Delayed brainstem auditory evoked potential latencies in 14-year-old children exposed to methylmercury
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Pediatrics |
Volume | 144 |
Issue number | 2 |
Pages (from-to) | 177-183 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISSN | 0022-3476 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2004 |
- BAEP, Benchmark dose, Benchmark dose level, Benchmark response, BMD, BMDL, BMR, Brainstem auditory evoked potential, MeHg, Methylmercury, National Research Council, NRC, PCB, Polychlorinated biphenyl
Research areas
ID: 250815571