Assessing the role of selenium in Minamata disease through reanalysis of historical samples
Minamata disease, a severe neurological disorder identified in Japan in 1956, results from methylmercury (MeHg) intoxication in humans due to environmental contamination. Before MeHg was recognized as the cause, selenium (Se) was suspected of being the potential cause owing to elevated Se levels in...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| author | Mineshi Sakamoto Masumi Marumoto Koichi Haraguchi Takashi Toyama Yoshiro Saito Steven J. Balogh Chiharu Tohyama Masaaki Nakamura |
| author_facet | Mineshi Sakamoto Masumi Marumoto Koichi Haraguchi Takashi Toyama Yoshiro Saito Steven J. Balogh Chiharu Tohyama Masaaki Nakamura |
| author_sort | Mineshi Sakamoto |
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| description | Minamata disease, a severe neurological disorder identified in Japan in 1956, results from methylmercury (MeHg) intoxication in humans due to environmental contamination. Before MeHg was recognized as the cause, selenium (Se) was suspected of being the potential cause owing to elevated Se levels in patients’ organs. Subsequent animal studies indicated that Se mitigates MeHg toxicity; however, its role in Minamata disease remains unexplored. We analyzed Hg and Se in historical samples of the industrial wastes (n = 4) on the factory site, sediments (n = 9), and fish/shellfish (n = 16) in Minamata Bay, and organs of patients with Minamata disease (n = 12). All samples showed elevated levels of both Hg and Se, providing the first evidence that Se was also discharged into Minamata Bay, entering the food chain and accumulating at high levels in patient organs. The Hg/Se molar ratio in contaminated shellfish (median > 3.0) indicated exceptionally high MeHg exposure, far exceeding the ordinary level (< 1.0). Patients exhibited significantly increased Se levels in the liver and kidney but lower amounts in the brain. Notably, median Hg/Se molar ratios exceeding 4.0 were observed, particularly in the cerebrum and cerebellum in acute cases, closely mirroring the molar ratios found in seafood. The elevated Hg/Se molar ratio in the brain helps explain the severe neurological damage in patients’ central nervous systems, despite higher Hg levels in the liver and kidney compared to the brain. These findings provide important insight into the mechanism of MeHg intoxication and highlight the risks associated with MeHg-contaminated seafood, aiding efforts to protect consumers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6828939b19c443f3ab329205d95e652b |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj-art-6828939b19c443f3ab329205d95e652b2025-01-24T04:44:12ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202025-01-01195109242Assessing the role of selenium in Minamata disease through reanalysis of historical samplesMineshi Sakamoto0Masumi Marumoto1Koichi Haraguchi2Takashi Toyama3Yoshiro Saito4Steven J. Balogh5Chiharu Tohyama6Masaaki Nakamura7National Institute for Minamata Disease, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, Japan; Corresponding author at: National Institute for Minamata Disease, 4058-18 Hama, Kumamoto 867-0008, Japan.National Institute for Minamata Disease, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, JapanNational Institute for Minamata Disease, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, JapanGraduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, JapanGraduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, JapanMetropolitan Council Environmental Services, 2400 Childs Road, St. Paul, MN 55106, USAUniversity of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, JapanNational Institute for Minamata Disease, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, JapanMinamata disease, a severe neurological disorder identified in Japan in 1956, results from methylmercury (MeHg) intoxication in humans due to environmental contamination. Before MeHg was recognized as the cause, selenium (Se) was suspected of being the potential cause owing to elevated Se levels in patients’ organs. Subsequent animal studies indicated that Se mitigates MeHg toxicity; however, its role in Minamata disease remains unexplored. We analyzed Hg and Se in historical samples of the industrial wastes (n = 4) on the factory site, sediments (n = 9), and fish/shellfish (n = 16) in Minamata Bay, and organs of patients with Minamata disease (n = 12). All samples showed elevated levels of both Hg and Se, providing the first evidence that Se was also discharged into Minamata Bay, entering the food chain and accumulating at high levels in patient organs. The Hg/Se molar ratio in contaminated shellfish (median > 3.0) indicated exceptionally high MeHg exposure, far exceeding the ordinary level (< 1.0). Patients exhibited significantly increased Se levels in the liver and kidney but lower amounts in the brain. Notably, median Hg/Se molar ratios exceeding 4.0 were observed, particularly in the cerebrum and cerebellum in acute cases, closely mirroring the molar ratios found in seafood. The elevated Hg/Se molar ratio in the brain helps explain the severe neurological damage in patients’ central nervous systems, despite higher Hg levels in the liver and kidney compared to the brain. These findings provide important insight into the mechanism of MeHg intoxication and highlight the risks associated with MeHg-contaminated seafood, aiding efforts to protect consumers.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024008298Environmental pollutionMinamata diseaseMethylmercury poisoningSeleniumMercury-selenium molar ratio |
| spellingShingle | Mineshi Sakamoto Masumi Marumoto Koichi Haraguchi Takashi Toyama Yoshiro Saito Steven J. Balogh Chiharu Tohyama Masaaki Nakamura Assessing the role of selenium in Minamata disease through reanalysis of historical samples Environment International Environmental pollution Minamata disease Methylmercury poisoning Selenium Mercury-selenium molar ratio |
| title | Assessing the role of selenium in Minamata disease through reanalysis of historical samples |
| title_full | Assessing the role of selenium in Minamata disease through reanalysis of historical samples |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the role of selenium in Minamata disease through reanalysis of historical samples |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the role of selenium in Minamata disease through reanalysis of historical samples |
| title_short | Assessing the role of selenium in Minamata disease through reanalysis of historical samples |
| title_sort | assessing the role of selenium in minamata disease through reanalysis of historical samples |
| topic | Environmental pollution Minamata disease Methylmercury poisoning Selenium Mercury-selenium molar ratio |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024008298 |
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