title: Relationship between dietary mercury intake and blood mercury level in Korea.
abstract: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of dietary factors for mercury exposure by comparing with blood mercury concentration. Study population consisted of 1,866 adults (839 men and 1,027 women) in randomly-selected 30 districts in southeast Korea. Dietary mercury intake was calculated from food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) on seafood items and 24 hr recall record. Blood mercury concentration was measured with atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean age of the subjects was 43.5 ± 14.6 yr. The FFQ showed that mercury-laden fish (tuna, shark) and frequently-eating fish (squid, belt fish, mackerel) were important in mercury intake from fish species. The recall record suggested that fish and shellfish was a highest group (63.1%) of mercury intake and had a wide distribution in the food groups. In comparison with the blood mercury concentration, age group, sex, household income, education, drinking status and coastal area were statistically significant (P < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, coefficient from the FFQ (β = 0.003) had greater effect on the blood mercury than the recall record (β = 0.002), but the effect was restricted (adjusted R(2) = 0.234). Further studies with more precise estimation of dietary mercury intake were required to evaluate the risk for mercury exposure by foods and assure risk communication with heavily-exposed group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Hun
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6844-4394
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea. ; Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Byoung-Gwon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1762-6320
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea. ; Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Yu-Mi
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1123-8690
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Kangwon University, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Ah
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5079-9733
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea. ; Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Rock-Bum
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5868-0465
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Wook
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1909-6714
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea. ; Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Seoub
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9037-3761
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D003710:Demography; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis*; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury
keywords: Adult; Blood Mercury; Dietary Exposure; Food Analysis; Korea; Seafood