Environmental pollution challenges public health surveillance: the case of mercury exposure and intoxication in Brazil.

Pollution, causing millions of deaths annually, disproportionally affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Mercury ranks among the three main chemicals of major public health concern, and even low levels can cause cardiovascular and nervous outcomes, with children and indigenous populations being especially vulnerable. Nearly 80% of all emissions in South America originate from the Amazon.

Methylmercury neurotoxicity: Beyond the neurocentric view.

Mercury is a highly toxic metal widely used in human activities worldwide, therefore considered a global public health problem. Many cases of mercury intoxication have occurred in history and represent a huge challenge nowadays. Of particular importance is its methylated form, methylmercury (MeHg).

Revisiting Genetic Influence on Mercury Exposure and Intoxication in Humans: A Scoping Review.

Human intoxication to mercury is a worldwide health problem. In addition to the type and length of exposure, the genetic background plays an important role in mercury poisoning. However, reviews on the genetic influence in mercury toxicity are scarce and not systematic.

What We Know about Genus and Neuroprotection: A Scoping Review.

The genus (mainly Martius, Martius, and Martius) has recently gained commercial and scientific notoriety due to the high nutritional value of its fruits, which are rich in polyphenols (phenolic acids and anthocyanins) and have potent antioxidant activity. These characteristics have contributed to the increased number of neuropharmacological evaluations of the three species over the last 10 years, especially açaí of the species Martius. The fruits of the three species exert neuroprotective effects through the modulation of inflammatory and oxidative pathways and other mechanisms, including the inhibition of the mTOR pathway and protection of the blood-brain barrier, all of them intimately involved in several neuropathologies.

Hair mercury is associated with dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk: An anthropometric, biochemical and genetic cross-sectional study of Amazonian vulnerable populations.

This cross-sectional study evaluated the association between human exposure to mercury and cardiovascular risk using lipid profile (including apolipoproteins) and genetic analysis of Amazonian riverine population. Anthropometric data (gender, age, height, weight, blood pressure, and neck and waist circumferences) of the participants were recorded. Total mercury and methylmercury (MeHg) content were quantified in hair by ICP-MS and GC-pyro-AFS system.

Mercury in the Amazon: The danger of a single story.

Amazon conservation is essential for the global future. Mercury is currently among the worst global pollutants and most (78.5%) of the South-American emissions are from the Amazon.

Global Human Threat: The Potential Synergism between Mercury Intoxication and COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected billions of people worldwide, and exposure to toxic metals has emerged as an important risk factor for COVID-19 severity. Mercury is currently ranked as the third toxic substance of global concern for human health, and its emissions to the atmosphere have increased globally. Both COVID-19 and mercury exposure present a high prevalence in similar regions: East and Southeast Asia, South America and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Caffeine intoxication: Behavioral and electrocorticographic patterns in Wistar rats.

Caffeine is a psychoactive substance used worldwide. The present study analyzes the seizure-related behavior and electrocorticographic (ECoG) patterns observed in rats following of a toxic dose of caffeine (150 mg/kg; intraperitoneal). Sixty-three rats were divided into three experiments: 1-Behavior's Description associated with caffeine-induced convulsion; 2- Comparison of the electrocorticographic patterns induced by caffeine and pentylenetetrazole, and 3- Assessment of the electrocorticographic response to antiepileptic drugs (diazepam, phenytoin, and phenobarbital).

Are Dental Caries Associated with Oxidative Stress in Saliva in Children and Adolescents? A Systematic Review.

This systematic review aimed to assess whether dental caries is associated with oxidative salivary stress. The searches were carried out in electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, LILACS, OpenGrey, and Google Scholar, without restrictions on the date of publication and language. The acronym PECO was used, in which the participants (P) were children and adolescents exposed (E) to dental caries compared (C) to those without dental caries, with the outcome (O) of modulation of oxidative biochemical parameters.

Deciphering the Global Proteomic Profile Involved in Methylmercury-Induced Cerebellar Neurodegeneration and Motor Dysfunction in Adult Rats.

Mercury is a ubiquitous pollutant in the environment with potential neurotoxic effects. Several populations are susceptible to mercurial exposure, especially methylmercury (MeHg) at low doses for long periods through food consumption. Given this, the present work aimed to assess the effects of long-term MeHg exposure on the cerebellum of rats from a translational perspective using a representative dose, assessing molecular, biochemical, morphological, and behavioral parameters.

