Exposure of the Inuit population of Nunavik (Arctic Quebec) to lead and mercury.
The authors conducted a survey during 1992 to evaluate blood levels of lead and mercury in Inuit adults of Nunavik (Arctic Quebec, Canada). Blood samples obtained from 492 participants (209 males and 283 females; mean age = 35 yr) were analyzed for lead and total mercury; mean (geometric) concentrations were 0.42 micromol/l (range = 0.04-2.28 micromol/l) and 79.6 nmol/l (range = 4-560 nmol/l), respectively. Concentrations of omega-3 fatty acid in plasma phospholipids--a biomarker of marine food consumption--were correlated with mercury (r = .56, p < .001) and, to a lesser extent, with blood lead levels (r = .31, p < .001). Analyses of variance further revealed that smoking, age, and consumption of waterfowl were associated with lead concentrations (r2 = .30, p < .001), whereas age and consumption of seal and beluga whale were related to total mercury levels (r2 = .30, p < .001). A significant proportion of reproductive-age women had lead and mercury concentrations that exceeded those that have been reportedly associated with subtle neurodevelopmental deficits in other populations.
Dewailly
E
E
Unité de Recherche en Santé Publique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Beauport, Canada.
Ayotte
P
P
Bruneau
S
S
Lebel
G
G
Levallois
P
P
Weber
J P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004372:Ducks; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005777:Geese; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis; D046048:Seals, Earless; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014907:Whales
D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury