Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Impact of consumption of freshwater fish on mercury levels in hair, blood, urine, and alveolar air

Johnsson, C ; Schutzendubel, Andres LU and Sallsten, G (2005) In Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A: Current Issues 68(2). p.129-140
Abstract
Human exposure to methylmercury occurs mainly via consumption of fish. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of freshwater fish consumption on mercury levels in hair, blood, urine, and end-exhaled air. Twenty subjects without dental amalgam fillings were recruited from sport-fishing societies. They ranged in age from 61 to 87 yr. Six individuals ate freshwater fish at least once a week and were categorized as high consumers. Eight individuals were classified as medium consumers and ate freshwater fish at least once a month but less than once a week. Six individuals were categorized as low consumers and had not eaten freshwater fish in the past 3 mo. Among the high consumers, median concentrations of mercury were 8.6 mug/L... (More)
Human exposure to methylmercury occurs mainly via consumption of fish. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of freshwater fish consumption on mercury levels in hair, blood, urine, and end-exhaled air. Twenty subjects without dental amalgam fillings were recruited from sport-fishing societies. They ranged in age from 61 to 87 yr. Six individuals ate freshwater fish at least once a week and were categorized as high consumers. Eight individuals were classified as medium consumers and ate freshwater fish at least once a month but less than once a week. Six individuals were categorized as low consumers and had not eaten freshwater fish in the past 3 mo. Among the high consumers, median concentrations of mercury were 8.6 mug/L in blood, 2.4 mug/g in hair, 10 mug/L in end-exhaled air, and 1.1 mug/g creatinine in urine. The relationship between freshwater fish consumption and mercury was significant in all biological media. The high-consumption group had much higher mercury levels in blood (9-fold), hair (7-fold), alveolar air (3-fold), and urine (15-fold) than the low-consumption group. The latter finding may be explained by demethylation of methylmercury in the body. The ratio between mercury concentration in blood and hair was 1:270. This implies that the typical blood-hair ratio of 1:250, specified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1990, is valid also for exposure to low amounts of methylmercury. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A: Current Issues
volume
68
issue
2
pages
129 - 140
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000226256200004
  • pmid:15762551
  • scopus:11244280128
ISSN
1087-2620
DOI
10.1080/15287390590885992
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Microbial Ecology (Closed 2011) (011008001)
id
413a3069-0f61-4eaf-b507-6669bc9cec3c (old id 256029)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:33:58
date last changed
2022-01-27 06:49:39
@article{413a3069-0f61-4eaf-b507-6669bc9cec3c,
  abstract     = {{Human exposure to methylmercury occurs mainly via consumption of fish. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of freshwater fish consumption on mercury levels in hair, blood, urine, and end-exhaled air. Twenty subjects without dental amalgam fillings were recruited from sport-fishing societies. They ranged in age from 61 to 87 yr. Six individuals ate freshwater fish at least once a week and were categorized as high consumers. Eight individuals were classified as medium consumers and ate freshwater fish at least once a month but less than once a week. Six individuals were categorized as low consumers and had not eaten freshwater fish in the past 3 mo. Among the high consumers, median concentrations of mercury were 8.6 mug/L in blood, 2.4 mug/g in hair, 10 mug/L in end-exhaled air, and 1.1 mug/g creatinine in urine. The relationship between freshwater fish consumption and mercury was significant in all biological media. The high-consumption group had much higher mercury levels in blood (9-fold), hair (7-fold), alveolar air (3-fold), and urine (15-fold) than the low-consumption group. The latter finding may be explained by demethylation of methylmercury in the body. The ratio between mercury concentration in blood and hair was 1:270. This implies that the typical blood-hair ratio of 1:250, specified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1990, is valid also for exposure to low amounts of methylmercury.}},
  author       = {{Johnsson, C and Schutzendubel, Andres and Sallsten, G}},
  issn         = {{1087-2620}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{129--140}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A: Current Issues}},
  title        = {{Impact of consumption of freshwater fish on mercury levels in hair, blood, urine, and alveolar air}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15287390590885992}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/15287390590885992}},
  volume       = {{68}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}