Mercury and the central nervous system. (Correspondence).The toxicity of mercury described in the table in "Environmental Aftermath" (1) in EHP EHP abbr. 1. effective horsepower 2. electric horsepower [109:A530 (2001)] needs clarification. In the table, mercury is cited as damaging only the peripheral nervous system peripheral nervous system: see nervous system. . Of much greater public health concern, however, are the toxic effects of mercury to the central nervous system (CNS See Continuous net settlement. CNS See continuous net settlement (CNS). ). Organic mercurials, particularly methyl mercury, preferentially accumulate within cerebellar cerebellar /cer·e·bel·lar/ (ser?e-bel´ar) pertaining to the cerebellum. Cerebellar Involving the part of the brain (cerebellum), which controls walking, balance, and coordination. neurons of the CNS and, in significant concentrations, can thereby affect motor function and coordination, particularly in the fetus. Elemental mercury, the form found in thermometers and precision instruments, as cited in the table, is preferentially distributed as mercury vapor to centers of the CNS that affect cognitive function cognitive function Neurology Any mental process that involves symbolic operations–eg, perception, memory, creation of imagery, and thinking; CFs encompasses awareness and capacity for judgment (personality and behavior) rather than those that control motor function. These are the effects of predominant public health concern associated with mercury exposure from environmental sources. This clarification may be of interest to those concerned about mercury exposure associated with the World Trade Center site. James S. Woods School of Public Health and Community Medicine University of Washington Seattle, Washington E-mail: jwoods@u.washington.edu REFERENCES AND NOTES (1.) Claudio L. Environmental aftermath. Environ Health Perspect 109:529-536 (2001). |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion