Prenatal Methylmercury Exposure From Ocean Fish Consumption in the Seychelles Child Development Study

The Scientific Paper:

G. J. Myers, P. W. Davidson, C. Cox, C. F. Shamlaye, D. Palumbo, E. Cernichiari, J. Sloan-Reeves, G. E. Wilding, J. Kost, L. S. Huang, and T. W. Clarkson. The Lancet. Vol. 361, I. 9370, pp.1686-1710. 2003.

Review This Scientific Paper’s Abstract:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=
PubMed&list_uids=12767734&dopt=Citation

The Purpose of this Study:
These scientists investigated whether there are identifiable bad effects on the development of human brains and/or nervous systems in children in a population of ocean fish-eating mothers.

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

• This peer-reviewed, scientific paper was published in 2003.
• These scientists investigated 779 mother-infant pairs who lived in the Republic of Seychelles. These particular mothers reported eating ocean fish an average of 12 meals each week.
• Ocean fish caught locally in the Seychelles contain much the same methylmercury levels as do commercial ocean fish elsewhere.
• Methylmercury exposure in the womb was measured by measuring the methylmercury in the mothers’ hair that grew during this pregnancy.
• These scientists measured several areas of each child’s development including language, memory, motor, perceptual-motor, and behavioral functions in 9-year-old children.
• Increased methylmercury exposure was associated with decreased performance in one scientific test, but was also associated with some improved scores on yet another scientific test.

A Bottom Line:
In 2003, there was no known risk to the developing brains and/or nervous systems in children exposed to methylmercury in the womb because their mothers ate certain types of ocean fish.

Find This Scientific Paper for Your Review:
Prenatal Methylmercury Exposure From Ocean Fish Consumption in the Seychelles Child Development Study. The Lancet. Vol. 361, I. 9370, pp.1686-1710. 2003.