Methyl Mercury Exposure at Niigata, Japan: Results of Neurological Examinations of 103 Adults
Table 3
Adjusted PORs* and their 95% C.I.s between mercury content and neurological signs.
value for trend
Dis.dom.bil. S.D. (%)
23 (95.8)
23 (95.8)
20 (95.2)
32 (94.1)
PORs and 95% CIs
1
1.0 (0.1, 18.1)
0.6 (0, 11.7)
0.7 (0, 10.4)
0.74
Perioral S.D. (%)
10 (41.7)
12 (50)
16 (76.2)
21 (61.8)
PORs and 95% CIs
1
1.4 (0.5, 4.5)
4.3 (1.2, 16)
2.7 (0.9, 8.3)
0.04
Whole body S.D. (%)
0 (0)
2 (8.3)
0 (0)
1 (3)
PORs and 95% CIs
1
NE
NE
NE
0.98
Ataxia (%)
17 (70.8)
17 (70.8)
18 (85.7)
27 (79.4)
PORs and 95% CIs
1
1.0 (0.3, 3.8)
2.2 (0.5, 10.5)
2.3 (0.6, 8.9)
0.14
Visual constriction (%)
11 (45.8)
11 (45.8)
7 (41.2)
13 (43.3)
PORs and 95% CIs
1
1.0 (0.3, 3.5)
0.5 (0.1, 2)
1.1 (0.3, 3.6)
0.89
Hearing impairment (%)
16 (72.7)
19 (86.4)
15 (78.9)
20 (64.5)
PORs and 95% CIs
1
2.6 (0.5, 13.2)
1.1 (0.2, 5.1)
0.6 (0.1, 2.2)
0.25
Speech disturbance (%)
3 (13)
4 (16.7)
4 (23.5)
8 (25)
PORs and 95% CIs
1
1.2 (0.2, 6.9)
1.4 (0.2, 8.4)
1.8 (0.4, 8.8)
0.45
Disequilibrium (%)
20 (83.3)
21 (87.5)
16 (80)
31 (91.2)
PORs and 95% CIs
1
1.4 (0.3, 7.1)
0.7 (0.1, 3.4)
1.9 (0.3, 10)
0.66
*Prevalence odds ratios were estimated using 0–20 ppm as a reference and were adjusted for age and sex. Abbreviations: C.I.: confidence interval; Dis.dom.bil.: distal dominant bilateral; NE: not estimatable; POR: prevalence odds ratio.
