title: Fish consumption patterns and hair mercury levels in children and their mothers in 17 EU countries.
abstract: The toxicity of methylmercury (MeHg) in humans is well established and the main source of exposure is via the consumption of large marine fish and mammals. Of particular concern are the potential neurodevelopmental effects of early life exposure to low-levels of MeHg. Therefore, it is important that pregnant women, children and women of childbearing age are, as far as possible, protected from MeHg exposure. Within the European project DEMOCOPHES, we have analyzed mercury (Hg) in hair in 1799 mother-child pairs from 17 European countries using a strictly harmonized protocol for mercury analysis. Parallel, harmonized questionnaires on dietary habits provided information on consumption patterns of fish and marine products. After hierarchical cluster analysis of consumption habits of the mother-child pairs, the DEMOCOPHES cohort can be classified into two branches of approximately similar size: one with high fish consumption (H) and another with low consumption (L). All countries have representatives in both branches, but Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Portugal and Sweden have twice as many or more mother-child pairs in H than in L. For Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia the situation is the opposite, with more representatives in L than H. There is a strong correlation (r=0.72) in hair mercury concentration between the mother and child in the same family, which indicates that they have a similar exposure situation. The clustering of mother-child pairs on basis of their fish consumption revealed some interesting patterns. One is that for the same sea fish consumption, other food items of marine origin, like seafood products or shellfish, contribute significantly to the mercury levels in hair. We conclude that additional studies are needed to assess and quantify exposure to mercury from seafood products, in particular. The cluster analysis also showed that 95% of mothers who consume once per week fish only, and no other marine products, have mercury levels 0.55 μg/g. Thus, the 95th percentile of the distribution in this group is only around half the US-EPA recommended threshold of 1 μg/g mercury in hair. Consumption of freshwater fish played a minor role in contributing to mercury exposure in the studied cohort. The DEMOCOPHES data shows that there are significant differences in MeHg exposure across the EU and that exposure is highly correlated with consumption of fish and marine products. Fish and marine products are key components of a healthy human diet and are important both traditionally and culturally in many parts of Europe. Therefore, the communication of the potential risks of mercury exposure needs to be carefully balanced to take into account traditional and cultural values as well as the potential health benefits from fish consumption. European harmonized human biomonitoring programs provide an additional dimension to national HMB programs and can assist national authorities to tailor mitigation and adaptation strategies (dietary advice, risk communication, etc.) to their country's specific requirements.
authors: Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III(ISCIII), 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: castano@isciii.es.
authors: Argelia
authors: A
authors: Castaño
authors: Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III(ISCIII), 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Cutanda
authors: Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III(ISCIII), 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Esteban
authors: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute of Environment and Sustainability, 21027 Ispra, Italy.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Pärt
authors: Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III(ISCIII), 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Navarro
authors: Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III(ISCIII), 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Gómez
authors: Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III(ISCIII), 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Montserrat
authors: M
authors: Rosado
authors: Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III(ISCIII), 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: López
authors: Instituto de Investigacion de Enfermedades Raras (IIER) Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.
authors: Estrella
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authors: López
authors: Public Health England, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Chilton, United Kingdom.
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Exley
authors: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance-Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Germany.
authors: Birgit K
authors: BK
authors: Schindler
authors: Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Govarts
authors: University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Ludwine
authors: L
authors: Casteleyn
authors: Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Dessau-Rosslau, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Marike
authors: M
authors: Kolossa-Gehring
authors: Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Dessau-Rosslau, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Ulrike
authors: U
authors: Fiddicke
authors: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance-Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Germany.
authors: Holger
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authors: Koch
authors: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance-Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Germany.
authors: Jürgen
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authors: Angerer
authors: Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium.
authors: Elly
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authors: Den Hond
authors: Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium.
authors: Greet
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authors: Schoeters
authors: Public Health England, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Chilton, United Kingdom.
authors: Ovnair
authors: O
authors: Sepai
authors: Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Milena
authors: M
authors: Horvat
authors: Departament of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Demark.
authors: Lisbeth E
authors: LE
authors: Knudsen
authors: DG Environment, Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Aerts
authors: BiPRO, Munich, Germany.
authors: Anke
authors: A
authors: Joas
authors: DG Environment, Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Biot
authors: BiPRO, Munich, Germany.
authors: Reinhard
authors: R
authors: Joas
authors: Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III(ISCIII), 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: José A
authors: JA
authors: Jiménez-Guerrero
authors: Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III(ISCIII), 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Gema
authors: G
authors: Diaz
authors: CHU of Liege, Laboratory of Clinical, Forensic and Environmental Toxicology, Liege, Belgium.
authors: Catherine
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authors: Pirard
authors: State General Laboratory, Nicosya, Cyprus.
authors: Andromachi
authors: A
authors: Katsonouri
authors: National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Milena
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authors: Cerna
authors: Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) Louxembourg.
authors: Arno C
authors: AC
authors: Gutleb
authors: Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland.
authors: Danuta
authors: D
authors: Ligocka
authors: Lisbon Faculty of Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: Fátima M
authors: FM
authors: Reis
authors: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Marika
authors: M
authors: Berglund
authors: Environmental Health Center, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors: Ioana-Rodica
authors: IR
authors: Lupsa
authors: Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic (UVZ SR), Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors: Katarína
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authors: Halzlová
authors: CHU of Liege, Laboratory of Clinical, Forensic and Environmental Toxicology, Liege, Belgium.
authors: Corinne
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authors: Charlier
authors: Department of Community of Health, Health Service Executive, Kildare, Ireland.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Cullen
authors: Larnaca General Hospital, Larnaca, Cyprus.
authors: Adamos
authors: A
authors: Hadjipanayis
authors: National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Krsková
authors: Departament of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Demark.
authors: Janne F
authors: JF
authors: Jensen
authors: Departament of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Demark.
authors: Jeanette K
authors: JK
authors: Nielsen
authors: Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Dessau-Rosslau, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Gerda
authors: G
authors: Schwedler
authors: Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
authors: Michael
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authors: Wilhelm
authors: National Institute of Environmental Health, Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Rudnai
authors: National Institute of Environmental Health, Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Szilvia
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authors: Középesy
authors: Public Analyst's Laboratory Health Service Executive, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Fred
authors: F
authors: Davidson
authors: Laboratoire National de Santé, Dudelange, Luxembourg.
authors: Mark E
authors: ME
authors: Fischer
authors: Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland.
authors: Beata
authors: B
authors: Janasik
authors: Lisbon Faculty of Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: Sónia
authors: S
authors: Namorado
authors: Environmental Health Center, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors: Anca E
authors: AE
authors: Gurzau
authors: Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic (UVZ SR), Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Jajcaj
authors: Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Darja
authors: D
authors: Mazej
authors: Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Janja Snoj
authors: JS
authors: Tratnik
authors: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Kristin
authors: K
authors: Larsson
authors: Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), Berne, Switzerland.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Lehmann
authors: Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), Berne, Switzerland.
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Crettaz
authors: State General Laboratory, Nicosya, Cyprus.
authors: Giagkos
authors: G
authors: Lavranos
authors: Instituto de Investigacion de Enfermedades Raras (IIER) Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.
authors: Manuel
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authors: Posada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005060:Europe; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005518:Food Preferences; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012424:Rural Population; D017747:Seafood; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Human Biomonitoring; Mercury in hair; Sea fish; Seafood products; Shellfish