Study of the polymorphisms of xenobiotic detoxification genes in people living in the area contaminated with mercury

Shinetova L. E., Bekeyeva S. A.

Mercury is an ecotoxicant that causes a wide range of changes in the body and has a harmful effect on human health. It is widely used in industry, agriculture, and medicine. In Kazakhstan, in the city of Temirtau, there is a high level of contamination with mercury from the acetaldehyde plant. Thus, the purpose of our study was to determine the polymorphisms of xenobiotic detoxification genes (GCLM, GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1) of people living in contaminated areas of mercury. The study included 90 people living in a land contaminated with mercury (Temirtau), and 90 conditionally healthy people living in the Akmola region (control group). The results showed that polymorphism in GSTM1 can affect urine mercury levels. The toxic effects of mercury can be related to the duration of the population’s residence in the affected area. The detected elevated levels of inorganic mercury in the urine of exposed individuals indicate that its harmful effects on public health still persist.

Keywords:Mercury, xenobiotics, polymorphism, genes detoxification