Biomedical subjects

J H Kyle

Publications and source records attributed to J H Kyle.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1984

Two examples of environmental problems occurring in remote sparsely populated areas.

Studies in two widely separated remote areas are presented. Arsenic from gold mining contaminates the town of Yellowknife, North West Territories, Canada, An electromyographic study was carried out on 517 people in Yellowknife and a control population. Correlations between hair arsenic levels and nerve velocity, although not striking, are noted. Mercury contamination of fish in a pristine environment in Lake Murray, Western Province, Papua New Guinea, is reflected in elevated hair and urine levels in the local inhabitants. An attempt was made to determine the effects of mercury on the people and 40% of those tested had albumen in their urine. The conclusions drawn from these studies are given. The problems imposed on epidemiological studies by remote areas and harsh conditions are suggested.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Mercury concentrations in canned and fresh fish and its accumulation in a population of Port Moresby residents.

Five varieties of canned fish and hair specimens from 243 subjects in Port Moresby have been analysed for organic and total mercury. The mean concentrations of total mercury in the canned fish were 0.45 mg/kg for tuna, 0.21 mg/kg for salmon, 0.17 mg/kg for mackerel, 0.08 mg/kg for sardines and 0.04 mg/kg for pilchard, based on the weight of the fish. The mean hair concentration was 2.1 mg/kg, the standard deviation 1.8 mg/kg and the range 0.15 to 14.4 mg/kg. The total mercury levels in hair were significantly higher for coastal people than for non-coastals. Although this is probably due to the greater fish intake of the coastal people, no significant correlation was found between fish consumption and hair mercury levels.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Elevated mercury levels in people from Lake Murray, Western Province.

The people of Lake Murray, Western Province, Papua New Guinea are chronically exposed to methylmercury through fish consumption. In a study of 114 volunteers from the area, the mean methylmercury concentration in hair was 15.5 mg/kg (range 3.2--50.5). The main source of methylmercury is barramundi (Lates calcarifer) caught in the Lake. For nearby control groups having similar and much lower levels of fish consumption, the mean methylmercury levels in hair were 6.4 mg/kg (range 0.62--25.7) and 2.4 mg/kg (range 0.33--9.0) respectively. No significant correlations were found between methylmercury concentrations in hair and age or sex in any of the three populations.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1982

Albuminuria at Lake Murray due to high methylmercury intake.

A clinical examination of 24 subjects having a high intake of methylmercury through fish consumption showed no individual symptoms or signs that could be due to mercury poisoning. However, nearly 40% of the subjects (9) had significant amounts of albumin in the urine. The mean concentrations of mercury in hair and urine were 12.0 mg/kg (81% methylmercury) and 23 mg/kg (35% methylmercury) respectively. No correlation, however, was found between the incidence of albuminuria and mercury levels in hair or urine.

Albuminuria↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Methylmercury in human hair: a study of a Papua New Guinean population exposed to methylmercury through fish consumption.

The mean methylmercury concentration in hair of a Papua New Guinean population was 15.5 micrograms/g (range = 3.2-50.5 micrograms/g). Nearly all individuals consumed fish 2 to 3 times daily. In contrast, the mean methylmercury concentration in hair of a nearby control group who consumed a similar amount of fish was 6.4 micrograms/g (range = 0.62-25.7 micrograms/g). A control group that consumed fish much less frequently had a mean methylmercury concentration in hair of 2.4 micrograms/g (range = 0.33-9.0 micrograms/g). No statistically significant variations in methylmercury concentrations in hair were found with sex or age within any of the three populations.

Adolescent↗