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Papers by Donna Mergler
Environmental Health
Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) takes place under extreme conditions with a lack of occupa... more Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) takes place under extreme conditions with a lack of occupational health and safety. As the demand for metals is increasing due in part to their extensive use in ‘green technologies’ for climate change mitigation, the negative environmental and occupational consequences of mining practices are disproportionately felt in low- and middle-income countries. The Collegium Ramazzini statement on ASM presents updated information on its neglected health hazards that include multiple toxic hazards, most notably mercury, lead, cyanide, arsenic, cadmium, and cobalt, as well as physical hazards, most notably airborne dust and noise, and the high risk of infectious diseases. These hazards affect both miners and mining communities as working and living spaces are rarely separated. The impact on children and women is often severe, including hazardous exposures during the child-bearing age and pregnancies, and the risk of child labor. We suggest strategies for ...
Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2020
Objectives Anemia and iron deficiency (ID) are frequent among Indigenous children of Canada, but ... more Objectives Anemia and iron deficiency (ID) are frequent among Indigenous children of Canada, but few data are available in Quebec. The present study aimed to characterize anemia and ID prevalence and associated protective and risk factors among First Nations youth in Quebec. Methods The 2015 First Nations (JES!-YEH!) pilot study was conducted among children and adolescents (3 to 19 years; n = 198) from four First Nations communities in Quebec. Blood and urine samples and anthropometric measurements were collected. Hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), plasma hs-CRP, and urinary cotinine levels were measured. Factors associated with anemia and ID (including traditional and market food consumption) were assessed using an interview-administered food frequency questionnaire, based on which nutritional intakes were calculated. Structural equation models were used to test associations. Results The prevalence of anemia and ID was elevated (16.8% and 20.5% respectively). Traditional meat, f...
Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 2015
Placenta, 2014
hydrocarbon antagonist did not prevent these modifications. BaP treatment induced an activation o... more hydrocarbon antagonist did not prevent these modifications. BaP treatment induced an activation of the cAMP-PKA pathway. Conclusion: We have clearly demonstrated a placental uptake of BaP during pregnancy. We characterized the BaP toxicity on primary cultures of human trophoblasts and the impact of its exposure on cell fusion and differentiation.
Neurotoxicology
Excessive manganese (Mn) has been associated with neurobehavioral deficits and neurological and/o... more Excessive manganese (Mn) has been associated with neurobehavioral deficits and neurological and/or neuropsychiatric illness, but the level at which this metal can cause adverse neurotoxic effects, particularly with long-term exposure, is still unknown. The objective of the present study was to assess nervous system functions in residents exposed to manganese from a variety of environmental sources. A random stratified sampling procedure was used to select participants; persons with a history of workplace exposure to Mn and other neurotoxic substances were excluded. A self-administered questionnaire provided data on socio-demographic variables. Blood samples were analyzed for total manganese (MnB), lead, mercury and serum iron. Nervous system assessment included computer and hand-administered neurobehavioral tests, computerized neuromotor tests, sensory evaluation and a neurological examination. The present analyses include 273 persons (151 women and 122 men); MnB range: 2.5 microgra...
Revue d'épidémiologie et de santé publique, 1995
The relationship between organic solvent exposure and central nervous disorders make early detect... more The relationship between organic solvent exposure and central nervous disorders make early detection of neurophysiologic et neuropsychologic alterations in organic solvent exposed workers a priority. Moreover, the variability in the frequency of exposure and the numerous organic solvents encountered in scientific laboratories render the environmental and biological measurements used in medical surveys almost impossible. The present study was undertaken to appreciate the potential neurotoxic effects of organic solvents handling in laboratory employees. Neurophysiological and neuropsychological tests batteries were used with each worker and data were adjusted for potential confounding factors (age and education level). A Principal Components Analysis were performed to reduce the information and the first five factors corresponded to: mood states, speed coding, contrast vision in high frequencies, manual dexterity and contrast vision in low frequencies. These five factors were compared...
Neurotoxicology, 1994
Psychological, and psychophysiological sequelae were studied in a community which had experienced... more Psychological, and psychophysiological sequelae were studied in a community which had experienced a railroad chemical spill of 19,000 gallons of the toxic pesticide metam sodium. Information was collected on 350 persons living in the area of the spill (spill residents) and 114 nonexposed controls, recruited using a randomized sampling strategy, from a nearby similar, but unexposed control town. Psychological measures used were the MMPI-2, POMS, IES Scale, Environmental Worry, Perceived Social Support and Perceived Control Scale. Physiological measurements were two measurements of blood pressure, pulse, and salivary cortisol level, taken both at the beginning and the conclusion of the study. Demographic and medical information was asked in a Questionnaire. Results indicate greater levels of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms in the spill residents in addition to greater environmental worry and lower perceived social support. Spill odor perception was related to increased psych...
Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association, 1987
Recent studies have shown that women factory workers report more health symptoms than men. Report... more Recent studies have shown that women factory workers report more health symptoms than men. Reporting of health symptoms by 661 workers at nine poultry slaughterhouses in Québec was examined to determine whether this difference has its origins in sex-specific working conditions. More women than men report that their jobs involve standing still, repetitive movements, and a very rapid work rate. While women workers reported more health symptoms, these symptoms primarily affected the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, and were related to ergonomic and organizational job characteristics. Reported symptom levels were in closer agreement for subsamples of women and men with similar working conditions. This study demonstrates the importance of considering environmental, organizational, and ergonomic conditions at the work station as constituents of a microenvironment in order to understand the complex determinants of health symptoms associated with work in female employment ghettos.
Managing for Healthy Ecosystems, 2002
Donna Mergler INTRODUCTION The ecosystem approach to human health is an innovative concept that i... more Donna Mergler INTRODUCTION The ecosystem approach to human health is an innovative concept that incorporates humanhealth into the dynamic interrelations of ecosystem analyses. In this approach, humans are notsolely the drivers and disrupters of the ecosystem or the passive victims of environmentaldestruction, but are in continuous interaction with changing environmental, social, and eco-nomic conditions. In this dynamic process, ecosystem changes, resulting from human inter-ventions (mining, agriculture, urbanization, etc.), driven by the need for subsistence or theforces of economic development, affect current and future well-being, not only of the present,but also for coming generations. Human health and well-being are, in turn, determinants ofsocial, economic and cultural development. Appropriately applied to environmental and healthimpact studies, the ecosystem approach can be a useful tool toward attaining sustainable andequitable development.Human health deterioration and its consequences for the quality of life are most often omittedfrom environmental and cost-benefit impact studies. Here, we propose a means of integrating humanhealth into the ecosystem analysis, using mining activities as an example. Four major issues, keysto the understanding of the relation between mining and human health, are examined: (1) miners’health; (2) a framework for focusing on the impact of mining development and activities on humanhealth; (3) a model for examining human health deterioration; and (4), the notion of fragileecosystem, using the example of gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon. MINERS’ HEALTH The extraction and transformation of minerals and quarrying are almost as old as civilization,and so are the accidents and diseases that have afflicted those who are engaged in these activities.In ancient Greece, in the 4th Century B.C., Hippocrates described illness among lead miners(Landrigan et al., 1990). Five hundred years later, Pliny the Elder called lead poisoning “one ofthe diseases of slaves” and described a bladder-derived protective mask to be used by laborerssubjected to large amounts of dust or lead fumes (Hamilton, 1943).
NeuroToxicology, 2012
Although males and females differ both biologically and in their social and power relations throu... more Although males and females differ both biologically and in their social and power relations throughout their life span, research in environmental and occupational neurotoxicology often ignore sex and/or gender as a characteristic that requires in-depth consideration. The neurotoxicology literature continues to confuse the terms sex (biological attributes) and gender (socially constructed roles and behavior) and the words are still used interchangeably. Throughout the lifespan, sex and gender are in interaction and both may play a role in influencing exposure and effect. Studies that have examined both males and females, provide evidence for sex differences in toxicokinetics and responses to neurotoxic assault as well as gender differences in exposure patterns, biomarkers of exposure, neurobehavioral performance and social consequences. Integrating sex and gender considerations into research in neurotoxicology would not only provide us with a better understanding of the mechanisms and pathways that lead to toxic assault, but also provide a means to improve preventive intervention strategies.
NeuroToxicology, 2003
Several studies have demonstrated neurobehavioral impairment related to manganese (Mn) exposure i... more Several studies have demonstrated neurobehavioral impairment related to manganese (Mn) exposure in the workplace. Exposure to high doses of manganese is associated with irreversible neurodegenerative disorders resembling idiopathic Parkinson disease. Although there is a risk of Mn accumulation in the foetus during pregnancy, little information exists about developmental effects of environmental low-level exposure in human. For this reason, we conducted a prospective epidemiological study in 247 healthy pregnant women and their babies to determine the long-term effect of in utero Mn levels on child's psychomotor development. Concurrently, we examined the relationship between Mn tissue levels at delivery and foetal plasma monoamine metabolites. Of the newborns, 195 were examined at 9 months, 126 at 3 years and 100 at 6 years. At 9 months, the Brunet-Lézine scales were administered. The McCarthy scales of children's abilities were used at 3 and 6 years. After adjustment for potential confounding co-factors (child's gender, mother's educational level), negative relationships were observed between cord blood Mn levels and several psychomotor sub-scales at age of 3 years: "attention" (partial r=-0.33, P<0.001), "non-verbal memory" (partial r=-0.28, P<0.01), and "hand skills" (partial r=-0.22, P<0.05). No significant relationships were observed between Mn measures at birth and the general psychomotor indices, Brunet-Lézine developmental quotient (DQ) at 9 months or McCarthy general cognitive index (GCI) at 3 and 6 years. Maternal blood Mn levels were negatively associated with foetal plasma HVA and 5-HIAA concentrations (adjusted for labour duration, child's gender, and smoking during pregnancy), but the adjustment for monoamine levels at birth did not change the association between the Mn levels and the psychomotor scores. These results suggest that environmental Mn exposure in utero could affect early psychomotor development.
Journal of Great Lakes Research, 2013
3 fatty acids Lake trout Whitefish Great Lakes PCBs Fish are an excellent source of lean protein ... more 3 fatty acids Lake trout Whitefish Great Lakes PCBs Fish are an excellent source of lean protein and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) but there is inadequate information on the levels of PUFAs in freshwater fish and specifically Great Lakes fish. Knowledge of PUFAs is necessary to make informed decisions regarding the balance between the benefits of fish consumption due to these factors versus risks of adverse health effects associated with elevated levels of contaminants known to be present in some Great Lakes fish and linked to increased risk of cancer and adverse neurological effects to both infants and adults. Our goal was to determine the lipid profiles in two species of Great Lakes fish, lake trout and whitefish. Total fat and the percentage of total and omega-3 PUFAs were with one exception significantly higher in lake trout than whitefish. Average concentrations of EPA+DHA were 11.2 and 9.7 g/100 g lipid in lake trout and whitefish, respectively. The concentrations of EPA+DHA in fatty marine fish (22.7, 23.9 and 30.2 g/100 g lipid, respectively) are about double those found in Great Lakes lake trout and whitefish. Nevertheless a 100 g serving of Great Lakes lake trout provides more than 500 mg of EPA+DHA, which is the daily intake level recommended by the American Dietetics Association for the prevention of coronary heart disease.
Environmental Health Perspectives, 2010
Acknowledgments: The Canadian Institutes for Health Research provided the funding (NRF-82899), as... more Acknowledgments: The Canadian Institutes for Health Research provided the funding (NRF-82899), as well as a fellowship to Maryse Bouchard. We wish to acknowledge the participants who kindly gave their time to help us carry out the study. We have no financial interests to declare.
Environmental health, May 31, 2024
Background Since the 1960's, mercury (Hg) contamination of the aquatic environment of Asubpeescho... more Background Since the 1960's, mercury (Hg) contamination of the aquatic environment of Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) territories has impacted the community members' traditions, culture, livelihood, diet and health. Despite decreasing Hg exposure over time, a recent study suggested that long-term exposure contributed to later-life symptom clusters of nervous system dysfunction. Here, the objective was to evaluate, 5 years later, the prevalence and progression of these symptoms and examine the contribution of long-term, past Hg exposure. Methods The symptom questionnaire, applied in the 2016/17 Grassy Narrows Community Health Assessment (GN-CHA) (Time 1), was re-administered in the 2021/22 Niibin study (Time 2). A total of 85 adults (median age: 47y; range: 29-75y) responded at both times. Paired statistics were used to test the differences (Time 2-Time 1) in self-reported symptom frequencies. The symptom clustering algorithm, derived from the entire study group of the GN-CHA (n = 391), which had yielded 6 clusters, was applied at Time 1 and 2. Equivalent hair Hg measurements (HHg) between 1970 and 1997 were used in Longitudinal Mixed Effects Models (LMEM), with a subgroup with ≥ 10 repeated HHg mesurements (age > 40y), to examine its associations with symptom cluster scores and their progression. Results For most symptoms, paired analyses (Time 2-Time 1) showed a significant increase in persons reporting " very often" or "all the time", and in the mean Likert scores for younger and older participants (< and ≥ 50y). The increase in cluster scores was not associated with age or sex, except for sensory impairment where a greater increase in symptom frequency was observed for younger persons. LMEM showed that, for the subgroup , long-term past Hg exposure was associated with most cluster scores at both times, and importantly, for all clusters, with their rate of increase over time (Time 2-Time 1). Conclusions The persistence of reported symptoms and their increase in frequency over the short 5-year period underline the need for adequate health care services. Results of the subgroup of persons > 40y, whose HHg reflects exposure over the 28-year sampling period, suggest that there may be a progressive impact of Hg on nervous system dysfunction.
Foram estudadas as concentracoes de mercurio total (Hg), a bioacumulacao e a biomagnificacao dess... more Foram estudadas as concentracoes de mercurio total (Hg), a bioacumulacao e a biomagnificacao desse metal na ictiofauna de tres lagos do rio Tapajos. Alem disso, uma atencao especial foi dada as possiveis variacoes temporal e espacial dos niveis desse metal na ictiofauna. Os resultados provem de duas amostragens correspondentes a cheia (abril-maio/2000) e a enchente do rio (janeiro/2001). A biomagnificacao do Hg na cadeia trofica dos tres lagos foi identificada durante os dois periodos analisados. No periodo das chuvas, 31% dos peixes predadores apresentaram concentracoes superiores ao valor critico de 500 ng/g, contra 28% durante a enchente. Sao raramente observadas correlacoes do tipo linear ou curvilinear positiva entre as concentracoes de Hg do tecido muscular e o comprimento total dos peixes. Varias especies de importância comercial nao apresentaram nenhuma variacao nas concentracoes de Hg com o aumento do comprimento do peixe. Outras correlacoes, do tipo linear negativa e nao l...
Globalization and Health, 2020
English abstract Background Research on changing dietary practices is rare in lower and middle in... more English abstract Background Research on changing dietary practices is rare in lower and middle income countries, and understanding the impact of global economic processes on population health and nutrition is important, especially of rural communities. We analyzed the diet of 22 families in Brasília Legal, a riverside community in the Tapajós River region of the Brazilian Amazon, using nonparametric tests to compare dietary surveys taken in 1999 and 2010. Results Data from the two surveys show that food obtained through commercial supply chains became more frequent in household diets, corresponding to significant increases in daily consumption of food items rich in energy, protein, and sugar. At the same time, there was a decline in traditional Amazonian food intake. Conclusions Comparing these results with household socio-economic characteristics and drawing on open-ended interviews, we consider the multiple influences that economic development processes may have had on local diets...
Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2010
M ilestones in the advancement of public health have often been marked by trenchant observation (... more M ilestones in the advancement of public health have often been marked by trenchant observation (Edward Jenner), application of observationally derived knowledge (John Snow), experimentally derived principles of causation (Robert Koch), new technology (Louis Pasteur) or development of programmatic responses (e.g., smoking bylaws). More subtle milestones have addressed multifactorial and dynamic determinants of health. These developments are especially relevant to populations with broadly "acceptable" water to drink, air to breathe and food to eat, who face the new public health frontier of complex social, economic and environmental interactions, and demand research and action able to engage with real-life, real-time situations. While the separate study of health, economics, ecosystems and society has led to great advances in knowledge, and has also illuminated certain associations critical for population health (for example, poverty-obesity, obesity-diabetes, diabetes-vascular disease, etc.), persistent, interrelated public health challenges demand new approaches. The limits to what can be conceptually and practically achieved by attempting to disaggregate chains of causation between particular influences and the state of a population's health have been reenforced in recent decades. Frustrated by limited efforts to address complex issues such as environmental degradation, sustainability, poverty and chronic illness, scientists, practitioners and policymakers began to encourage integrative science through such mechanisms as the Canadian Tri-council environmental health and sustainability programs of the early 1990s. Subsequently, several lines of exploration have converged into an evolving field of research and practice called ecosystem approaches to health (also known as ecohealth). There is mounting evidence of the effectiveness of these approaches in addressing systemic challenges in population health, particularly among vulnerable populations. The development and application of ecosystem approaches to health has clear relevance to all twelve of the "Great Achievements" outlined by CPHA and warrants designation as a Population and Public Health Research Milestone. The Milestone Ecosystem approaches to health draw upon a variety of paradigms, including complex systems analysis, community engagement, and
Environmental Health
Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) takes place under extreme conditions with a lack of occupa... more Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) takes place under extreme conditions with a lack of occupational health and safety. As the demand for metals is increasing due in part to their extensive use in ‘green technologies’ for climate change mitigation, the negative environmental and occupational consequences of mining practices are disproportionately felt in low- and middle-income countries. The Collegium Ramazzini statement on ASM presents updated information on its neglected health hazards that include multiple toxic hazards, most notably mercury, lead, cyanide, arsenic, cadmium, and cobalt, as well as physical hazards, most notably airborne dust and noise, and the high risk of infectious diseases. These hazards affect both miners and mining communities as working and living spaces are rarely separated. The impact on children and women is often severe, including hazardous exposures during the child-bearing age and pregnancies, and the risk of child labor. We suggest strategies for ...
Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2020
Objectives Anemia and iron deficiency (ID) are frequent among Indigenous children of Canada, but ... more Objectives Anemia and iron deficiency (ID) are frequent among Indigenous children of Canada, but few data are available in Quebec. The present study aimed to characterize anemia and ID prevalence and associated protective and risk factors among First Nations youth in Quebec. Methods The 2015 First Nations (JES!-YEH!) pilot study was conducted among children and adolescents (3 to 19 years; n = 198) from four First Nations communities in Quebec. Blood and urine samples and anthropometric measurements were collected. Hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), plasma hs-CRP, and urinary cotinine levels were measured. Factors associated with anemia and ID (including traditional and market food consumption) were assessed using an interview-administered food frequency questionnaire, based on which nutritional intakes were calculated. Structural equation models were used to test associations. Results The prevalence of anemia and ID was elevated (16.8% and 20.5% respectively). Traditional meat, f...
Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 2015
Placenta, 2014
hydrocarbon antagonist did not prevent these modifications. BaP treatment induced an activation o... more hydrocarbon antagonist did not prevent these modifications. BaP treatment induced an activation of the cAMP-PKA pathway. Conclusion: We have clearly demonstrated a placental uptake of BaP during pregnancy. We characterized the BaP toxicity on primary cultures of human trophoblasts and the impact of its exposure on cell fusion and differentiation.
Neurotoxicology
Excessive manganese (Mn) has been associated with neurobehavioral deficits and neurological and/o... more Excessive manganese (Mn) has been associated with neurobehavioral deficits and neurological and/or neuropsychiatric illness, but the level at which this metal can cause adverse neurotoxic effects, particularly with long-term exposure, is still unknown. The objective of the present study was to assess nervous system functions in residents exposed to manganese from a variety of environmental sources. A random stratified sampling procedure was used to select participants; persons with a history of workplace exposure to Mn and other neurotoxic substances were excluded. A self-administered questionnaire provided data on socio-demographic variables. Blood samples were analyzed for total manganese (MnB), lead, mercury and serum iron. Nervous system assessment included computer and hand-administered neurobehavioral tests, computerized neuromotor tests, sensory evaluation and a neurological examination. The present analyses include 273 persons (151 women and 122 men); MnB range: 2.5 microgra...
Revue d'épidémiologie et de santé publique, 1995
The relationship between organic solvent exposure and central nervous disorders make early detect... more The relationship between organic solvent exposure and central nervous disorders make early detection of neurophysiologic et neuropsychologic alterations in organic solvent exposed workers a priority. Moreover, the variability in the frequency of exposure and the numerous organic solvents encountered in scientific laboratories render the environmental and biological measurements used in medical surveys almost impossible. The present study was undertaken to appreciate the potential neurotoxic effects of organic solvents handling in laboratory employees. Neurophysiological and neuropsychological tests batteries were used with each worker and data were adjusted for potential confounding factors (age and education level). A Principal Components Analysis were performed to reduce the information and the first five factors corresponded to: mood states, speed coding, contrast vision in high frequencies, manual dexterity and contrast vision in low frequencies. These five factors were compared...
Neurotoxicology, 1994
Psychological, and psychophysiological sequelae were studied in a community which had experienced... more Psychological, and psychophysiological sequelae were studied in a community which had experienced a railroad chemical spill of 19,000 gallons of the toxic pesticide metam sodium. Information was collected on 350 persons living in the area of the spill (spill residents) and 114 nonexposed controls, recruited using a randomized sampling strategy, from a nearby similar, but unexposed control town. Psychological measures used were the MMPI-2, POMS, IES Scale, Environmental Worry, Perceived Social Support and Perceived Control Scale. Physiological measurements were two measurements of blood pressure, pulse, and salivary cortisol level, taken both at the beginning and the conclusion of the study. Demographic and medical information was asked in a Questionnaire. Results indicate greater levels of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms in the spill residents in addition to greater environmental worry and lower perceived social support. Spill odor perception was related to increased psych...
Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association, 1987
Recent studies have shown that women factory workers report more health symptoms than men. Report... more Recent studies have shown that women factory workers report more health symptoms than men. Reporting of health symptoms by 661 workers at nine poultry slaughterhouses in Québec was examined to determine whether this difference has its origins in sex-specific working conditions. More women than men report that their jobs involve standing still, repetitive movements, and a very rapid work rate. While women workers reported more health symptoms, these symptoms primarily affected the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, and were related to ergonomic and organizational job characteristics. Reported symptom levels were in closer agreement for subsamples of women and men with similar working conditions. This study demonstrates the importance of considering environmental, organizational, and ergonomic conditions at the work station as constituents of a microenvironment in order to understand the complex determinants of health symptoms associated with work in female employment ghettos.
Managing for Healthy Ecosystems, 2002
Donna Mergler INTRODUCTION The ecosystem approach to human health is an innovative concept that i... more Donna Mergler INTRODUCTION The ecosystem approach to human health is an innovative concept that incorporates humanhealth into the dynamic interrelations of ecosystem analyses. In this approach, humans are notsolely the drivers and disrupters of the ecosystem or the passive victims of environmentaldestruction, but are in continuous interaction with changing environmental, social, and eco-nomic conditions. In this dynamic process, ecosystem changes, resulting from human inter-ventions (mining, agriculture, urbanization, etc.), driven by the need for subsistence or theforces of economic development, affect current and future well-being, not only of the present,but also for coming generations. Human health and well-being are, in turn, determinants ofsocial, economic and cultural development. Appropriately applied to environmental and healthimpact studies, the ecosystem approach can be a useful tool toward attaining sustainable andequitable development.Human health deterioration and its consequences for the quality of life are most often omittedfrom environmental and cost-benefit impact studies. Here, we propose a means of integrating humanhealth into the ecosystem analysis, using mining activities as an example. Four major issues, keysto the understanding of the relation between mining and human health, are examined: (1) miners’health; (2) a framework for focusing on the impact of mining development and activities on humanhealth; (3) a model for examining human health deterioration; and (4), the notion of fragileecosystem, using the example of gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon. MINERS’ HEALTH The extraction and transformation of minerals and quarrying are almost as old as civilization,and so are the accidents and diseases that have afflicted those who are engaged in these activities.In ancient Greece, in the 4th Century B.C., Hippocrates described illness among lead miners(Landrigan et al., 1990). Five hundred years later, Pliny the Elder called lead poisoning “one ofthe diseases of slaves” and described a bladder-derived protective mask to be used by laborerssubjected to large amounts of dust or lead fumes (Hamilton, 1943).
NeuroToxicology, 2012
Although males and females differ both biologically and in their social and power relations throu... more Although males and females differ both biologically and in their social and power relations throughout their life span, research in environmental and occupational neurotoxicology often ignore sex and/or gender as a characteristic that requires in-depth consideration. The neurotoxicology literature continues to confuse the terms sex (biological attributes) and gender (socially constructed roles and behavior) and the words are still used interchangeably. Throughout the lifespan, sex and gender are in interaction and both may play a role in influencing exposure and effect. Studies that have examined both males and females, provide evidence for sex differences in toxicokinetics and responses to neurotoxic assault as well as gender differences in exposure patterns, biomarkers of exposure, neurobehavioral performance and social consequences. Integrating sex and gender considerations into research in neurotoxicology would not only provide us with a better understanding of the mechanisms and pathways that lead to toxic assault, but also provide a means to improve preventive intervention strategies.
