Exposure of the Inuit Population of Nunavik (Arctic Québec) to Lead and Mercury

Dewailly, Éric; Ayotte, Pierre; Bruneau, Suzanne; Lebel, Germain; Levallois, Patrick; Weber, Jean-Philippe

doi:10.1080/00039890109604467

Cited by 99 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Total Hg concentrations were determined in hair and whole blood as described by Dewailly et al (2001) and Muckle et al (2001a, b). Briefly, hair samples were divided in 1 cm sections to reconstruct past exposure; that is, average exposure during successive months preceding hair sampling (1 cm of hairE1-month period (WHO, 1990)).…”

Section: Measurements Of Total Hg In Biological Samples Of Volunteersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of a toxicokinetic and a questionnaire-based approach to assess methylmercury intake in exposed individuals

Noisel

Bouchard

Carrier

et al. 2010

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

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Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxic contaminant and one of the main sources of exposure in humans is seafood consumption. It is thus of interest to assess precisely MeHg exposure. The objective of this study was to estimate MeHg daily intake in exposed individuals using two different approaches, a food questionnaire and toxicokinetic modeling, and compare the complementary and use of each method. For this purpose, a group of 23 fishermen from northern Quebec provided blood and hair samples and answered a standard food questionnaire focusing on seafood consumption. A published and validated toxicokinetic model was then used to reconstruct MeHg daily intakes from mercury (Hg) measurements in biological samples. These intakes were compared to those estimated using a standard food questionnaire on seafood consumption. Daily intakes of MeHg from seafood (mean/median (range)) estimated from hair concentrations with the toxicokinetic-based approach were 6.1/5.2 (0.0-19) mg/day. These intake values were on average six times lower than those estimated using a food questionnaire, that is, 49/32 (7.2-163) mg/day. No correlation was found between the toxicokinetic-based and the questionnaire estimates of MeHg daily intakes. Most of the MeHg intakes estimated with the food questionnaire (21/23) exceeded the US EPA RfD of 0.1 mg/kg bw/day, whereas only a small proportion (6/23) of modeled estimates exceeded the RfD. This study shows that human health risk estimates strongly depend on the chosen approach.

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Section: Measurements Of Total Hg In Biological Samples Of Volunteersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of a toxicokinetic and a questionnaire-based approach to assess methylmercury intake in exposed individuals

Noisel

Bouchard

Carrier

et al. 2010

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

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“…Indigenous populations in the Arctic are exposed to elevated levels of MeHg through their traditional diet of fish and marine mammals (2). Elevated biological MeHg concentrations are widely reported across the Arctic and sub-Arctic, a region lacking concentrated anthropogenic Hg sources (3).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Freshwater discharges drive high levels of methylmercury in Arctic marine biota

Schartup

Balcom

Soerensen

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

117

148

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Elevated levels of neurotoxic methylmercury in Arctic food-webs pose health risks for indigenous populations that consume large quantities of marine mammals and fish. Estuaries provide critical hunting and fishing territory for these populations, and, until recently, benthic sediment was thought to be the main methylmercury source for coastal fish. New hydroelectric developments are being proposed in many northern ecosystems, and the ecological impacts of this industry relative to accelerating climate changes are poorly characterized. Here we evaluate the competing impacts of climate-driven changes in northern ecosystems and reservoir flooding on methylmercury production and bioaccumulation through a case study of a stratified sub-Arctic estuarine fjord in Labrador, Canada. Methylmercury bioaccumulation in zooplankton is higher than in midlatitude ecosystems. Direct measurements and modeling show that currently the largest methylmercury source is production in oxic surface seawater. Water-column methylation is highest in stratified surface waters near the river mouth because of the stimulating effects of terrestrial organic matter on methylating microbes. We attribute enhanced biomagnification in plankton to a thin layer of marine snow widely observed in stratified systems that concentrates microbial methylation and multiple trophic levels of zooplankton in a vertically restricted zone. Large freshwater inputs and the extensive Arctic Ocean continental shelf mean these processes are likely widespread and will be enhanced by future increases in water-column stratification, exacerbating high biological methylmercury concentrations. Soil flooding experiments indicate that near-term changes expected from reservoir creation will increase methylmercury inputs to the estuary by 25-200%, overwhelming climate-driven changes over the next decade. mercury | plankton | estuary | biomagnification | hydroelectric reservoir

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“…Once it is released into anoxic environments, bacteria can rapidly methylate this metal. Methyl mercury is biomagnified in the environment (Dewailly et al, 2001). Its half-life is 60-120 days in humans, up to 2 years in fish.…”

Section: Metalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oceans and human health: Emerging public health risks in the marine environment

Fleming

Broad

Clement

et al. 2006

Marine Pollution Bulletin

221

122

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There has been an increasing recognition of the inter-relationship between human health and the oceans. Traditionally, the focus of research and concern has been on the impact of human activities on the oceans, particularly through anthropogenic pollution and the exploitation of marine resources. More recently, there has been recognition of the potential direct impact of the oceans on human health, both detrimental and beneficial. Areas identified include: global change, harmful algal blooms (HABs), microbial and chemical contamination of marine waters and seafood, and marine models and natural products from the seas. It is hoped that through the recognition of the inter-dependence of the health of both humans and the oceans, efforts will be made to restore and preserve the oceans.

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Exposure of the Inuit Population of Nunavik (Arctic Québec) to Lead and Mercury

Cited by 99 publications

References 17 publications

Comparison of a toxicokinetic and a questionnaire-based approach to assess methylmercury intake in exposed individuals

Comparison of a toxicokinetic and a questionnaire-based approach to assess methylmercury intake in exposed individuals

Freshwater discharges drive high levels of methylmercury in Arctic marine biota

Oceans and human health: Emerging public health risks in the marine environment

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