Effects of Prenatal and Postnatal Methylmercury Exposure From Fish Consumption on Neurodevelopment: Outcomes at 66 Months of Age in the Seychelles Child Development Study

The Scientific Paper:

P. W. Davidson, G. J. Myers, C. Cox, C. Axtell, C. Shamlaye, J. Sloane-Reeves, E. Cernichiari, L. Needham, A. Choi, Y. Wang, M. Berlin, and T. W. Clarkson. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Aug; Vol. 280 (No. 8): pp 701-7. 1998.

Review This Scientific Paper’s Abstract:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=
9728641&dopt=Abstract

The Purpose of this Study:
To study the association between methylmercury exposure and the mental development of Republic of Seychelles, 66 months-old children.

Some Background, Methods, Results, Caveats, and Other Select Points:

• This peer-reviewed, scientific paper was published in 1998.
• These scientists studied 711 of 779 mother-child pairs initially enrolled in the Seychelles Child Development Study in 1989.
• The scientists studied methylmercury exposure in these particular children both in and out of the womb - plus the results of six, age-appropriate, mental development tests for children.
• These scientists found no bad effects caused by methylmercury exposure either in or out of the womb in these 66 months-old children.

A Bottom Line:
Although these mothers and their children both eat a lot of ocean fish, it does not appear to cause any harm in these Seychelles Island children when they reach 66 months of age.

Find This Scientific Paper for Your Review:
Effects of Prenatal and Postnatal Methylmercury Exposure From Fish Consumption on Neurodevelopment: Outcomes at 66 Months of Age in the Seychelles Child Development Study. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Aug; Vol. 280 (No. 8): pp 701-7. 1998.