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                Auburn University - University Relations
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6/16/95                 Mitch Emmons (emmonmb@mail.auburn.edu)

AU BEHAVIOR SCIENTIST STUDYING THE EFFECTS OF METHYLMERCURY

      AUBURN -- A three-year study of methylmercury, a metallic 
chemical blamed for such developmental disorders as learning 
disabilities, cerebral palsy and mental retardation, is being undertaken 
by an Auburn University researcher. 
      Exposure to the chemical is a daily occurrence in the 
environment, says Christopher Newland, a neurotoxicologist and associate 
professor in the Department of Psychology.
       But Newland says scientists do not know a lot about what levels 
of exposure can be tolerated and the long-term effects the neurotoxicant 
might have on human behavior. Newland's study will assess the long-term 
effects of methylmercury on behavior and aging in rats. 
      "There are two avenues of approach," he said. "One is to learn 
more about this chemical, but the larger questions are how it causes 
adverse behavior development and how it affects the central nervous system.
      "Making links between what we know about human and non-human 
behavior is important in order to learn such information as what levels 
(of methylmercury) can be tolerated in our environment. They could also 
could lead to the identification of behavioral patterns that forewarn of 
developmental disorders associated with chemical exposure and lead to 
development of new and better methods of treatment."
      A developing fetus is especially vulnerable to methylmercury 
because exposure can damage development of the central nervous system, 
Newland said. 
      High concentrations of methylmercury can be traced to heavy 
industrialization, but wind can carry it to pristine areas as well, he 
said, adding that
humans are exposed to methylmercury mainly in their diets, especially in 
fish.
      "Methylmercury accumulates in the fish muscle so that the 
concentration of methylmercury in the muscle tissue is as much as a 
million times greater than the concentration in the water around it," 
said Newland. "Predatory fish in waters that have been contaminated by 
industrial sources produce the biggest risk."
      Among industrial sources of methylmercury, says the researcher, 
are burning municipal waste, certain smelting operations, plastics 
manufacture, cement manufacturing and coal burning.
      "It's released into the atmosphere where it drops into the lakes 
and ultimately enters the food chain," Newland said.
      The human body may have built-in mechanisms for safely dealing 
with certain levels of methylmercury,  he added.
       "There's just no mechanism for handling a lot of it," said 
Newland. "We know that methylmercury causes damage to the developing 
nervous system. At some level, it causes very serious damage. 
      "What we don't know is how low a level can be tolerated and what 
are the long-term consequences of low-level exposure. And we really don't 
know the mechanism by which methylmercury causes its effects. These are 
some of the questions we hope to answer through this research."
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june95:AU-meth    
CONTACT: Newland, 334/844-6479 (newland@psych.auburn.edu).