Our research group is carrying out studies on neurobehavioral changes associated with eating fish from the Upper St. Lawrence River (Québec, Canada) and the Lower Tapajós River (Brazilian Amazon). Here, these studies are reviewed with respect to exposure, effects and intervention. Although mercury (Hg) levels in piscivorous fish are similar in both regions, in the Amazon, fish constitutes the dietary mainstay, while in Quebec, fish consumption is primarily occasional. Mercury exposure of Amazonian fish-eaters was considerably higher than Québec (median blood total Hg: 28 and 1 μg/l, respectively), but fish from the St. Lawrence contain multiple contaminants. For the Tapajós River, increasing hair Hg was associated with reduced motor and visual functions. Comparison of neurobehavioral performance of Québec fish-eaters and non fish-eaters showed a consistent pattern of information processing slowing among the former; these deficits were not related to blood methyl Hg levels. Early changes associated with exposure can be used to trigger intervention. Since fish provide important essential nutrients, mitigation must balance the beneficial and harmful effects. In Canada, advisories from environmental and health agencies consider both these aspects. In the Amazon, we are currently involved in a participatory research whose goal is to reduce Hg absorption, while maintaining fish consumption.

中文翻译：

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Tapajós（巴西）和St. Lawrence（加拿大）的神经行为缺陷和河鱼消费的回顾。

我们的研究小组正在进行有关食用圣劳伦斯河上游（加拿大魁北克）和塔帕霍斯河下游（巴西亚马逊河）的鱼的神经行为变化的研究。在此，对这些研究的接触，影响和干预进行了综述。尽管两个地区的食鱼鱼中汞（Hg）含量相似，但在亚马逊河中，鱼是饮食的主要支柱，而在魁北克，鱼品消费​​主要是偶然的。亚马逊河鱼类摄食者的汞暴露大大高于魁北克（平均血液总汞含量分别为28和1μg/ l），但是来自圣劳伦斯的鱼类含有多种污染物。对于Tapajós河而言，增加头发汞会降低运动和视觉功能。魁北克食鱼者和非食鱼者的神经行为表现的比较表明，前者之间的信息处理模式一致。这些缺陷与血液中的甲基汞水平无关。与接触有关的早期变化可用于触发干预。由于鱼类提供了重要的重要营养素，因此缓解必须平衡有益和有害的影响。在加拿大，来自环境和卫生机构的咨询考虑了这两个方面。在亚马逊地区，我们目前正在进行一项参与性研究，其目标是减少汞的吸收，同时保持鱼类的消费。由于鱼类提供了重要的重要营养素，因此缓解必须平衡有益和有害的影响。在加拿大，来自环境和卫生机构的咨询考虑了这两个方面。在亚马逊地区，我们目前正在进行一项参与性研究，其目标是减少汞的吸收，同时保持鱼类的消费。由于鱼类提供了重要的重要营养素，因此缓解必须平衡有益和有害的影响。在加拿大，来自环境和卫生机构的咨询考虑了这两个方面。在亚马逊地区，我们目前正在进行一项参与性研究，其目标是减少汞的吸收，同时保持鱼类的消费。