• It would be helpful to obtain more comprehensive nutritional data from all three populations as well as single-strand hair analyses to address more effectively the issue of spiking or bolus dose. A reanalysis of the 5.5-year SCDS data controlling statistically for examiner might also be useful.

• Most of the MeHg exposure standards currently in effect are based on extrapolations from the Iraqi MeHg poisoning episode, in which exposure was due to the consumption of highly contaminated grain and resulted in body burdens that greatly exceeded those found in the general population of fish consumers. Given the availability of data from three well-designed epidemiological studies in which prenatal MeHg exposures were in the range of general-population exposures, exposure standards should be based on data from these newer studies.

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