NeuroToxicology, 2003
Several studies have demonstrated neurobehavioral impairment related to manganese (Mn) exposure i... more Several studies have demonstrated neurobehavioral impairment related to manganese (Mn) exposure in the workplace. Exposure to high doses of manganese is associated with irreversible neurodegenerative disorders resembling idiopathic Parkinson disease. Although there is a risk of Mn accumulation in the foetus during pregnancy, little information exists about developmental effects of environmental low-level exposure in human. For this reason, we conducted a prospective epidemiological study in 247 healthy pregnant women and their babies to determine the long-term effect of in utero Mn levels on child&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s psychomotor development. Concurrently, we examined the relationship between Mn tissue levels at delivery and foetal plasma monoamine metabolites. Of the newborns, 195 were examined at 9 months, 126 at 3 years and 100 at 6 years. At 9 months, the Brunet-Lézine scales were administered. The McCarthy scales of children&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s abilities were used at 3 and 6 years. After adjustment for potential confounding co-factors (child&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s gender, mother&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s educational level), negative relationships were observed between cord blood Mn levels and several psychomotor sub-scales at age of 3 years: &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;attention&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; (partial r=-0.33, P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.001), &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;non-verbal memory&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; (partial r=-0.28, P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.01), and &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;hand skills&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; (partial r=-0.22, P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.05). No significant relationships were observed between Mn measures at birth and the general psychomotor indices, Brunet-Lézine developmental quotient (DQ) at 9 months or McCarthy general cognitive index (GCI) at 3 and 6 years. Maternal blood Mn levels were negatively associated with foetal plasma HVA and 5-HIAA concentrations (adjusted for labour duration, child&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s gender, and smoking during pregnancy), but the adjustment for monoamine levels at birth did not change the association between the Mn levels and the psychomotor scores. These results suggest that environmental Mn exposure in utero could affect early psychomotor development.
Journal of Great Lakes Research, 2013
3 fatty acids Lake trout Whitefish Great Lakes PCBs Fish are an excellent source of lean protein ... more 3 fatty acids Lake trout Whitefish Great Lakes PCBs Fish are an excellent source of lean protein and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) but there is inadequate information on the levels of PUFAs in freshwater fish and specifically Great Lakes fish. Knowledge of PUFAs is necessary to make informed decisions regarding the balance between the benefits of fish consumption due to these factors versus risks of adverse health effects associated with elevated levels of contaminants known to be present in some Great Lakes fish and linked to increased risk of cancer and adverse neurological effects to both infants and adults. Our goal was to determine the lipid profiles in two species of Great Lakes fish, lake trout and whitefish. Total fat and the percentage of total and omega-3 PUFAs were with one exception significantly higher in lake trout than whitefish. Average concentrations of EPA+DHA were 11.2 and 9.7 g/100 g lipid in lake trout and whitefish, respectively. The concentrations of EPA+DHA in fatty marine fish (22.7, 23.9 and 30.2 g/100 g lipid, respectively) are about double those found in Great Lakes lake trout and whitefish. Nevertheless a 100 g serving of Great Lakes lake trout provides more than 500 mg of EPA+DHA, which is the daily intake level recommended by the American Dietetics Association for the prevention of coronary heart disease.
Environmental Health Perspectives, 2010
Acknowledgments: The Canadian Institutes for Health Research provided the funding (NRF-82899), as... more Acknowledgments: The Canadian Institutes for Health Research provided the funding (NRF-82899), as well as a fellowship to Maryse Bouchard. We wish to acknowledge the participants who kindly gave their time to help us carry out the study. We have no financial interests to declare.
Environmental health, May 31, 2024
Background Since the 1960's, mercury (Hg) contamination of the aquatic environment of Asubpeescho... more Background Since the 1960's, mercury (Hg) contamination of the aquatic environment of Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) territories has impacted the community members' traditions, culture, livelihood, diet and health. Despite decreasing Hg exposure over time, a recent study suggested that long-term exposure contributed to later-life symptom clusters of nervous system dysfunction. Here, the objective was to evaluate, 5 years later, the prevalence and progression of these symptoms and examine the contribution of long-term, past Hg exposure. Methods The symptom questionnaire, applied in the 2016/17 Grassy Narrows Community Health Assessment (GN-CHA) (Time 1), was re-administered in the 2021/22 Niibin study (Time 2). A total of 85 adults (median age: 47y; range: 29-75y) responded at both times. Paired statistics were used to test the differences (Time 2-Time 1) in self-reported symptom frequencies. The symptom clustering algorithm, derived from the entire study group of the GN-CHA (n = 391), which had yielded 6 clusters, was applied at Time 1 and 2. Equivalent hair Hg measurements (HHg) between 1970 and 1997 were used in Longitudinal Mixed Effects Models (LMEM), with a subgroup with ≥ 10 repeated HHg mesurements (age > 40y), to examine its associations with symptom cluster scores and their progression. Results For most symptoms, paired analyses (Time 2-Time 1) showed a significant increase in persons reporting " very often" or "all the time", and in the mean Likert scores for younger and older participants (< and ≥ 50y). The increase in cluster scores was not associated with age or sex, except for sensory impairment where a greater increase in symptom frequency was observed for younger persons. LMEM showed that, for the subgroup , long-term past Hg exposure was associated with most cluster scores at both times, and importantly, for all clusters, with their rate of increase over time (Time 2-Time 1). Conclusions The persistence of reported symptoms and their increase in frequency over the short 5-year period underline the need for adequate health care services. Results of the subgroup of persons > 40y, whose HHg reflects exposure over the 28-year sampling period, suggest that there may be a progressive impact of Hg on nervous system dysfunction.
