Blood Mercury Reporting in NHANES: Identifying Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, and Multiracial Groups

Abstract

IntroductionAsians, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans are a potentially high-risk group for dietary exposure to methylmercury through fish consumption. However, blood mercury levels in this group have not been identified in recent reports of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 1999–2002.MethodsWe used NHANES data from 1999–2002 to obtain population estimates of blood mercury levels among women of childbearing age classified as belonging to the “other” racial/ethnic group (Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, and multiracial; n = 140). Blood mercury levels in this group were compared with those among all other women participants, classified as Mexican American, non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic white, and “other” Hispanic.ResultsAn estimated 16.59 ± 4.0% (mean ± SE) of adult female participants who self-identified as Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, or multiracial (n = 140) had blood mercury levels ≥5.8 μg/L, and 27.26 ± 4.22% had levels ≥3.5 μg/L. Among remaining survey participants (n = 3,497), 5.08 ± 0.90% had blood mercury levels ≥5.8 μg/L, and 10.86 ± 1.45% had levels ≥3.5 μg/L.ConclusionsStudy subjects in NHANES who self-identified as Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, or multiracial had a higher prevalence of elevated blood mercury than all other racial/ethnic participants in the survey. Future studies should address reasons for the high mercury levels in this group and explore possible interventions for lowering risk of methylmercury exposure in this population.

Cumulative Environmental Impacts: Science and Policy to Protect Communities

“…Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey demonstrated that mercury concentrations are significantly higher in Asians and Native American/Pacific Islanders (28). These findings are consistent with data showing higher rates of fish consumption in these groups.…”

Blood Total Mercury Concentrations in the Canadian Population: Canadian Health Measures Survey Cycle 1, 2007–2009

“…12, 16 These results highlight the need for further studies focused on immigrants and underscore the importance for health care professionals to provide personalized clinical evaluations and advice in ethnically diverse Canada. 17 The findings of increasing blood THg levels with increasing income and education level are consistent with data from other studies.…”

Analysis of potential mercury policies: The impact of stream basin characteristics on susceptible populations

“…consumption rates than the general US population (Hightower et al 2006;Shilling et al 2010). The model assumes that 100% of fish consumption comes from the stream being modeled.…”