New Mercury Studies

News from the American Chemical Society, September 29, 2006

Mercury In Fish Damages Pancreatic Cells

Researchers in Taiwan say they have established for the first time that the mercury compound contaminating some seafood can damage insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

In their experiments, Shing-Hwa Liu and colleagues exposed cell cultures of insulin-producing beta cells to methylmercury. They used concentrations of methylmercury at about the same levels as people would consume in fish under the U. S. Food and Drug Administration's recommended limits.

Previous studies have shown that methylmercury is toxic to various cells. Liu and colleagues now have added pancreatic beta cells to that list.

Liu said in an interview: "Further research is needed on whether methylmercury exposure increases the risk of diabetes in humans."