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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2025

An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium

An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium

Published on: December 17, 2018

Revisiting Genetic Influence on Mercury Exposure and Intoxication in Humans: A Scoping Review.

Maria Elena Crespo-Lopez¹, Jean Ludger Barthelemy¹, Amanda Lopes-Araújo¹

¹Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil.

|December 22, 2023

Summary

Genetic factors significantly influence mercury poisoning susceptibility. This review systematically examines recent evidence on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their role in human mercury toxicity, highlighting key gene systems involved.

Keywords:

Amazon SNP health methylmercury polymorphism susceptibility

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Area of Science:

Environmental Health
Toxicology
Human Genetics

Background:

Mercury intoxication is a global health concern.
Individual susceptibility to mercury toxicity is influenced by genetic factors.
Systematic reviews on genetic influences in mercury toxicity are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically review recent evidence on the genetic influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on human mercury poisoning.
To identify key genes and genetic pathways implicated in mercury toxicity.
To provide recommendations for future research in this field.

Main Methods:

Systematic search of PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus databases (2015-2022).
Inclusion/exclusion criteria applied to 380 identified studies, selecting 29 for analysis.
Data extraction and analysis of study characteristics, mercury biomarkers, quantified SNPs, and main findings.

Main Results:

Most studies were conducted in Brazil, focusing on populations in the Tapajós River basin.
Commonly studied SNPs relate to glutathione system genes (GST, GPx), ATP-binding cassette transporters, and metallothionein proteins.
Emerging research highlights SNPs in apolipoprotein E and brain-derived neurotrophic factor genes.

Conclusions:

Genetic background, particularly specific SNPs, plays a crucial role in modulating mercury toxicity.
Exposure levels may interact with genetic factors, potentially explaining observed SNP associations.
Further research is recommended to elucidate the complex interplay between genetics and mercury poisoning.