The Relationship between Blood Levels and Dose of Methylmercury in Man

Kershaw, Thomas G.; Dhahir, Patricia H.; Clarkson, Thomas W.

doi:10.1080/00039896.1980.10667458

Cited by 219 publications

(147 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Total Hg in whole blood is a validated biomarker of recent intake and acceptable surrogate of MeHg exposure given the elevated consumption of fish and marine mammals in this study population (Kershaw et al, 1980). Whole blood samples were collected from an antecubital vein in a 6 mL plastic vacutainer containing potassium EDTA as the anticoagulant (BD Medical), stored frozen at −80°C and sent to the Centre de Toxicologie du Québec of the Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec for total Hg and Se determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.…”

Section: Blood Hg Se and Long-chain N−3 Pufa Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local country food sources of methylmercury, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids in Nunavik, Northern Quebec

Lemire

Kwan

Laouan-Sidi

et al. 2015

Science of The Total Environment

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Country foods are central to Inuit culture and replete in selenium (Se) and long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA). However, some marine country foods bioaccumulate high concentrations of methylmercury (MeHg). Se and n-3 are associated with several health benefits in Nunavik, Northern Quebec, but, recent studies show that prenatal MeHg exposure is associated with visual, cognitive and behavioral deficit later in childhood. The study objectives are to identify contemporary country food sources of MeHg, Se and long-chain n-3 PUFA in Nunavik, particularly among childbearing-age women, taking into account regional differences in consumption profiles. The contribution of different country foods to daily MeHg, Se, long-chain n-3 PUFA intake (μg/kg body weight/day) was estimated using: (i) country food consumption and blood biomarkers data from the 2004 Nunavik Health Survey (387 women, 315 men), and (ii) data on MeHg, Se, long-chain n-3 PUFA concentrations found in Nunavik wildlife species. In the region where most traditional beluga hunting takes place in Nunavik, the prevalence of at-risk blood Hg (≥ 8 μg/L) in childbearing-age women was 78.4%. While most country foods presently consumed contain low MeHg, beluga meat, not a staple of the Inuit diet, is the most important contributor to MeHg: up to two-thirds of MeHg intake in the beluga-hunting region (0.66 of MeHg intake) and to about one-third in other regions. In contrast, seal liver and beluga mattaaq - beluga skin and blubber - only mildly contributed to MeHg (between 0.06 and 0.15 of MeHg intake), depending on the region. Beluga mattaaq also highly contributed to Se intake (0.30 of Se intake). Arctic char, beluga blubber and mattaaq, and seal blubber contributed to most long-chain n-3 PUFA intake. This study highlights the importance of considering interconnections between local ecosystems and dietary habits to develop recommendations and interventions promoting country foods' benefits, while minimizing the risk of MeHg from beluga meat, especially for childbearing-age women.

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Section: Blood Hg Se and Long-chain N−3 Pufa Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local country food sources of methylmercury, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids in Nunavik, Northern Quebec

Lemire

Kwan

Laouan-Sidi

et al. 2015

Science of The Total Environment

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“…Once absorbed into the bloodstream, methylmercury enters the red blood cells. More than 90% of the methylmercury found in blood is bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells (Kershaw, Clarkson, & Dhahir, 1980), Some methylmercury is also bound to plasma proteins but the concentration in red blood 0956-7135/$ -see front matter Ó 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2008.02.012 cells is 10 times greater than that in plasma (Phelps, Clarkson, Kershaw, & Wheatly, 1980).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of mercury level in commonly consumed marine fishes in Malaysia

et al. 2009

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a b s t r a c tTwelve species of common marine fish consumed by Malaysians were collected from local wholesale market in Malaysia; the mercury concentrations in muscle and liver samples were determined by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mercury concentration in the samples, expressed in lg g À1 dry weight. It was 0.45 for short-bodied mackerel, 0.04 for scad, 0.04 for narrow-bodied Spanish mackerel, 0.13 for black pomfret, 0.50 for long tail tuna, 0.03 for greasy grouper, 0.09 for chacunda gizzard shad, 0.06 for yellow-banded scad, 0.05 for eastern little tuna, 0.09 for delagoa treadfish bream, 0.10 for giant perch and 0.00 for sardine's muscle tissue. Among the fishes analyzed, long tail tuna had the highest level followed by short-bodied mackerel. Significantly lower levels (P < 0.05) of mercury were found in liver tissues. Total mercury concentration in liver tissues were as follow; 0.03 for short-bodied mackerel, 0.02 for scad, 0.05 for narrow-bodied Spanish mackerel, 0.10 for black pomfret, 0.49 for long tail tuna, 0.03 for greasy grouper, 0.03 for chacunda gizzard shad, 0.04 for yellow-banded scad, 0.02 for eastern little tuna, 0.09 for delagoa treadfish bream, 0.01 for giant perch and 0.01 for sardine. This study indicates that commonly consumed fish from Malaysia have concentrations of mercury below the permissible levels stated in the US FDA guidelines.

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“…Studies evaluating acute exposures to elemental and inorganic mercury from a thermometer-manufacturing plant suggest that whole blood sampling is most accurate when collected in a trace element tube. However, as further distribution to tissues occurs, these values become less useful in correlating with total body burden [57].…”

Section: In Addition To Cam Products Used In This Case Whatmentioning

confidence: 99%