Methylmercury blood guidance values for Canada.
Exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) from fish and marine mammal consumption continues to present a public health concern. To date, developmental neurotoxicity is the most sensitive health outcome, forming the basis for health-risk assessments and the derivation of biomonitoring guidance values. This article summarizes existing Health Canada MeHg blood guidance values for general population and expands them to include a harmonized provisional interim blood guidance value of 8 microg/L based on the existing provisional Tolerable Daily Intake for children, pregnant women and women of childbearing age. Associated public health actions, according to age, sex, and level of exposure are recommended.
Legrand
Melissa
M
Healthy Environment and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON. melissa.legrand@hc-sc.gc.ca
Feeley
Mark
M
Tikhonov
Constantine
C
Schoen
Deborah
D
Li-Muller
Angela
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011634:Public Health; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017747:Seafood / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D008767:Methylmercury Compounds