Article: Nutritional factors may modify the toxic action of methyl mercury in fish-eating populations

ABSTRACT The historical record of clinical cases of methyl mercury poisoning dates back to the 19th century when the first chemical synthesis occurred. The potent fungicidal properties of both methyl and the closely related ethyl mercury compound were subsequently discovered, which led to widespread agricultural application for prevention of fungal infection in seed grain. Several catastrophic outbreaks of poisoning occurred in the mid-20th century when the treated seed grain was mistakenly used to prepare homemade bread. The largest outbreak took place in rural Iraq in the early 1970s. Human poisonings also occurred in Japan due to the release of methyl mercury into bodies of fresh and ...

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