In utero and lactational exposure to methylmercury elicits physical-chemical and morphological damages in the alveolar bone of offspring rats: The first toxicological findings.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is the most common organic form of mercury (Hg) that humans are exposed and is considered an environmental pollutant. Several populations that live in endemic regions of MeHg exposure are subject to the toxicant for long periods, including pregnant women and children, causing damage to several organs during early periods of development. Alveolar bone is an essential structure for the oral cavity, responsible for supporting teeth and masticatory forces.

Neurotoxicity and the Global Worst Pollutants: Astroglial Involvement in Arsenic, Lead, and Mercury Intoxication.

Environmental pollution is a global threat and represents a strong risk factor for human health. It is estimated that pollution causes about 9 million premature deaths every year. Pollutants that can cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the central nervous system are of special concern, because of their potential to cause neurological and development disorders.

Toxicogenomics and Molecular Markers in Pollution.

Pollution is defined as the presence in or introduction of a substance into the environment that has harmful or poisonous effects [...

The GABAergic System and Endocannabinoids in Epilepsy and Seizures: What Can We Expect from Plant Oils?

Seizures and epilepsy are some of the most common serious neurological disorders, with approximately 80% of patients living in developing/underdeveloped countries. However, about one in three patients do not respond to currently available pharmacological treatments, indicating the need for research into new anticonvulsant drugs (ACDs). The GABAergic system is the main inhibitory system of the brain and has a central role in seizures and the screening of new ACD candidates.

Methylmercury Causes Neurodegeneration and Downregulation of Myelin Basic Protein in the Spinal Cord of Offspring Rats after Maternal Exposure.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is one of the most dangerous toxic pollutants spread throughout the earth. Chronic MeHg intoxication by contaminated food ingestion is the most common threat to human health, including impairment to the developing fetus. The present study aims at investigating the effects of maternal exposure to MeHg during gestation and lactation on the spinal cord of offspring.

Methylmercury exposure during prenatal and postnatal neurodevelopment promotes oxidative stress associated with motor and cognitive damages in rats: an environmental-experimental toxicology study.

The environmental contamination by methylmercury (MeHg) is a major concern for public health. The effects of MeHg in the central nervous system (CNS) of adult animals have been extensively investigated; however, little is known about the effects of MeHg exposure during intrauterine and lactation periods on motor and cognitive functions of adolescent rats. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of MeHg exposure during intrauterine life and lactation on both motor and cognitive functions of offspring rats.

Salivary Glands after Prolonged Aluminum Exposure: Proteomic Approach Underlying Biochemical and Morphological Impairments in Rats.

Aluminum (Al) is one of the most abundant elements on Earth, and its high extraction rate and industrial use make human exposure very common. As Al may be a human toxicant, it is important to investigate the effects of Al exposure, mainly at low doses and for prolonged periods, by simulating human exposure. This work aimed to study the effects of low-dose exposure to chloride aluminum (AlCl) on the oxidative biochemistry, proteomic profile, and morphology of the major salivary glands.

DNA Damage and Proteomic Profile Changes in Rat Salivary Glands After Chronic Exposure to Inorganic Mercury.

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal that became a public health problem due to environmental contamination caused by anthropogenic activity. In this sense, oral homeostasis can undergo changes due to the toxic effects of metal on the salivary glands. Therefore, our objective was to investigate the proteomic and genotoxic changes in salivary glands after exposure to inorganic mercury (IHg).

From Molecules to Behavior in Long-Term Inorganic Mercury Intoxication: Unraveling Proteomic Features in Cerebellar Neurodegeneration of Rats.

Mercury is a severe environmental pollutant with neurotoxic effects, especially when exposed for long periods. Although there are several evidences regarding mercury toxicity, little is known about inorganic mercury (IHg) species and cerebellum, one of the main targets of mercury associated with the neurological symptomatology of mercurial poisoning. Besides that, the global proteomic profile assessment is a valuable tool to screen possible biomarkers and elucidate molecular targets of mercury neurotoxicity; however, the literature is still scarce.

A systematic review of the mental health risks and resilience among pollution-exposed adolescents.

Pollution is harmful to human physical health and wellbeing. What is less well established is the relationship between adolescent mental health - a growing public health concern - and pollution. In response, we systematically reviewed studies documenting associations between pollution and mental health in adolescents.

Maternal methylmercury exposure changes the proteomic profile of the offspring's salivary glands: Prospects on translational toxicology.

Background: Methylmercury (MeHg) remains a public health issue since developing organisms are particularly vulnerable to this environmental contaminant. This study investigated the effect of maternal MeHg exposure on the modulation of proteomic profile of parotid (PA), submandibular (SM), and sublingual (SL) glands of offspring rats.

Materials And Methods: Pregnant Wistar rats were daily exposed to 40 μg/kg MeHg during both gestational and lactation periods.