title: Exposure assessment for methyl and total mercury from seafood consumption in Korea, 2005 to 2008.
abstract: Reports on the occurrence and intake assessment of mercury for Korean seafood are currently not available. This is the first report to estimate the intake of methyl (Me-Hg) and total mercury (T-Hg) from seafood consumption in Korea. The concentrations of Me-Hg and T-Hg in seafood ranged from 1.02 to 780 (mean: 55.6) ng g(-1) wet weight and 4.89 to 1008 (mean: 100) ng g(-1) wet weight, respectively. The residue levels of Me-Hg and T-Hg in Korean seafood were moderate compared with those found in other countries. The methylation ratios of fish, cephalopods and crustaceans were similar, but shellfish had lower values compared with other species. The intakes of Me-Hg and T-Hg from seafood consumption for the general population were estimated to be 38.8 and 73.8 ng kg(-1) body weight per day, respectively. Mackerel, tuna and squid made the highest contributions to the total intake of these contaminants. Among eight age groups, 30-49 year and 3-6 year age groups had the highest exposure to Me-Hg and T-Hg. The concentrations and intakes of Me-Hg and T-Hg from Korean seafood were less than the allowable residue levels and threshold intake levels suggested by Korean and international authorities. The present study may be useful for risk management of mercury in Korean seafood.
authors.affiliation: Marine Environment Analysis Laboratory (MEAL), Department of Environmental Marine Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, 426-791, Republic of Korea. hbmoon@hanyang.ac.kr
authors.forename: Hyo-Bang
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Sang-Jo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yun Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Suuggyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yun-Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Minkyu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury