title: Economic evaluation of health consequences of prenatal methylmercury exposure in France.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence of a dose-response relationship between prenatal exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) and neurodevelopmental consequences in terms of IQ reduction, makes it possible to evaluate the economic consequences of MeHg exposures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To perform an economic evaluation of annual national benefits of reduction of the prenatal MeHg exposure in France.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data on hair-Hg concentrations in French women of childbearing age (18-45 years) from a national sample of 126 women and from two studies conducted in coastal regions (n = 161and n = 503). A linear dose response function with a slope of 0.465 IQ point reduction per μg/g increase in hair-Hg concentration was used, along with a log transformation of the exposure scale, where a doubling of exposure was associated with a loss of 1.5 IQ points. The costs calculations utilized an updated estimate of €2008 17,363 per IQ point decrement, with three hypothetical exposure cut-off points (hair-Hg of 0.58, 1.0, and 2.5 μg/g).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Because of higher exposure levels of women in coastal communities, the annual economic impacts based on these data were greater than those using the national data, i.e., € 1.62 billion (national), and € 3.02 billion and € 2.51 billion (regional), respectively, with the linear model, and € 5.46 billion (national), and € 9.13 billion and € 8.17 billion (regional), with the log model, for exposures above 0.58 μg/g.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results emphasize that efforts to reduce MeHg exposures would have high social benefits by preventing the serious and lifelong consequences of neurodevelopmental deficits in children.
authors.affiliation: EHESP School of Public Health, Rennes Cedex 35043, France. celine.pichery@ehesp.fr
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pichery
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellanger
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zmirou-Navier
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fréry
authors.forename: Sylvaine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cordier
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roue-Legall
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hartemann
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grandjean
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004467:Economics; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000191:economics*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000187:drug effects; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds