is considered as even more toxic that its basic form, and methylmercury is the most common exposition source,, because the consumption of contaminated food,, especially fish. This compound is very toxic given its accumulation in the nervous system's tissues, so, as an intoxication cause, it has become a public health problem many decades ago. Population in general is exposed to this contamination through consuming contaminated fish and other foods. Recent studies have reported high methylmnercury contents in rice from contaminated areas, for instance. The main sources of mercury in the environment are anthropogenic, and they are due to the wrong use of this metal by people. Mercury is emitted to environment by gold miners, fossil fuel consumers and, in a lower proportion, industries. When mercury goes back to the environment, speciation processes take place due to bacteria, that turn it into organic compounds like the methylmercury mentioned before, and phenomena such as bioaccumulation and biomagnifications occur in food chains. This essay informs about the evident problem this compound brings to the environment and its possible effects on human health.

Keywords : mercury; methylmercury; fish; gold mining; speciation; toxicology.

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