Hearing thresholds in children exposed to mercury in the prenatal period.

Purpose: To evaluate hearing thresholds in children with a history of exposure to mercury during the prenatal period.

Methods: Participants were 90 children of both genders with ages from 8 to 10 years, divided into two groups according to prenatal mercury exposure levels. The study group was composed by 57 children who had mercury levels in the umbilical cord equal or above 8 µg/L, and the comparison group comprised 33 children who had mercury levels in the umbilical cord below 8 µg/L.

Longitudinal assessment of mercury exposure in schoolchildren in an urban area of the Brazilian Amazon.

This study was a longitudinal assessment of mercury exposure in schoolchildren in an urban area of the Brazilian Amazon. The study population consisted of 90 children whose exposure levels were assessed by testing mercury levels in the umbilical cord blood and mothers' blood samples in 2000-2001, and in the children's hair and blood samples. The study also used a questionnaire on demographic and socioeconomic data, fish consumption, and self-reported disease history.

Evaluation of central auditory processing in adolescents exposed to metallic mercury.

Background: central auditory processing and exposure to metallic mercury.

Aim: to evaluate the performance on tests of central auditory processing in adolescents exposed to metallic mercury.

Method: participants were 52 adolescents, of both genders, who presented hearing thresholds within normal limits.