Male cerebral palsy hospitalization as a potential indicator of neurological effects of methylmercury exposure in Great Lakes communities.
Perinatal exposure to methylmercury is known to result in severe neurological effects on the developing fetus and infant, including cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and seizures. Males are more susceptible than females to neurological damage from perinatal methylmercury exposures. Preliminary analyses of data and statistics for the hospitalization rates of males for cerebral palsy in the 17 Canadian Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes basin indicate a possible geographic association with locations with elevated mercury from natural or industrial sources.
Gilbertson
Michael
M
Great Lakes Regional Office, International Joint Commission, 8th Floor, 100 Ouellette Avenue, Windsor, Ont., N9A 6T3 Canada. gilbertsonm@windsor.ijc.org
D002170:Canada; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006114:Great Lakes Region; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012737:Sex Factors
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds