Blood concentration of methylmercury in relation to food consumption.
OBJECTIVE
Dietary fish is the main source of methylmercury (MeHg) for man, and fish consumption has been used as a measure of MeHg exposure. However, other dietary sources of exposure exist and MeHg metabolism may also be modified by nutritional factors. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between blood MeHg concentration and consumption of different foods in a Finnish population with high fish consumption.


METHODS
Blood samples, a detailed FFQ and additional frequency data on fish consumption were collected. MeHg was analysed from whole blood by the isotope dilution method with high-resolution MS. The consumption of different foods was calculated by MeHg quartiles and tested for linear trend.


METHODS
Finnish southern and south-western coast of the Baltic Sea.


METHODS
Two hundred and ninety-nine professional fishermen, their spouses and other family members.


RESULTS
Mean (range) blood MeHg concentration was 4·6 (0·21-22) μg/l among men and 2·8 (<0·15-20) μg/l among women. Fish had the strongest positive association with MeHg (P for linear trend <0·001 among both men and women). Among men, positive associations were also observed for fruit vegetables, wheat and wine. Among women, positive associations were observed for root vegetables, legumes, potato and game, but adjustment for fish consumption attenuated these trends.


CONCLUSIONS
The study shows that, besides fish, MeHg may have other dietary sources that should be taken into account in risk assessment studies. Due to the observed high blood MeHg concentration, a thorough exposure assessment among the general Finnish population is recommended.
Airaksinen
Riikka
R
National Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Environmental Health, PO Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland. Riikka.Airaksinen@thl.fi
Turunen
Anu W
AW
Rantakokko
Panu
P
Männistö
Satu
S
Vartiainen
Terttu
T
Verkasalo
Pia K
PK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011786:Quality Control; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; C073972:dimethyl mercury