Burbacher T M, Rodier P M, Weiss B
Department of Environmental Health, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Neurotoxicol Teratol. 1990 May-Jun;12(3):191-202. doi: 10.1016/0892-0362(90)90091-p.
A qualitative and quantitative comparison of the neuropathological and neurobehavioral effects of early methylmercury (MeHg) exposure is presented. The focus of the qualitative comparison is the examination of how specific end-points (and categories of behavioral functions) compare across species. The focus of the quantitative comparison is the investigation of the relationship between MeHg exposure, target-organ dose and effects in humans and animals. The results of the comparisons are discussed in the context of the adequacy of the proposed EPA neurotoxicity battery to characterize the risk of MeHg to humans. The comparisons reveal several qualitative and quantitative similarities in the neuropathological effects of MeHg on humans and animals at high levels of exposure. Reports of neuropathological effects at lower levels are available for animals only, precluding any comparison. At high levels of exposure, specific neurobehavioral end-points affected across species are also similar. Effects at lower levels of exposure are similar if categories of neurobehavioral functioning are compared. Changes in the EPA test battery consistent with the results of the comparisons are discussed.
本文对早期甲基汞（MeHg）暴露的神经病理学和神经行为学影响进行了定性和定量比较。定性比较的重点是研究特定终点（以及行为功能类别）在不同物种间的比较情况。定量比较的重点是调查甲基汞暴露、靶器官剂量与人类和动物效应之间的关系。在拟议的美国环境保护局（EPA）神经毒性检测组合是否足以表征甲基汞对人类风险的背景下，对比较结果进行了讨论。比较结果揭示了在高暴露水平下，甲基汞对人类和动物的神经病理学影响在定性和定量方面存在若干相似之处。关于较低暴露水平下神经病理学影响的报告仅见于动物，无法进行任何比较。在高暴露水平下，不同物种间受影响的特定神经行为终点也相似。如果比较神经行为功能类别，较低暴露水平下的影响也相似。还讨论了与比较结果一致的EPA测试组合的变化。
