Relationship between Dietary Mercury Intake and Blood Mercury Level in Korea

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of dietary factors for mercury exposure by comparing with blood mercury concentration. Study population consisted of 1,866 adults (839 men and 1,027 women) in randomly-selected 30 districts in southeast Korea. Dietary mercury intake was calculated from food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) on seafood items and 24 hr recall record. Blood mercury concentration was measured with atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean age of the subjects was 43.5 ± 14.6 yr. The FFQ showed that mercury-laden fish (tuna, shark) and frequently-eating fish (squid, belt fish, mackerel) were important in mercury intake from fish species. The recall record suggested that fish and shellfish was a highest group (63.1%) of mercury intake and had a wide distribution in the food groups. In comparison with the blood mercury concentration, age group, sex, household income, education, drinking status and coastal area were statistically significant (P < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, coefficient from the FFQ (β = 0.003) had greater effect on the blood mercury than the recall record (β = 0.002), but the effect was restricted (adjusted R2 = 0.234). Further studies with more precise estimation of dietary mercury intake were required to evaluate the risk for mercury exposure by foods and assure risk communication with heavily-exposed group.Graphical Abstract

Biomonitoring of Lead, Cadmium, Total Mercury, and Methylmercury Levels in Maternal Blood and in Umbilical Cord Blood at Birth in South Korea

“…The main source of human mercury exposure is known to be mercury contaminated fish and shellfish. The higher levels of mercury and methylmercury in our study than in the previous studies from Western countries might be explained by the presence of lifestyle risk factors for mercury exposure in Korea, such as high seafood consumption [ 22 ]. As an example with high seafood consumption country like Korea, Sakamoto et al has reported that the mean maternal RBCs level of lead and mercury were 26.4 ng/g and 9.41 ng/g from Japanese women [ 23 ].…”

Relationship between Blood Mercury Concentration and Bone Mineral Density in Korean Men in the 2008–2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

“…Third, sources of inorganic Hg, typically inhalation of vaporized gas in industrial settings and dental amalgams, were not considered in this study. 9) While previous studies have reported fish consumption to be the primary source of Hg in Korea, You et al 7) reported that dietary Hg intake was relatively weakly correlated with blood Hg concentrations. According to Kim and Lee, 24) no significant association between blood Hg and dental amalgam treatment was observed in a study based on KNHANES data.…”

“…5 6) Methylmercury, the predominant form of organic Hg, accumulates up the food chain and becomes the main food source of Hg exposure in humans. 7) Blood Hg concentration is considered the most valid biomarker of recent methylmercury exposure. 8 ) Due to growing societal concerns about environmental heavy metals in Korea, heavy metal biomonitoring has been performed since the third Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (KNHANES).…”

Metal Concentrations in Newcomer Women and Environmental Exposures: A Scoping Review

“…Other sources of Pb exposures for populations residing in middle to low income countries include emissions associated with artisanal mining and processing activities, toxic waste sites, leaded paint and remaining leaded gas use [18,19,20,21]. Fish, shellfish and grains such as rice can be significant sources of Hg exposures [22,23]. Methyl mercury (MeHg) contributes the bulk of Hg exposures in most individuals; notably through the consumption of long-living, predatory fish species [24].…”