A cohort of 1022 consecutive singleton births was generated during 1986-1987 in the Faroe Islands. Increased methyl mercury exposure from maternal consumption of pilot whale meat was indicated by mercury concentrations in cord blood and maternal hair.


At approximately 7 years of age, 917 of the children underwent detailed neurobehavioural examination. Neuropsychological tests included Finger Tapping; Hand & Eye Coordination; reaction time on a Continuous Performance Test; Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised Digit Spans, Similarities, and Block Designs; Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test; Boston Naming Test; and California Verbal Learning Test (children).


Clinical examination and neurophysiological testing did not reveal any clear cut mercury related abnormalities. However, mercury related neuropsychological dysfunctions were most pronounced in the domains of language, attention, and memory, and to a lesser extent in visuospatial and motor functions.

"Cognitive Deficit in 7-Year Old Children With Prenatal Exposure to Methylmercury." Grandjean, P; Weihe, P; White, RF; Debes, F; Araki, S; Yokoyama, I; Murata, K; Sorensen, N; Dahl, R; Jorgensen, PJ. Neurotoxicol Teratol., 19(6):417-28, Nov-Dec 1997. found at this page: http://www.zip.com.au/~rgammal/CNSMercuryExposure.htm