Assessment of fish consumption and mercury exposure among pregnant women in Jamaica and Trinidad &amp; Tobago

Ricketts, Phylicia; Basu, Niladri; Fletcher, Horace; Voutchkov, Mitko; Bassaw, B

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.08.054

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It has been shown that mercury levels are also related to socioeconomic level, where those in higher levels may consume more fish in accordance with recommendations to consume more omega-3 (mainly from this source) in order to maintain a healthier diet. Therefore, the literature has concluded that women of reproductive age who live in coastal areas (mainly the Atlantic and Pacific coasts) consume fish more frequently and have higher blood mercury levels [25,26]. This may be the case in the present study, given that the study population lives in coastal cities where fish is one of the main sources of dietary intake.…”

Section: Blood Mercury Levels After Exposurementioning

confidence: 55%

“…The literature has shown that women who consume more fish generally have elevated blood mercury levels [25][26][27]. It has been shown that mercury levels are also related to socioeconomic level, where those in higher levels may consume more fish in accordance with recommendations to consume more omega-3 (mainly from this source) in order to maintain a healthier diet.…”

Section: Blood Mercury Levels After Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Factors Associated with High Mercury Levels in Women and Girls from The Mojana Region, Colombia, 2013–2015

Díaz¹,

Palma²,

Muñoz³

et al. 2020

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Women are primarily exposed to mercury through the consumption of fish contaminated by gold mining activities. The main systems affected are the central nervous and renal systems, although effects on the reproductive system have also been found. Objective: To explore the relationship between mercury levels in women and their possible sources of contamination. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2013 to 2015 with women residing in 11 municipalities in La Mojana, Colombia, using non-random sampling. Standardized instruments were used to identify sociodemographic characteristics, mercury use, mining-related activities, water and fish consumption, and other factors. Blood, urine, and hair samples were taken to quantify mercury levels. A logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with elevated mercury values in the participants’ samples. A total of 428 women were included, with an average age of 36.7 ± 16.7 years, 3.3% of whom were pregnant at the time of the survey and 8.4% of whom were exposed occupationally. High levels of mercury were present in 62.8% of the women, in any one of the three samples processed. Those exposed occupationally and environmentally had similar values (p = 0.821). Frequency of fish consumption and source of drinking water were associated with higher levels of mercury (p < 0.05).

show abstract

Section: Blood Mercury Levels After Exposurementioning

confidence: 55%

Section: Blood Mercury Levels After Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Associated with High Mercury Levels in Women and Girls from The Mojana Region, Colombia, 2013–2015

Díaz¹,

Palma²,

Muñoz³

et al. 2020

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Most European Food-Based Dietary Guidelines recommend a minimum of two servings of fish per week for older children, adolescents, and adults to ensure the provision of key nutrients (EFSA, 2014). However, there has been heightened concern about the presence of toxic metals such as mercury (Ricketts et al, 2016), which is released in the environment from both natural sources and human activities. It exists mainly in different forms of elemental mercury (HgO), inorganic mercury (Hg + , Hg 2+ ) and organic mercury (MeHg + , EtHg + ,PhHg + , etc.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Exposure to it can result in severe illness and death (WHO, 2018). Consumption of fish is the main path for human exposure to mercury especially for coastal populations (Ricketts et al, 2016). Inorganic mercury is converted into the organic form (methylmercury) through methylation and the enzymatic process performed by bacteria and other aquatic microorganisms (Manavia et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is the predominant chemical form since the majority of total mercury that accumulates in the muscle tissue of fish is in this form methylmercury (95%-99%) (Carroll and Warwick, 2017) and has the ability to biomagnify through the aquatic food chain (Henry et al, 2017). It is the most toxic organic form of mercury which is considered by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to be possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) (Torres-Escribano et al, 2010;Ricketts et al, 2016). Methylmercury is at the origin of neurologic damage such as mental retardation, seizures, vision and hearing loss, delayed development, language disorders, and memory loss or renal damage and has a long biological half-life.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Risk assessment of mercury and methyl mercury intake via sardine and swordfish consumption in Algeria

Mehouel

Bouayad

Berber

et al. 2019

J Hellenic Vet Med Soc

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Total mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in the flesh of sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius) fished in three Algerian coasts were determined by a direct mercury analyzer (DMA). We also assessed the risk to which the consumer was exposed to by calculating the estimated daily intakes (EDIs), target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI). The average concentrations of Hg and MeHg in the flesh of sardine were similar (0.04 mg/kg wet weight) and in swordfish were 0.61 mg/kg wet weight; 0.57 mg/kg wet weight, respectively. These concentrations have not surpassed the thresholds set by the Algerian and European regulations. The estimated daily intakes for Hg and MeHg were similar in sardine (0.0064 μg/kg/day) and were 0.098 μg/kg/day and 0.092 μg/kg/day for Hg and MeHg, respectively, in swordfish. These values did not exceed the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). The target hazard quotient (THQ) and the hazard index (HI) calculated were < 1. Consequently, consumption of these fishes does not pose any risk for the adult groups of the Algerian population regarding mercury, and methylmercury studied.

show abstract

Global mercury concentrations in biota: their use as a basis for a global biomonitoring framework

Evers,

Ackerman,

Åkerblom

et al. 2024

Ecotoxicology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An important provision of the Minamata Convention on Mercury is to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the adopted measures and its implementation. Here, we describe for the first time currently available biotic mercury (Hg) data on a global scale to improve the understanding of global efforts to reduce the impact of Hg pollution on people and the environment. Data from the peer-reviewed literature were compiled in the Global Biotic Mercury Synthesis (GBMS) database (>550,000 data points). These data provide a foundation for establishing a biomonitoring framework needed to track Hg concentrations in biota globally. We describe Hg exposure in the taxa identified by the Minamata Convention: fish, sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals. Based on the GBMS database, Hg concentrations are presented at relevant geographic scales for continents and oceanic basins. We identify some effective regional templates for monitoring methylmercury (MeHg) availability in the environment, but overall illustrate that there is a general lack of regional biomonitoring initiatives around the world, especially in Africa, Australia, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, and South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Temporal trend data for Hg in biota are generally limited. Ecologically sensitive sites (where biota have above average MeHg tissue concentrations) have been identified throughout the world. Efforts to model and quantify ecosystem sensitivity locally, regionally, and globally could help establish effective and efficient biomonitoring programs. We present a framework for a global Hg biomonitoring network that includes a three-step continental and oceanic approach to integrate existing biomonitoring efforts and prioritize filling regional data gaps linked with key Hg sources. We describe a standardized approach that builds on an evidence-based evaluation to assess the Minamata Convention’s progress to reduce the impact of global Hg pollution on people and the environment.

show abstract

Assessment of fish consumption and mercury exposure among pregnant women in Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago

Cited by 15 publications

References 24 publications

Factors Associated with High Mercury Levels in Women and Girls from The Mojana Region, Colombia, 2013–2015

Factors Associated with High Mercury Levels in Women and Girls from The Mojana Region, Colombia, 2013–2015

Risk assessment of mercury and methyl mercury intake via sardine and swordfish consumption in Algeria

Global mercury concentrations in biota: their use as a basis for a global biomonitoring framework

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About