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Lead, mercury, and cadmium in blood and their relation to diet among Swedish adults

Bjermo, Helena ; Sand, Salomon ; Nalsen, Cecilia ; Lundh, Thomas LU ; Barbieri, Helene Enghardt ; Pearson, Monika ; Lindroos, Anna Karin ; Jönsson, Bo A LU ; Barregard, Lars and Darnerud, Per Ola (2013) In Food and Chemical Toxicology 57. p.161-169
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine the body burden of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) in blood among Swedish adults and the association between blood levels, diet and other lifestyle factors. The study was based on a subgroup (n = 273) of the national survey Riksmaten 2010-2011 (4-day food records and questionnaire). Lead, Hg, and Cd were measured in whole blood, and Cd additionally in urine, by mass or fluorescence spectrometry methods. The median values (5-95th percentiles) of the metals in blood were as follows: Pb: 13.4 (5.8-28.6) mu g/L, Hg: 1.13 (0.31-3.45) mu g/L, and Cd: 0.19 (0.09-1.08) mu g/L. All three metals increased with increasing age. Lead levels in blood were positively associated with intakes of game... (More)
The aim of the present study was to examine the body burden of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) in blood among Swedish adults and the association between blood levels, diet and other lifestyle factors. The study was based on a subgroup (n = 273) of the national survey Riksmaten 2010-2011 (4-day food records and questionnaire). Lead, Hg, and Cd were measured in whole blood, and Cd additionally in urine, by mass or fluorescence spectrometry methods. The median values (5-95th percentiles) of the metals in blood were as follows: Pb: 13.4 (5.8-28.6) mu g/L, Hg: 1.13 (0.31-3.45) mu g/L, and Cd: 0.19 (0.09-1.08) mu g/L. All three metals increased with increasing age. Lead levels in blood were positively associated with intakes of game and alcohol, Hg was related to fish intake, and blood Cd related to smoking and low iron stores and to a low meat intake. Body burdens of the studied metals were generally below health based reference values, but several individuals had blood Pb levels above the reference point for possible nephrotoxic and developmental neurotoxic effects. As health effects cannot be excluded, individuals with high Pb exposure should aim at decreasing their body burden, both from food and from other exposure routes. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Heavy metals, Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Diet, Blood
in
Food and Chemical Toxicology
volume
57
pages
161 - 169
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000320498300021
  • scopus:84876697610
  • pmid:23537601
ISSN
0278-6915
DOI
10.1016/j.fct.2013.03.024
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5b054607-0b66-475e-9d76-b6733d0726f3 (old id 3979627)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:34:32
date last changed
2022-03-21 19:19:25
@article{5b054607-0b66-475e-9d76-b6733d0726f3,
  abstract     = {{The aim of the present study was to examine the body burden of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) in blood among Swedish adults and the association between blood levels, diet and other lifestyle factors. The study was based on a subgroup (n = 273) of the national survey Riksmaten 2010-2011 (4-day food records and questionnaire). Lead, Hg, and Cd were measured in whole blood, and Cd additionally in urine, by mass or fluorescence spectrometry methods. The median values (5-95th percentiles) of the metals in blood were as follows: Pb: 13.4 (5.8-28.6) mu g/L, Hg: 1.13 (0.31-3.45) mu g/L, and Cd: 0.19 (0.09-1.08) mu g/L. All three metals increased with increasing age. Lead levels in blood were positively associated with intakes of game and alcohol, Hg was related to fish intake, and blood Cd related to smoking and low iron stores and to a low meat intake. Body burdens of the studied metals were generally below health based reference values, but several individuals had blood Pb levels above the reference point for possible nephrotoxic and developmental neurotoxic effects. As health effects cannot be excluded, individuals with high Pb exposure should aim at decreasing their body burden, both from food and from other exposure routes. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Bjermo, Helena and Sand, Salomon and Nalsen, Cecilia and Lundh, Thomas and Barbieri, Helene Enghardt and Pearson, Monika and Lindroos, Anna Karin and Jönsson, Bo A and Barregard, Lars and Darnerud, Per Ola}},
  issn         = {{0278-6915}},
  keywords     = {{Heavy metals; Lead; Mercury; Cadmium; Diet; Blood}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{161--169}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Food and Chemical Toxicology}},
  title        = {{Lead, mercury, and cadmium in blood and their relation to diet among Swedish adults}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2013.03.024}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.fct.2013.03.024}},
  volume       = {{57}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}