Cognitive Effects of Heavy Metal Exposure
OVERVIEW
Exposure to heavy metals (e.g., aluminum, lead, mercury, arsenic) may occur via occupational exposure or use of contaminated drinking water/food, personal/household products, and a variety of other means. Heavy metal exposure throughout the lifespan has been demonstrated to be associated with various deleterious nervous system effects, including impaired neuropsychological functioning. The following resources highlight current research in this area.
ABSTRACT
Neurocognitive effects in welders exposed to aluminium (2014)
OBJECTIVES: Various authors who studied the effects of aluminium (Al) exposure on theneurocognitive system in the last 30 years have reached different and often contradictory conclusions. The aim of this study is to help clarify the effects that the metal causes on cognitive ability in a group of naval welders exposed to Al.
METHODS: The study was performed on a sample of 86 male Al welders in a shipyard in Messina. The average value of environmental Al, recorded in the workplace, was 19.5 mg/m(3). The blood levels of Al, zinc,manganese, lead and chromium were monitored in all the subjects. The reagents used for the neuropsychic study were the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS), the Colour Word Test or Stroop Test and the Test of Attention Matrixes. The results were compared with those obtained in a similar control group not exposed to Al and with an Al-b value of 6.93 g/l.
RESULTS: For all the mental reagents used, the reply is obtained in the sample of exposed subjects showed decreased cognitive response with regard to attention and memory performance. The comparison between the individual tests showed greater sensitivity of performance studied using the WMS and the Stroop Test compared with the Test of Attention Matrixes. The alterations encountered in the cognitive functions studied increased proportionally to time of exposure and quantity of metal absorbed.
CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that occupational exposure to Al causes alteration in cognitive responses that are more evident in complex functions. [Giorgianni, C.M., et al. (2014). Toxicology and Industrial Health, 30(4), 347-356.] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22914260
PODCAST: Neurology Journal’s Segment on Heavy Metals
The final segment of this podcast for the Neurology Journal concludes with Dr. Amy Kahn interviewing Dr. Neeraj Kumar about heavy metals for the Lesson of the Week segment. The segment length is about 11 minutes. Episode Segment: LOTW: Heavy Metals: 9:23-20:26 https://www.aan.com/rss/search/home/episodedetail/?item=95
FURTHER READING
1. Lam, H. S., Kwok, K. M., Chan, P. H. Y., So, H. K., Li, A. M., Ng, P. C., & Fok, T. F. (2013). Long term neurocognitive impact of low dose prenatal methylmercury exposure in Hong Kong. Environment International, 54, 59-64. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2013.01.005
2. Mason, L. H., Harp, J. P., & Han, D. Y. (2014). Pb Neurotoxicity: Neuropsychological Effects of Lead Toxicity. BioMed Research International. doi: 10.1155/2014/840547
3. O’Bryant, S. E., Edwards, M., Menon, C. V., Gong, G., & Barber, R. (2011). Long-term low-level arsenic exposure is associated with poorer neuropsychological functioning: A Project FRONTIER study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 8, 861-874. doi: 10.3390/ijerph8030861
4. Weuve, J., Press, D. Z., Grodstein, F., Wright, R. O., Hu, H., & Weisskopf, M. G. (2013). Cumulative exposure to lead and cognition in persons with Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders, 28(2), 176-182. doi: 10.1002/mds.25247
5. Zawilla, N. H., Taha, F. M., Kishk, N. A., Farahat, S. A., Farghaly, M., & Hussein, M. (2014). Occupational exposure to aluminum and its amyloidogenic link with cognitive functions. Journal of inorganic biochemistry, 139, 57-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2014.06.003
Exposure to heavy metals (e.g., aluminum, lead, mercury, arsenic) may occur via occupational exposure or use of contaminated drinking water/food, personal/household products, and a variety of other means. Heavy metal exposure throughout the lifespan has been demonstrated to be associated with various deleterious nervous system effects, including impaired neuropsychological functioning. The following resources highlight current research in this area.
ABSTRACT
Neurocognitive effects in welders exposed to aluminium (2014)
OBJECTIVES: Various authors who studied the effects of aluminium (Al) exposure on theneurocognitive system in the last 30 years have reached different and often contradictory conclusions. The aim of this study is to help clarify the effects that the metal causes on cognitive ability in a group of naval welders exposed to Al.
METHODS: The study was performed on a sample of 86 male Al welders in a shipyard in Messina. The average value of environmental Al, recorded in the workplace, was 19.5 mg/m(3). The blood levels of Al, zinc,manganese, lead and chromium were monitored in all the subjects. The reagents used for the neuropsychic study were the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS), the Colour Word Test or Stroop Test and the Test of Attention Matrixes. The results were compared with those obtained in a similar control group not exposed to Al and with an Al-b value of 6.93 g/l.
RESULTS: For all the mental reagents used, the reply is obtained in the sample of exposed subjects showed decreased cognitive response with regard to attention and memory performance. The comparison between the individual tests showed greater sensitivity of performance studied using the WMS and the Stroop Test compared with the Test of Attention Matrixes. The alterations encountered in the cognitive functions studied increased proportionally to time of exposure and quantity of metal absorbed.
CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that occupational exposure to Al causes alteration in cognitive responses that are more evident in complex functions. [Giorgianni, C.M., et al. (2014). Toxicology and Industrial Health, 30(4), 347-356.] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22914260
PODCAST: Neurology Journal’s Segment on Heavy Metals
The final segment of this podcast for the Neurology Journal concludes with Dr. Amy Kahn interviewing Dr. Neeraj Kumar about heavy metals for the Lesson of the Week segment. The segment length is about 11 minutes. Episode Segment: LOTW: Heavy Metals: 9:23-20:26 https://www.aan.com/rss/search/home/episodedetail/?item=95
FURTHER READING
1. Lam, H. S., Kwok, K. M., Chan, P. H. Y., So, H. K., Li, A. M., Ng, P. C., & Fok, T. F. (2013). Long term neurocognitive impact of low dose prenatal methylmercury exposure in Hong Kong. Environment International, 54, 59-64. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2013.01.005
2. Mason, L. H., Harp, J. P., & Han, D. Y. (2014). Pb Neurotoxicity: Neuropsychological Effects of Lead Toxicity. BioMed Research International. doi: 10.1155/2014/840547
3. O’Bryant, S. E., Edwards, M., Menon, C. V., Gong, G., & Barber, R. (2011). Long-term low-level arsenic exposure is associated with poorer neuropsychological functioning: A Project FRONTIER study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 8, 861-874. doi: 10.3390/ijerph8030861
4. Weuve, J., Press, D. Z., Grodstein, F., Wright, R. O., Hu, H., & Weisskopf, M. G. (2013). Cumulative exposure to lead and cognition in persons with Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders, 28(2), 176-182. doi: 10.1002/mds.25247
5. Zawilla, N. H., Taha, F. M., Kishk, N. A., Farahat, S. A., Farghaly, M., & Hussein, M. (2014). Occupational exposure to aluminum and its amyloidogenic link with cognitive functions. Journal of inorganic biochemistry, 139, 57-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2014.06.003
About the contributor:
Michelle Capozzoli, M.A. attends the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
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