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Exposure to mercury before birth linked with high blood pressure

Exposure to mercury, even at low levels before birth, is associated with a risk of developing high blood pressure later in life, according to results from a long-term research project conducted in the Faroe Islands. The researchers, who were supported by the EU's Environment a...

Exposure to mercury, even at low levels before birth, is associated with a risk of developing high blood pressure later in life, according to results from a long-term research project conducted in the Faroe Islands. The researchers, who were supported by the EU's Environment and Climate research programme, will publish their results in the July issue of 'Epidemiology'. Their findings are reinforced by a similar study, also funded by the EU, which was carried out in Madeira and indicated that prenatal exposure to mercury could cause delays in neurological development. The results from this study will be published in the July/August edition of 'Neurotoxicology and Teratology'. Experts from the World Health Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation are now considering the new findings alongside their current discussions on whether to recommend new safe limits for mercury exposure from fish.