Children’s IQ Reduction Due to Prenatal Fish MeHg Exposure in Coastal Areas: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Maternal dietary exposure to heavy metals like methylmercury (MeHg) through fish consumption has long been associated with neurological disabilities, including Intelligence Quotient (IQ) reduction. The most common exposure pathway to MeHg is dietary intake through fish consumption. However, there has been limited research comparing the IQ reduction caused by different fish species in different coastal areas. As Kuwait, Hong Kong, and Shanghai are three coastal areas with different cuisines and fish consumption rates, they are chosen as sites where the health risk of children’s IQ reduction due to the consumption of fish is to be assessed in this analysis. The results of this study suggested that among the fifteen types of seafood examined in Kuwait, hamoor was determined to be the most dangerous species, causing the highest mean IQ reductions in Kuwait. Frozen cod fillet was estimated to cause the highest mean and median IQ reductions amongst the twenty-six seafood types in Hong Kong, China. River eel and sardine are considered to be capable of inflicting the highest mean and maximum IQ reductions in Shanghai. Overall, seafood in Kuwait is more prone to causing serious intellectual disabilities because of its highest mean IQ reduction on average amongst the three locations examined. On the other hand, most types of seafood in Hong Kong and Shanghai have much lower mean IQ reductions, and are thus considered generally safe for consumption.