title: New evidence on variations of human body burden of methylmercury from fish consumption.
abstract: Epidemiologic studies commonly use mercury (Hg) level in hair as a valid proxy to estimate human exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) through fish consumption. This study presents the results yielded by a complete data set on fish consumption habits, Hg levels in edible fish resources, and corresponding Hg accumulation in hair, gathered in three distinct communities of eastern Canada. For one of these communities, the average hair Hg concentration was 14 times less than the expected value based on calculated daily oral exposure and current knowledge of MeHg metabolism. This finding could be explained by differences in specific genetic characteristics and/or interactive effects of other dietary components.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada. canuel.rene@uqam.ca
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Canuel
authors.forename: Sylvie Boucher
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: de Grosbois
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Atikessé
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucotte
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arp
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mergler
authors.forename: Hing Man
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amyot
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001822:Body Burden; D004032:Diet; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D017747:Seafood
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds