Chemical speciation of blood selenium in a population with high intake of mercury

• Project/Area Number: 23659325
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Hygiene
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: WATANABE Chiho 東京大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (70220902)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): YASUTAKE Akira 国立水俣病総合研究センター, 基礎研究部, 室長 (20344418) ; OGURA Yasumitsu 昭和薬科大学, 薬学部, 教授 (40292677)
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2012
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2013)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,640,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥840,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2011: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
• Keywords: 環境中毒 / 水銀 / メチル水銀 / セレン / セレンタンパク質 / 魚介類摂取 / 毒性軽減 / 健康リスク / 魚食 / 発達神経毒性 / 生物濃縮の拡大 / 化学形態別分析 / 坂の摂取

Research Abstract

There has been a concern regarding the potential health risks brought by high consumption of seafoods that contain relatively high concentration of mercury compounds. This research targeted a population that had high dietary consumption of marine products, and showing relatively high biological concentration of mercury in their hair or blood, without showing apparent manifestation of neurological symptoms. We focused on selenium, a micronutrient which has been shown to counteract to the toxicity of mercury (both inorganic and organic). By measuring three "selenium-containing proteins" in the plasma, we analyze the relationship between selenium and mercury exposure. We have found that the relationship between selenium as well as its proteins and mercury depended on the level of mercury exposure, suggesting that selenium is "reacting" to high level of mercury exposure.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Methylmercury exposure and neurological outcomes in Taiji residents accustomed to consuming whale meat (2014)
  • Author(s): Nakamura M, Hachiya N, Murata K, Nakanishi I, Kondo T, Yasutake A, Miyamoto K, Ser PH, Omi S, Furuwasa H, Watanabe C, Usuki F, and Sakamoto M
  • Journal Title: Environmental International Volume: 68 Pages: 25-32
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Methylmercury exposure and neurological outcomes in Taiji residents accustomed to consuming whale meat (2014)
  • Author(s): Nakamura, M., Hachiya, N., Murata, KY., Nakanishi, I., Kondo, T., Yasutake, A., Miyamoto, KI., Ser, PH., Omi, S., Furusawa, H., Watanabe, C., Usuki, F., and Sakamoto, M.
  • Journal Title: Environment International Volume: 68 Pages: 25-32
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.03.005
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Selenomethionine protects against neuronal degeneration by methylmercury in the developing rat cerebrum (2013)
  • Author(s): Sakamoto M, Akira Yasutake, Akiyoshi Kakita, Masae Ryufuku, Hing Man Chan, Megumi Yamamoto, Sanae Oumi, Sayaka Kobayashi, and Chiho Watanabe
  • Journal Title: Environmental Science and Technology Volume: 47 Pages: 2862-8
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Selenomethionine protects against neuronal degeneration by methylmercury in the developing rat cerebrum. (2013)
  • Author(s): Sakamoto M, Yasutake A, Kakita A, Ryufuku M, Chan HM, Yamamoto M, Oumi S, Kobayashi S, Watanabe C.
  • Journal Title: Environmental science and technology Volume: 47(6) Issue: 6 Pages: 2862-2868
  • DOI: 10.1021/es304226h
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Fish advisories in the USA and Japan : Risk communication and public awareness of a common idea with different backgrounds (2012)
  • Author(s): Ping Han Ser and C. Watanabe
  • Journal Title: Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Fish advisories in the USA and Japan: Risk communication and public awareness of a common idea with different backgrounds. (2012)
  • Author(s): Ser, PH and Watanabe C
  • Journal Title: Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition Volume: 21 Pages: 487-494
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Relationship between Hg and Se levels in Taiji inhabitants (2014)
  • Author(s): Watanabe C
  • Organizer: International Conference for Mercury as Global Pollutant
  • Place of Presentation: Edinburgh, UK
• [Presentation] Relationship between Hg and Se levels in Taiji inhabitants (2013)
  • Author(s): Watanabe, C
  • Organizer: International Conference for Mercury as Global Pollutant
  • Place of Presentation: Edinburgh, UK
  • Invited
• [Remarks] ホームページ(において,本研究の方針について説明している文書)
  • URL: http://www.humeco.m.u-tokyo.ac.jp/pdf/selenium.pdf
• [Remarks] 研究紹介:食物に含まれるメチル水銀とセレンの関係?
  • URL: http://www.humeco.m.u-tokyo.ac.jp/pdf/selenium.pdf
• [Remarks]
  • URL: http://www.humeco.m.u-tokyo.ac.jp/jp/outline.html#5