title: Lead, mercury, and cadmium in blood and their relation to diet among Swedish adults.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to examine the body burden of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) in blood among Swedish adults and the association between blood levels, diet and other lifestyle factors. The study was based on a subgroup (n=273) of the national survey Riksmaten 2010-2011 (4-day food records and questionnaire). Lead, Hg, and Cd were measured in whole blood, and Cd additionally in urine, by mass or fluorescence spectrometry methods. The median values (5-95th percentiles) of the metals in blood were as follows; Pb: 13.4 (5.8-28.6) μg/L, Hg: 1.13 (0.31-3.45) μg/L, and Cd: 0.19 (0.09-1.08) μg/L. All three metals increased with increasing age. Lead levels in blood were positively associated with intakes of game and alcohol, Hg was related to fish intake, and blood Cd related to smoking and low iron stores and to a low meat intake. Body burdens of the studied metals were generally below health based reference values, but several individuals had blood Pb levels above the reference point for possible nephrotoxic and developmental neurotoxic effects. As health effects cannot be excluded, individuals with high Pb exposure should aim at decreasing their body burden, both from food and from other exposure routes.
authors.affiliation: National Food Agency, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bjermo
authors.forename: Salomon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sand
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nälsén
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lundh
authors.forename: Heléne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Enghardt Barbieri
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Anna Karin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lindroos
authors.forename: Bo A G
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Jönsson
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barregård
authors.forename: Per Ola
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Darnerud
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001822:Body Burden; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D004032:Diet; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012907:Smoking; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury