Chapter 3H. Mercury: Biomarkers of Exposure and Human Biomonitoring

Horvat, Milena; Tratnik, Janja Snoj; Miklavčič, Ana

doi:10.1039/9781849733373-00381

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Human exposures to MeHg can be ascertained through biomonitoring efforts that make use of biomarkers, specifically measures of total Hg content in blood and hair (Horvat et al 2012; United Nations Environment Programme and World Health Organization 2008). However, these measures remain challenging for application in many populations, particularly those inhabiting resource‐limited settings or remote locations (Basu et al 2018) as well as those communities with high exposure to elemental Hg (e.g., dental workers and artisanal gold miners).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methylmercury Measurements in Dried Blood Spots from Electronic Waste Workers Sampled from Agbogbloshie, Ghana

Rios

Basu

2021

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Biomonitoring methylmercury (MeHg) exposure is problematic in resource-limited settings and with difficult-toaccess populations where traditional biomarker approaches present logistical, economic, and ethical issues. The present study aimed to validate the use of dried blood spots (DBS) to assess MeHg exposure in a real-world contaminated field setting. Whole-blood and DBS samples were collected from electronic waste workers (n = 20) from Agbogbloshie (Ghana) in 2017, and DBS were also artificially created in the laboratory using the field-collected blood. Whole-blood MeHg concentrations averaged 0.84 µg/L, which was not different from levels measured in the corresponding DBS samples (field-collected or artificially created). Whole-blood MeHg comprised 61% of the blood total Hg concentrations. Linear regression analysis revealed no differences in MeHg concentrations between whole-blood samples and field-collected DBS (slope 0.89, R 2 = 0.94) and between field and laboratory DBS (slope 0.89, R 2 = 0.96). The MeHg content in DBS punch blanks averaged 0.86 pg and thus was not of concern. These findings indicate that DBS are a suitable tool for assessing MeHg exposure in real-world environmental settings that may be heavily contaminated.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methylmercury Measurements in Dried Blood Spots from Electronic Waste Workers Sampled from Agbogbloshie, Ghana

Rios

Basu

2021

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…Other, but not commonly used, biomarkers include concentrations of THg and MeHg in cord tissue, breast milk, and toenails. Complementary measurements of MeHg and inorganic Hg in blood have been used as biomarkers of exposures to MeHg and either elemental or inorganic Hg compounds, respectively .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the significant linear correlation between MeHg in cord blood and maternal blood, high variation in the ratio of cord blood MeHg to maternal blood MeHg has been reported, ranging from 0.88 to 3.5 . The presence of Hg in blood indicates either recent or current exposure . In most people, MeHg from fish and Hg vapor from dental amalgams influence Hg concentrations in the blood .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human mercury exposure and effects in Europe

Višnjevec¹,

Kocman²,

Horvat³

2014

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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The effects of human exposure to mercury (Hg) and its compounds in Europe have been the focus of numerous studies that differed in their design, including recruiting different population groups at different levels of exposure and using different protocols and recruitment strategies. The objective of the present study was to review current studies of Hg exposure in Europe, taking into account the potential routes of Hg exposure, actual Hg exposure levels assessed by different biomarkers, and the effects of Hg to Europeans. All published studies from 2000 onward were reviewed, and exposure and effects studies were compared with known Hg levels in environmental compartments by mapping the various population groups studied and taking into account known sources of Hg. A study of the spatial distribution trends confirmed that the highest exposure levels to Hg, mostly as methylmercury (MeHg), are found in coastal populations, which consume more fish than inland populations. Fewer studies addressed exposure to elemental Hg through inhalation of Hg in air and inorganic Hg in food, particularly in highly contaminated areas. Overall, at the currently low exposure levels of Hg prevalently found in Europe, further studies are needed to confirm the risk to European populations, taking into consideration exposure to various Hg compounds and mixtures of stressors with similar end-points, nutritional status, and a detailed understanding of Hg in fish present in European markets.

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“…The determination of mercury in hair is widely used in assessing the level of ingestion of this metal in the human body [1]. The levels of mercury in the hair are directly correlated with the levels of mercury in the blood [3]. The negative effects of mercury on the human body have been extensively studied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury content in the hair of residents of Babushkinsky district, Vologda region, Russia

et al. 2021

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Mercury is a highly toxic metal for all living organisms. Even low doses of the organic form of mercury can cause disruption in some functions of the human body. The content of mercury in the hair of residents (n=71) of Babushkinsky district, Vologda region, Russia was determined. Babushkinsky district is located away from industrial sources of mercury. Mercury concentrations were determined using a mercury analyzer RA-915M. The average mercury content in the hair of residents of Babushkinsky district, Vologda region was 0.398 mg/kg. 8% of the study participants had mercury levels in their hair above 1 mg/kg. There were no differences in the content of mercury in the hair between males (0.540 mg/kg) and females (0.344 mg/kg). The differences were established depending on age: under 30 years old (0.208 mg/kg), over 30 years (0.582 mg/kg). There is also a correlation between mercury in the hair and age. People who eat fish several times a week have twice as much mercury (0.538 mg/kg) as people who eat fish less than once a month (0.262 mg/kg).

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Chapter 3H. Mercury: Biomarkers of Exposure and Human Biomonitoring

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

Methylmercury Measurements in Dried Blood Spots from Electronic Waste Workers Sampled from Agbogbloshie, Ghana

Methylmercury Measurements in Dried Blood Spots from Electronic Waste Workers Sampled from Agbogbloshie, Ghana

Human mercury exposure and effects in Europe

Mercury content in the hair of residents of Babushkinsky district, Vologda region, Russia

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