José Jesús Guillén-Pérez

Exposición al metilmercurio en la población general; toxicocinética; diferencias según el sexo, factores nutricionales y genéticos

Mercury is an environmental toxicant that causes numerous adverse effects on human health and natural ecosystems. The factors that determine the existance of adverse effects, as well as their severity are, among others: the chemical form of mercury (elemental, inorganic, organic), dosis, age, period of exposure, pathways of exposure and environmental, nutritional and genetic factors. In the aquatic cycle of mercury, once it has been deposited, it is transformed into methylmercury due to the action of certain sulphate-reducing bacteria, which bioaccumulates in the aquatic organisms and moves into the food chain. The methylmercury content of large, long-lived fish such as swordfish, shark, tuna or marlin, is higher. Methylmercury binds to protein in fish and is therefore not eliminated by cleaning or cooking the fish. Fetuses and small children are more vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of methylmercury from the consumption of contaminated fish. Methylmercury is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and crosses the blood-brain barrier and the placenta. The intake of certain dietary components such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, selenium, fiber, thiol compounds, certain phytochemicals and other nutrients can modify methylmercury bioaccesibility and its toxicity. Apart from environmental factors, genetic factors can influence mercury toxicity and explain part of the individual vulnerability.

Documento de consenso sobre la prevención de la exposición al metilmercurio en España

The beneficial effects of fish consumption in both children and adults are well known. However, the intake of methylmercury, mainly from contaminated fish and shellfish, can have adverse health effects. The study group on the prevention of exposure to methylmercury (GEPREM-Hg), made up of representatives from different Spanish scientific societies, has prepared a consensus document in a question and answer format, containing the groups main conclusions, recommendations and proposals. The objective of the document is to provide broader knowledge of factors associated with methylmercury exposure, its possible effects on health among the Spanish population, methods of analysis, interpretation of the results and economic costs, and to then set recommendations for fish and shellfish consumption. The group sees the merit of all initiatives aimed at reducing or prohibiting the use of mercury as well as the need to be aware of the results of contaminant analyses performed on fish and shellfish marketed in Spain. In addition, the group believes that biomonitoring systems should be set up in order to follow the evolution of methylmercury exposure in children and adults and perform studies designed to learn more about the possible health effects of concentrations found in the Spanish population, ta king into account the lifestyle, eating patterns and the Mediterranean diet.

Consensus document on the prevention of methylmercury exposure in Spain ☆: Study group for the prevention of Me-Hg exposure in Spain (GEPREM-Hg)

The beneficial effects of fish consumption in both children and adults are well known. However, the intake of methylmercury, mainly from contaminated fish and shellfish, can have adverse health effects. The study group on the prevention of exposure to methylmercury (GEPREM-Hg), made up of representatives from different Spanish scientific societies, has prepared a consensus document in a question and answer format, containing the groups main conclusions, recommendations and proposals. The objective of the document is to provide broader knowledge of factors associated with methylmercury exposure, its possible effects on health amongst the Spanish population, methods of analysis, interpretation of the results and economic costs, and to then set recommendations for fish and shellfish consumption. The group sees the merit of all initiatives aimed at reducing or prohibiting the use of mercury as well as the need to be aware of the results of contaminant analyses performed on fish and shellfish marketed in Spain. In addition, the group believes that biomonitoring systems should be set up in order to follow the evolution of methylmercury exposure in children and adults and perform studies designed to learn more about the possible health effects of concentrations found in the Spanish population, taking into account the lifestyle, eating patterns and the Mediterranean diet.

Evaluación económica del impacto de la prohibición de plomo en las gasolinas en el cociente intelectual de los niños de 7 y 8 años de la Comunidad de Madrid

Fundamentos: La evaluacion economica de las repercusiones sanitarias de las politicas publicas es dificil y escasa. El objetivo del presente estudio fue cuantificar monetariamente los beneficios de la reduccion del plomo en la sangre de los ninos de 7-8 anos en la Comunidad de Madrid (Espana), derivada de la prohibicion del plomo en las gasolinas. Metodos: Se calculo la disminucion de puntos de cociente intelectual (CI), utilizando dos estudios realizados en ninos de 7 a 8 anos segun los valores de plomo en sangre que presentaban: media geometrica de 3,8 μg/dL en 1995 y 0,9 μg/dL en 2010. La mejoria neta de CI se midio en terminos de capacidad de produccion ganada a lo largo de la vida laboral, siguiendo los metodos de Schwartz y Salkiver. Resultados: La reduccion de los niveles de plomo en sangre de estos ninos evito perder entre 135.391 y 144.153 puntos de CI. La valoracion economica actual de estos puntos en terminos de capacidad de produccion ganada a lo largo de la vida laboral de estos sujetos se estimo en un rango entre 626,4 y 865,4 millones de euros (valor 2009). Conclusiones: Las cifras de beneficios economicos encontradas derivadas de la medida de prohibicion de uso de plomo en las gasolinas son importantes en terminos sociales.