AI Article Synopsis
- Recent investigations reveal that consuming traditional Tibetan medicines (TTMs), fish, and rice significantly contributes to methylmercury exposure among Tibetans, putting them at risk similar to coastal regions.
- Younger and wealthier individuals in Tibet may experience higher levels of exposure due to economic growth and cultural exchanges, making it crucial for at-risk populations to be cautious about their consumption of TTMs and fish.
Article Abstract
Methylmercury presents potent neurotoxicity to humans. Fish consumption is the leading source of human exposure to methylmercury worldwide. However, the exposure source in Tibet remains poorly understood because of the scarcity of observational data on most Tibetan foods, although high mercury levels were recently detected in some traditional Tibetan medicines. Here, the results of field investigations show that the joint consumption of traditional Tibetan medicines (TTMs), fish, and rice constitutes a primary exposure pathway to methylmercury in Tibetans and that the probable daily intake of methylmercury is close to that for many coastal regions. People who are young and high-income may have higher methylmercury exposure levels mainly because of economic development and cultural exchanges among regions. Our analysis indicates that a large proportion of the Tibetan population are likely to face a high methylmercury exposure risk and that mercury-susceptible populations in Tibet should be attentive to consuming TTMs with fish.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00128-021-03216-5 | DOI Listing |
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Article Synopsis
- Minamata disease is a severe neurological disorder caused by methylmercury (MeHg) poisoning, identified in Japan in 1956, and previously thought to be linked to elevated selenium (Se) levels in patients.
- Research showed both mercury and selenium were present in historical samples from Minamata Bay, indicating that Se also contaminated the area and accumulated in patients' organs.
- The study's findings, including high Hg/Se molar ratios in brain tissue, help explain the neurological damage seen in patients and emphasize the dangers of consuming MeHg-contaminated seafood.
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