Effect of lifestyles on the blood mercury level in Korean adults

• Published in: Human & experimental toxicology Vol. 32; no. 6; pp. 591 - 599
• Main Authors: Kim, N-Y, Ahn, S-J, Ryu, D-Y, Choi, B-S, Kim, H, Yu, I-J, Park, J-D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.06.2013; Sage Publications; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Asian people; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Data Collection; Feeding Behavior; Female; Food Contamination; Humans; Life Style; Lifestyles; Male; Medical sciences; Mercury; Mercury - blood; Mercury - chemistry; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Middle Aged; Republic of Korea; Rural Population; Seafood - analysis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Toxicology; Urban Population; Asia; Korea; seafood; Korean adults; Blood mercury; dietary mercury intake; Human; Biological fluid; Nutrition; Seafood; Blood; Feeding; Heavy metal; Diet; Adult; Mercury; Public health; Food; Chemical contamination; Life style
• ISSN: 0960-3271; 1477-0903
• DOI: 10.1177/0960327112467041

Mercury (Hg) is widely distributed in the environment and oral exposure is a main route in the general population. In this study, we estimated the dietary intake of Hg and its relationship with blood Hg levels in Korean adults. The study subjects were recruited from three different districts (rural: 189, coastal: 208 and urban: 184). We used a general questionnaire to collect information about demographic factors, lifestyles and diet. Dietary habits were studied using the 24-h recall method. The estimation of Hg intake was performed using the database of Hg contents in 128 Korean foods based on the previous studies. Blood Hg was analyzed using Direct Mercury Analyzer with the gold-amalgam method. Daily intake of Hg by diet was estimated at 13.57 μg (0.22 μg/kg body weight). The geometric mean Hg concentration in whole blood was 3.92 μg/L. Blood Hg level and Hg intake by diet was higher in coastal areas than in urban or rural areas, respectively. Blood Hg level correlated with the intake of Hg consumed from diet. Seafood was highly responsible and account for 75.6% of total dietary Hg intake. In this study, blood Hg concentrations were found to be significantly affected by sex, age, individual lifestyles and especially the amount of seafood intake, which might play an important role in determining blood Hg levels in Korean adults.