Mercury Exposure in Young Children Living in New York City

Abstract

Residential exposure to vapor from current or previous cultural use of mercury could harm children living in rental (apartment) homes. That concern prompted the following agencies to conduct a study to assess pediatric mercury exposure in New York City communities by measuring urine mercury levels: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's (NYCDOHMH) Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy, New York State Department of Health/Center for Environmental Health (NYSDOHCEH), Wadsworth Center's Biomonitoring Program/Trace Elements Laboratory (WC-TEL), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A previous study indicated that people could obtain mercury for ritualistic use from botanicas located in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx. Working closely with local community partners, we concentrated our recruiting efforts through health clinics located in potentially affected neighborhoods. We developed posters to advertise the study, conducted active outreach through local partners, and, as compensation for participation in the study, we offered a food gift certificate redeemable at a local grocer. We collected 460 urine specimens and analyzed them for total mercury. Overall, geometric mean urine total mercury was 0.31 microg mercury/l urine. One sample was 24 microg mercury/l urine, which exceeded the (20 microg mercury/l urine) NYSDOH Heavy Metal Registry reporting threshold for urine mercury exposure. Geometric mean urine mercury levels were uniformly low and did not differ by neighborhood or with any clinical significance by children's ethnicity. Few parents reported the presence of mercury at home, in a charm, or other item (e.g., skin-lightening creams and soaps), and we found no association between these potential sources of exposure and a child's urinary mercury levels. All pediatric mercury levels measured in this study were well below a level considered to be of medical concern. This study found neither self-reported nor measured evidence of significant mercury use or exposure among participating children. Because some participants were aware of the possibility that they could acquire and use mercury for cultural or ritualistic purposes, community education about the health hazards of mercury should continue.

A Review of Events That Expose Children to Elemental Mercury in the United States

“…These practices potentially expose practitioners and their families. Previous reports document the ceremonial mercury use in neighborhoods whose residents are largely Hispanic ( John Snow Inc. 2003 ; Ozuah et al 2003 ; Rogers et al 2008 , 2007 ; Zayas and Ozuah 1996 ). Because mercury contamination can persist for years, ceremonial mercury use in the home could also expose future occupants and their children, contributing to health disparities in these populations.…”

A community-based approach to disseminate health information on the hazards of prenatal mercury exposure in Brooklyn, NY

“…Fish known to have the highest levels of MeHg are bass, snapper, tuna, lobster, halibut, shark, swordfish, marlin, and Chilean sea bass [11], some of which are popular in Caribbean diets. Some adherents of certain indigenous religions of Latino and Afro-Caribbean cultures, such as Santeria and Voodoo, attribute magical powers to elemental Hg and use it for medicinal purposes, to attract luck, ward off evil, and for other rituals [12,13]. Users that handle or are in proximity to elemental Hg are at risk for exposure through vapor inhalation.…”

Impacto del mercurio sobre la salud humana y el ambiente

“…Numerosos grupos ét-nicos lo han empleando con fines má-gicos o religiosos. [2][3][4][5][6] En cuanto a su repercusión sobre la salud humana cabe mencionar la intoxicación crónica y en masa por exposición a altas dosis de metilmercurio (MeHg) ocurrida en Japón, donde la Chisso Corporation, una empresa de fertilizantes, petroquí-micos y plásticos, vertió toneladas de compuestos de mercurio en la bahía de Minamata entre 1932 y 1968. Esto propició la formación de MeHg (la forma más tóxica de este metal) y su paso a la cadena biótica a través de la bioacumulación y biomagnificación en los peces.…”