Unraveling mercury-selenium interactions through metabolomics: Impacts on riverside communities in the Amazon

Author(s)

Pontes, Joa o Guilherme de Moraes ; Rocha, Bruno Alves ; Cruz, Jonas Carneiro ; Cezarette, Gabriel Neves ; Omage, Folorunsho Bright ; Tasic, Ljubica ; Barbosa Jr, Fernando

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Environmental Pollution; v. 376, p. 9-pg., 2025-07-01.

Abstract

Amazonian riverside populations face high mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) exposure through diet and fish-rich consumption. While Hg is a well-known neurotoxin with systemic effects, the impacts of chronic Se exposure and its interaction with Hg in the human body remain insufficiently understood. Consequently, we aimed to elucidate metabolomic changes associated with varying Hg and Se blood levels. This study analyzed 352 blood samples, categorized into five groups based on Hg and Se levels, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed that elevated Hg exposure resulted in disrupted glucose, lactate, and branched-chain amino acid metabolism due to oxidative stress and energy dysfunction. Remarkably, individuals with high Hg and elevated Se in blood exhibited metabolic profiles closer to the control group, suggesting a protective Se effect. Additionally, proline and glutamine exhibited differential responses to Hg and Se levels. Furthermore, our analysis provided insights into Hg detoxification mechanisms through selenoprotein interactions. These findings highlight the potential of Se to mitigate Hg toxicity and underscore its dietary importance for at-risk populations. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 22/03476-5 - Understanding of the mercury-selenium interaction in Amazon riverside populations by combining cutting-edge analytical and toxicological approaches
• Grantee: Fernando Barbosa Júnior
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/24069-3 - ReSEARCH: Recognizing Signatures of the Exposome to Anticipate the Risks for a Continuous Health
• Grantee: Fernando Barbosa Júnior
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/07979-1 - Metabolomics of the exposome by Mass Spectrometry
• Grantee: Bruno Alves Rocha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Technical Training Program - Technical Training
• FAPESP's process: 23/12363-2 - Association between the co-exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals and birth outcomes in Brazilian newborns: a cross-sectional study using elastic net and Bayesian kernel machine regression
• Grantee: Jonas Carneiro Cruz
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 23/03780-9 - Metabonomics and Metabolomics of the exposome by NMR
• Grantee: João Guilherme de Moraes Pontes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 23/03654-3 - Development and application of simple and rapid analytical methods for the determination of endocrine disruptors and oxidative stress biomarkers in biological samples for evaluation of exposure of children and pregnant women
• Grantee: Jonas Carneiro Cruz
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral