Impacts of Mercury Exposure Levels and Sources on the Demethylation of Methylmercury Through Human Gut Microbiota

This study aims to investigate methylmercury (MeHg) demethylation processes in human gut. Here, we determined the compositions and MeHg demethylation rates of gut microbiota in residents from different Hg exposure levels (Wanshan (WS) town and Yangtou (YT) town) and different Hg exposure sources (Zh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology 2022-09, Vol.109 (3), p.534-541
Main Authors: Yang, Xian-Feng, Yang, Shao-Chen, Wen, Fu-Li, Feng, Lin, Meng, Bo, Hu, Hai-Yan, Wang, Bao-Lin, Li, Jun, Poulain, Alexandre J., Li, Ping
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic Pollution
Demethylation
Desulfovibrio
Digestive system
Dimethylmercury
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Health
Exposure
Gastrointestinal tract
Intestinal microflora
Intestine
Mercury
Mercury (metal)
Methanogenic bacteria
Methylation
Methylmercury
Microbiota
Pollution
Soil Science & Conservation
Waste Water Technology
Water Management
Water Pollution Control
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Summary:This study aims to investigate methylmercury (MeHg) demethylation processes in human gut. Here, we determined the compositions and MeHg demethylation rates of gut microbiota in residents from different Hg exposure levels (Wanshan (WS) town and Yangtou (YT) town) and different Hg exposure sources (Zhuchang (ZC) town and YT town) regions. MeHg and inorganic Hg exposure levels in residents of WS town were significantly higher than those of YT and ZC town. Desulfovibrio and Methanogens, which related to Hg methylation/demethylation, showed significantly higher abundance in WS and ZC, comparing with YT. In vitro experiments demonstrated that human intestinal microbiota could degrade MeHg directly. Besides, gut microbiota in WS and ZC exhibited significantly higher demethylation rates than YT, suggesting Desulfovibrio and Methanogens may play important roles in intestinal MeHg demethylation. This study highlights Hg exposure levels and sources may affect demethylation efficiency of gut microbiota, which provides new insights for MeHg demethylation processes in human body.
ISSN:0007-4861
1432-0800
DOI:10.1007/s00128-022-03569-5