Neurological symptoms associated with mercury exposure in a population from the Chocó Department, Colombia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18041/2322-634X/rcso.2.2024.11797Keywords:
Mercury, Environmental Exposure, Occupational Exposure, Nervous System, Neurological Symptoms, ColombiaAbstract
Objective: The study aimed to demonstrate the association between mercury levels and possible neurological symptoms in 11 gold-mining municipalities of Chocó, Colombia, during the year 2016.
Methods: This research was approached through a cross-sectional analytical study. A Chi-square test was conducted to indicate the association between the neurological symptoms reported by the population and records of mercury exposure levels exceeding the permissible limits, both environmental and occupational. Finally, a relationship was established to help explain how high mercury levels in hair, blood, and urine biomarkers are related to nervous system symptoms in the population of Chocó.
Results: A significant relationship was found between high mercury levels and symptoms such as headache, numbness, concentration and memory problems, vertigo, nervousness, sadness, irritability, blurred vision, muscle weakness, and general weakness.
Conclusion: It was found that symptoms associated with high levels of environmental and occupational mercury exposure were headache, numbness, concentration problems, memory problems, vertigo, nervousness, sadness, irritability, blurred vision, decreased muscle strength, and weakness.
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References
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