title: Trends in blood mercury concentrations and fish consumption among U.S. women of reproductive age, NHANES, 1999-2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Consumption of finfish and shellfish is the primary exposure pathway of methylmercury (MeHg) in the US. MeHg exposure in utero is associated with neurodevelopmental and motor function deficits. Regulations and fish advisories may contribute to decreased exposure to mercury over time.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Combine fish tissue mercury (FTHg) concentrations and 1999-2010 NHANES blood mercury concentrations and fish consumption data to investigate trends in blood mercury concentrations, fish consumption, and mercury intake in women of reproductive age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood MeHg was calculated from the blood total and inorganic concentrations. Dietary datasets were combined to estimate 30-day fish consumption, then combined with FTHg concentrations to estimate mercury intake and mercury concentration in the fish consumed. Non-linear and logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate trends over time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analysis found NHANES 1999-2000 to have higher blood MeHg concentrations than the mean of the later releases (p<0.0001) and a positive quadratic trend since 2000 (p=0.004). No trend was observed in fish consumption amount or mercury intake. A decreasing trend was found in the ratio of mercury intake to fish consumed (p=0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analyses found blood MeHg concentrations in NHANES 1999-2000 to be significantly higher than the mean of the later releases. There was no trend in fish consumption amount across the study period. The analysis found a decreasing trend in the ratio of mercury intake to fish consumed, consistent with women shifting their consumption to fish with lower mercury concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Westat, 1600 Research Blvd, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. Electronic address: RebeccaBirch@Westat.com.
authors.forename: Rebecca Jeffries
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.affiliation: Office of Science and Technology, Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20460, USA.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bigler
authors.affiliation: Westat, 1600 Research Blvd, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Westat, 1600 Research Blvd, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.affiliation: Westat, 1600 Research Blvd, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Clickner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004034:Diet Surveys / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005396:Fish Products / Q000506:poisoning; D006801:Humans; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys / Q000639:trends*; D017747:Seafood / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Blood mercury; Exposure; Fish consumption; NHANES; Women of reproductive age