Human exposure to mercury: A critical assessment of the evidence of adverse health effects

摘要: The ubiquitous nature of mercury in the environment, its global atmospheric cycling, and toxicity to humans at levels that are uncomfortably close exposures experienced by a proportion population some current concerns associated with this pollutant. purpose review is critically evaluate scientific quality published reports involving human health outcomes as an aid risk evaluation chemical. A comprehensive literature was performed each publication evaluated using defined set criteria considered standards epidemiologic toxicologic research. Severe, sometimes fatal, effects exposure high were primarily reported case studies. disasters Minamata, Japan, 1950s Iraq 1971-1972 clearly demonstrated neurologic ingestion methylmercury both adults infants exposed utero. convincingly ingestion, despite limitations study design. Several well-conducted studies have investigated below those incident but not provided clear evidence effect. lower end dose-response curve constructed from data therefore still needs be confirmed. workplace mainly elemental or inorganic mercury, observed relatively low renal. dental amalgam been rated inconclusive because methodologic deficiencies. In our overall evaluation, 29 110 occupational 20 54 where occurred natural environment least suggestive exposure-related