title: Mercury levels assessment and its relationship with oxidative stress biomarkers in children from three localities in Yucatan, Mexico.
abstract: Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that is released into the environment from geologic and anthropogenic sources. Once it enters an organism, it generates several toxicity mechanisms and oxidative stress has been proposed as the main one. Metal susceptibility is greater in children, which is a result of their physiology and behavior. In Yucatan, Mexico, burning of unregulated garbage dumps and household trash, ingestion of top marine predators, and pottery manufacturing are among the conditions that could promote Hg exposure. However, for Yucatan, there are no published studies that report Hg levels and associated oxidative stress status in children. Therefore, this study aimed to assess Hg levels in blood and urine and oxidative stress biomarkers levels in a sample of 107 healthy children from three localities in Yucatan, Mexico, as well as investigate the relationship between these parameters. Hg was detected in 11 (10.28%) of blood samples and 38 (35.51%) of urine samples collected from the participating children. Fourteen subjects showed Hg above recommended levels. The oxidative stress biomarkers were slightly elevated in comparison with other studies and were statistically different between the sampling sites. No linear correlation between Hg levels and oxidative stress biomarkers was found. Nevertheless, exploratory univariate and multivariate analysis showed non-linear relations among the measured variables. Globally, the study provides, for the first time, information regarding Hg levels and their relationship with oxidative stress biomarkers in a juvenile population from Mexico's southeast (Yucatan) region. In agreement with worldwide concern about Hg, this study should stimulate studies on metal monitoring in humans (especially children) among scientists working in Mexico, the establishment of polices for its regulation, and the reduction of human health risks.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación Médica Yucatán, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Centro Médico Ignacio García Téllez, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Calle 41 No. 439, Col. Industrial, Mérida, Yucatán 97150, Mexico; Unidad de Química Sisal, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo S/N, Sisal 97355, Yucatán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rangel-Méndez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Química Sisal, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo S/N, Sisal 97355, Yucatán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Flor E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Arcega-Cabrera
authors.affiliation: Ecología Humana, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN-Unidad Mérida, Km 6 antigua carretera a Progreso, Mérida, Yucatán 97310, Mexico.
authors.forename: Lane F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Fargher
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación Médica Yucatán, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Centro Médico Ignacio García Téllez, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Calle 41 No. 439, Col. Industrial, Mérida, Yucatán 97150, Mexico. Electronic address: moopuc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rosa E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Moo-Puc
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism*; D008800:Mexico; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008628:Mercury
keywords: GSH; MDA; Mercury; Multivariate analysis; Oxidative stress; PON-1