title: Benchmark dose calculations of methylmercury-associated neurobehavioural deficits.
abstract: Prenatal methylmercury exposure is associated with neuropsychological deficits in Faroese children at age 7 years. Lower confidence bounds of benchmark doses (BMDLs) have now been calculated. With the cord-blood mercury concentration as the dose parameter, a logarithmic dose-response model tended to show a better fit than a linear dose model for the attention, language and verbal memory tests. The lowest BMDLs averaged approximately 5 microgram/l cord blood, which corresponds to a maternal hair concentration of approximately 1 microgram/g. However, most BMDLs for hair mercury concentrations were higher. Thus, the results of the benchmark calculations depend on the assumed dose-response model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Budtz-Jorgensen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grandjean
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Keiding
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weihe
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D003718:Denmark; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011581:Psychological Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds