IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i17p10989-d905243.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impairment in Working Memory and Executive Function Associated with Mercury Exposure in Indigenous Populations in Upper Amazonian Peru

Author

Listed:
  • Alycia K. Silman

    (Department of Psychology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
    Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA)

  • Raveena Chhabria

    (Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA)

  • George W. Hafzalla

    (Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA)

  • Leahanne Giffin

    (Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA)

  • Kimberly Kucharski

    (Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA)

  • Katherine Myers

    (Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA)

  • Carlos Culquichicón

    (Emerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), San Martin de Porres 15102, Peru)

  • Stephanie Montero

    (Emerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), San Martin de Porres 15102, Peru)

  • Andres G. Lescano

    (Emerge, Emerging Diseases and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), San Martin de Porres 15102, Peru)

  • Claudia M. Vega

    (Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica, Puerto Maldonado 17001, Peru)

  • Luis E. Fernandez

    (Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
    Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica, Puerto Maldonado 17001, Peru
    Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC 27109, USA
    Carnegie Amazon Mercury Project, Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Miles R. Silman

    (Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
    Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC 27109, USA)

  • Michael J. Kane

    (Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA)

  • John W. Sanders

    (Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA)

Abstract

The Matsigenka people living traditional lifestyles in remote areas of the Amazon rely on a fish-based diet that exposes them to methylmercury (MeHg) at levels that have been associated with decreased IQ scores. In this study, the association between Hg levels and working memory was explored using the framework of the Multicomponent Model. Working memory tasks were modified to fit the culture and language of the Matsigenka when needed and included measures for verbal storage (Word Span) visuospatial storage (Corsi Block Task) and a measure of executive functions, the Self-Ordered Pointing Task (SOPT). An innovation of the Trail Making Tests A & B (TMT A & B) was pilot tested as another potential measure of executive functions. The mean hair Hg levels of 30 participants, ages 12 to 55 years, from three different communities (Maizal, Cacaotal and Yomibato) was 7.0 ppm (sd = 2.40), well above the World Health Organization (WHO) limit for hair of 2.0 ppm and ranged from 1.8 to 14.2 ppm, with 98% of a broader sample of 152 individuals exceeding the WHO limit. Hair Hg levels showed significant associations with cognitive performance, but the degree varied in magnitude according to the type of task. Hg levels were negatively associated with executive functioning performance (SOPT errors), while Hg levels and years of education predicted visuospatial performance (Corsi Block accuracy). Education was the only predictor of Word Span accuracy. The results show that Hg exposure is negatively associated with working memory performance when there is an increased reliance on executive functioning. Based on our findings and the review of the experimental research, we suggest that the SOPT and the Corsi Block have the potential to be alternatives to general intelligence tests when studying remote groups with extensive cultural differences.

Suggested Citation

  • Alycia K. Silman & Raveena Chhabria & George W. Hafzalla & Leahanne Giffin & Kimberly Kucharski & Katherine Myers & Carlos Culquichicón & Stephanie Montero & Andres G. Lescano & Claudia M. Vega & Luis, 2022. "Impairment in Working Memory and Executive Function Associated with Mercury Exposure in Indigenous Populations in Upper Amazonian Peru," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-25, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:10989-:d:905243
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/17/10989/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/17/10989/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kenny S. Grump & Tord Kjellström & Annette M. Shipp & Abraham Silvers & Alistair Stewart, 1998. "Influence of Prenatal Mercury Exposure Upon Scholastic and Psychologica Test Performance: Benchmark Analysis of a New Zealand Cohort," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(6), pages 701-713, December.
    2. Aubrey L. Langeland & Rebecca D. Hardin & Richard L. Neitzel, 2017. "Mercury Levels in Human Hair and Farmed Fish near Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Communities in the Madre de Dios River Basin, Peru," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Sandra de Souza Hacon & Marcelo Oliveira-da-Costa & Cecile de Souza Gama & Renata Ferreira & Paulo Cesar Basta & Ana Schramm & Decio Yokota, 2020. "Mercury Exposure through Fish Consumption in Traditional Communities in the Brazilian Northern Amazon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-15, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Paulo Cesar Basta & Paulo Victor de Sousa Viana & Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos & André Reynaldo Santos Périssé & Cristina Barroso Hofer & Natalia Santana Paiva & Joseph William Kempton & Danie, 2021. "Mercury Exposure in Munduruku Indigenous Communities from Brazilian Amazon: Methodological Background and an Overview of the Principal Results," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-32, September.
    2. Leonardo Barcellos de Bakker & Pedro Gasparinetti & Júlia Mello de Queiroz & Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos, 2021. "Economic Impacts on Human Health Resulting from the Use of Mercury in the Illegal Gold Mining in the Brazilian Amazon: A Methodological Assessment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-26, November.
    3. Joeseph William Kempton & André Reynaldo Santos Périssé & Cristina Barroso Hofer & Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos & Paulo Victor de Sousa Viana & Marcelo de Oliveira Lima & Iracina Maura de Jesu, 2021. "An Assessment of Health Outcomes and Methylmercury Exposure in Munduruku Indigenous Women of Childbearing Age and Their Children under 2 Years Old," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-23, September.
    4. Katsuyuki Murata & Esben Budtz‐Jørgensen & Philippe Grandjean, 2002. "Benchmark Dose Calculations for Methylmercury‐Associated Delays on Evoked Potential Latencies in Two Cohorts of Children," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 22(3), pages 465-474, June.
    5. Joanna Burger, 2012. "Selenium:mercury molar ratios in fish from the Savannah River: implications for risk management," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(6), pages 627-644, June.
    6. Gang Wang & Yu Gong & Yi-Xin Zhu & Ai-Jun Miao & Liu-Yan Yang & Huan Zhong, 2017. "Assessing the Risk of Hg Exposure Associated with Rice Consumption in a Typical City (Suzhou) in Eastern China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-11, May.
    7. Faye Koenigsmark & Caren Weinhouse & Axel J. Berky & Ana Maria Morales & Ernesto J. Ortiz & Eric M. Pierce & William K. Pan & Heileen Hsu-Kim, 2021. "Efficacy of Hair Total Mercury Content as a Biomarker of Methylmercury Exposure to Communities in the Area of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Madre de Dios, Peru," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-16, December.
    8. Alfred K. Mbah & Ibrahim Hamisu & Eknath Naik & Hamisu M. Salihu, 2014. "Estimating Benchmark Exposure for Air Particulate Matter Using Latent Class Models," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 34(11), pages 2053-2062, November.
    9. Lauren Wyatt & Ernesto J. Ortiz & Beth Feingold & Axel Berky & Sarah Diringer & Ana Maria Morales & Elvis Rojas Jurado & Heileen Hsu-Kim & William Pan, 2017. "Spatial, Temporal, and Dietary Variables Associated with Elevated Mercury Exposure in Peruvian Riverine Communities Upstream and Downstream of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-23, December.
    10. Miwako Dakeishi & Katsuyuki Murata & Akiko Tamura & Toyoto Iwata, 2006. "Relation Between Benchmark Dose and No‐Observed‐Adverse‐Effect Level in Clinical Research: Effects of Daily Alcohol Intake on Blood Pressure in Japanese Salesmen," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(1), pages 115-123, February.
    11. Charles Griffiths & Al McGartland & Maggie Miller, 2006. "A Note on Trasande et al., “Public Health and Economic Consequences of Methylmercury Toxicity to the Developing Brain”," NCEE Working Paper Series 200602, National Center for Environmental Economics, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, revised Apr 2006.
    12. Ted Gayer & Robert Hahn, 2006. "Designing environmental policy: lessons from the regulation of mercury emissions," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 291-315, November.
    13. Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos & Gustavo Hallwass & Jaqueline Gato Bezerra & Angélico Nonato Serrão Aciole & Heloisa Nascimento de Moura Meneses & Marcelo de Oliveira Lima & Iracina Maura de Jes, 2021. "Health Risk Assessment of Mercury Exposure from Fish Consumption in Munduruku Indigenous Communities in the Brazilian Amazon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-16, July.
    14. Stacy M. Pettigrew & William K. Pan & James Harrington & Axel Berky & Elvis Rojas & Beth J. Feingold, 2022. "Adult Exposures to Toxic Trace Elements as Measured in Nails along the Interoceanic Highway in the Peruvian Amazon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-17, May.
    15. Carlos Mestanza-Ramón & Robinson Ordoñez-Alcivar & Carla Arguello-Guadalupe & Katherin Carrera-Silva & Giovanni D’Orio & Salvatore Straface, 2022. "History, Socioeconomic Problems and Environmental Impacts of Gold Mining in the Andean Region of Ecuador," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-21, January.
    16. Ping Li & Xinbin Feng & Guangle Qiu, 2010. "Methylmercury Exposure and Health Effects from Rice and Fish Consumption: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-26, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:10989-:d:905243. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.