title: [Methylmercury exposure in the general population; toxicokinetics; differences by gender, nutritional and genetic factors].
abstract: Mercury is an environmental toxicant that causes numerous adverse effects on human health and natural ecosystems. The factors that determine the existance of adverse effects, as well as their severity are, among others: the chemical form of mercury (elemental, inorganic, organic), dosis, age, period of exposure, pathways of exposure and environmental, nutritional and genetic factors. In the aquatic cycle of mercury, once it has been deposited, it is transformed into methylmercury due to the action of certain sulphate-reducing bacteria, which bioaccumulates in the aquatic organisms and moves into the food chain. The methylmercury content of large, long-lived fish such as swordfish, shark, tuna or marlin, is higher. Methylmercury binds to protein in fish and is therefore not eliminated by cleaning or cooking the fish. Fetuses and small children are more vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of methylmercury from the consumption of contaminated fish. Methylmercury is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and crosses the blood-brain barrier and the placenta. The intake of certain dietary components such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, selenium, fiber, thiol compounds, certain phytochemicals and other nutrients can modify methylmercury bioaccesibility and its toxicity. Apart from environmental factors, genetic factors can influence mercury toxicity and explain part of the individual vulnerability.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IdISSC). Madrid. España.. montse@cmpx.net.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Estecha
authors.affiliation: Asociación de Educación para la Salud (ADEPS)..
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bodas-Pinedo
authors.affiliation: Sociedad Española de Sanidad Ambiental (SESA)..
authors.forename: José Jesús
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Guillén-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Sociedad Española de Endocrinología y Nutrición (SEEN)..
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Rubio-Herrera
authors.affiliation: Sociedad Española de Salud Pública y Administración Sanitaria (SESPAS)..
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ordóñez-Iriarte
authors.affiliation: Sociedad Española de Bioquímica Clínica y Patología Molecular (SEQC)..
authors.forename: Elena M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Trasobares-Iglesias
authors.affiliation: Sociedad Española de Hipertensión-Liga Española para la Lucha contra la Hipertensión Arterial (SEH-LELHA)..
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martell-Claros
authors.affiliation: Sociedad Española de Dietética y Ciencias de la Alimentación (SEDCA)..
authors.forename: Jesús Román
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Martínez-Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Federación Española de Sociedades de Nutrición, Alimentación y Dietética (FESNAD)..
authors.forename: Rosaura
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farré-Rovira
authors.affiliation: Sociedad Española de Ginecología y Obstetricia. Sección de Medicina Perinatal (SEMEPE-SEGO)..
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Herráiz-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Sociedad Española de Ginecología y Obstetricia. Sección de Medicina Perinatal (SEMEPE-SEGO)..
authors.forename: Txantón
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martínez-Astorquiza
authors.affiliation: Sociedad de Medicina Interna de Madrid- Castilla la Mancha (SOMIMACA)..
authors.forename: Elpidio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calvo-Manuel
authors.affiliation: Asociación de Educación para la Salud (ADEPS)..
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sáinz-Martín
authors.affiliation: Sociedad Española de Endocrinología y Nutrición (SEEN)..
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bretón-Lesmes
authors.affiliation: Asociación Española de Biopatología Médica (AEBM)..
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prieto-Menchero
authors.affiliation: Sociedad Española de Bioquímica Clínica y Patología Molecular (SEQC)..
authors.forename: M Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Llorente-Ballesteros
authors.affiliation: Sociedad Española de Sanidad Ambiental (SESA)..
authors.forename: M José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Martínez-García
authors.affiliation: Federación Española de Sociedades de Nutrición, Alimentación y Dietética (FESNAD)..
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salas-Salvadó
authors.affiliation: Sociedad Española de Bioquímica Clínica y Patología Molecular (SEQC)..
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bermejo-Barrera
authors.affiliation: Sociedad Española de Hipertensión-Liga Española para la Lucha contra la Hipertensión Arterial (SEH-LELHA)..
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: García-Donaire
authors.affiliation: Asociación Española de Biopatología Médica (AEBM)..
authors.forename: M Ángeles
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Cuadrado-Cenzual
authors.affiliation: Asociación de Educación para la Salud (ADEPS)..
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallardo-Pino
authors.affiliation: Sociedad Española de Dietética y Ciencias de la Alimentación (SEDCA)..
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moreno-Rojas
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IdISSC). Madrid. España..
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arroyo-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IdISSC). Madrid. España..
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calle-Pascual
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D017747:Seafood; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D066007:Toxicokinetics
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D008628:Mercury