Foram estudadas as concentracoes de mercurio total (Hg), a bioacumulacao e a biomagnificacao dess... more Foram estudadas as concentracoes de mercurio total (Hg), a bioacumulacao e a biomagnificacao desse metal na ictiofauna de tres lagos do rio Tapajos. Alem disso, uma atencao especial foi dada as possiveis variacoes temporal e espacial dos niveis desse metal na ictiofauna. Os resultados provem de duas amostragens correspondentes a cheia (abril-maio/2000) e a enchente do rio (janeiro/2001). A biomagnificacao do Hg na cadeia trofica dos tres lagos foi identificada durante os dois periodos analisados. No periodo das chuvas, 31% dos peixes predadores apresentaram concentracoes superiores ao valor critico de 500 ng/g, contra 28% durante a enchente. Sao raramente observadas correlacoes do tipo linear ou curvilinear positiva entre as concentracoes de Hg do tecido muscular e o comprimento total dos peixes. Varias especies de importância comercial nao apresentaram nenhuma variacao nas concentracoes de Hg com o aumento do comprimento do peixe. Outras correlacoes, do tipo linear negativa e nao l...
Globalization and Health, 2020
English abstract Background Research on changing dietary practices is rare in lower and middle in... more English abstract Background Research on changing dietary practices is rare in lower and middle income countries, and understanding the impact of global economic processes on population health and nutrition is important, especially of rural communities. We analyzed the diet of 22 families in Brasília Legal, a riverside community in the Tapajós River region of the Brazilian Amazon, using nonparametric tests to compare dietary surveys taken in 1999 and 2010. Results Data from the two surveys show that food obtained through commercial supply chains became more frequent in household diets, corresponding to significant increases in daily consumption of food items rich in energy, protein, and sugar. At the same time, there was a decline in traditional Amazonian food intake. Conclusions Comparing these results with household socio-economic characteristics and drawing on open-ended interviews, we consider the multiple influences that economic development processes may have had on local diets...
Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2010
M ilestones in the advancement of public health have often been marked by trenchant observation (... more M ilestones in the advancement of public health have often been marked by trenchant observation (Edward Jenner), application of observationally derived knowledge (John Snow), experimentally derived principles of causation (Robert Koch), new technology (Louis Pasteur) or development of programmatic responses (e.g., smoking bylaws). More subtle milestones have addressed multifactorial and dynamic determinants of health. These developments are especially relevant to populations with broadly "acceptable" water to drink, air to breathe and food to eat, who face the new public health frontier of complex social, economic and environmental interactions, and demand research and action able to engage with real-life, real-time situations. While the separate study of health, economics, ecosystems and society has led to great advances in knowledge, and has also illuminated certain associations critical for population health (for example, poverty-obesity, obesity-diabetes, diabetes-vascular disease, etc.), persistent, interrelated public health challenges demand new approaches. The limits to what can be conceptually and practically achieved by attempting to disaggregate chains of causation between particular influences and the state of a population's health have been reenforced in recent decades. Frustrated by limited efforts to address complex issues such as environmental degradation, sustainability, poverty and chronic illness, scientists, practitioners and policymakers began to encourage integrative science through such mechanisms as the Canadian Tri-council environmental health and sustainability programs of the early 1990s. Subsequently, several lines of exploration have converged into an evolving field of research and practice called ecosystem approaches to health (also known as ecohealth). There is mounting evidence of the effectiveness of these approaches in addressing systemic challenges in population health, particularly among vulnerable populations. The development and application of ecosystem approaches to health has clear relevance to all twelve of the "Great Achievements" outlined by CPHA and warrants designation as a Population and Public Health Research Milestone. The Milestone Ecosystem approaches to health draw upon a variety of paradigms, including complex systems analysis, community engagement, and