Mercury and Methylmercury Toxicology and Risk Assessment

Dear Colleagues,

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that affects human and ecosystem health. Wildlife and humans are exposed to Hg primarily through diet in the form of methylmercury (MeHg), since MeHg bioaccumulates and biomagnifies in the food web. Among Hg species, MeHg toxicity is much more damaging to the nervous system in early developmental stages as it leads to alterations in its structure and function. Even at low doses, prenatal exposure to MeHg can disrupt fetal brain development. Since the initial identification of MeHg poisoning in Minamata, Japan, in 1956, the clinical neurology and neurotoxic effects of MeHg have been widely studied. However, the mechanisms responsible for MeHg-induced changes in neuronal function, particularly the delayed effects observed when exposure occurred during fetal development, are not fully understood. Increasing epidemiological evidence is showing that MeHg exposure is also a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases but the toxicological evidence is scarce. Recent advances in toxicology using “omics” approach provide new tools to study the complex effects of MeHg on system biology.  Effects of MeHg on stem/progenitor cells show great promise in understanding MeHg toxicology.  Increasing understanding of the roles of genetic determinants and the gut-microbiota in determining the toxicokinetics of MeHg also allows for more accurate risk assessment focusing on the sensitive populations. The understanding of interactive effects between Hg and nutrients, such as n-3 fatty acids and selenium, are improving the relevance of risk assessment. This Special Issue calls for papers that report new findings on MeHg toxicology and new information for the improvement of risk assessment of MeHg.

Prof. Laurie Hing Man Chan
Guest Editor

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