title: Consensus document on the prevention of methylmercury exposure in Spain: Study group for the prevention of Me-Hg exposure in Spain (GEPREM-Hg).
abstract: The beneficial effects of fish consumption in both children and adults are well known. However, the intake of methylmercury, mainly from contaminated fish and shellfish, can have adverse health effects. The study group on the prevention of exposure to methylmercury (GEPREM-Hg), made up of representatives from different Spanish scientific societies, has prepared a consensus document in a question and answer format, containing the group's main conclusions, recommendations and proposals. The objective of the document is to provide broader knowledge of factors associated with methylmercury exposure, its possible effects on health amongst the Spanish population, methods of analysis, interpretation of the results and economic costs, and to then set recommendations for fish and shellfish consumption. The group sees the merit of all initiatives aimed at reducing or prohibiting the use of mercury as well as the need to be aware of the results of contaminant analyses performed on fish and shellfish marketed in Spain. In addition, the group believes that biomonitoring systems should be set up in order to follow the evolution of methylmercury exposure in children and adults and perform studies designed to learn more about the possible health effects of concentrations found in the Spanish population, taking into account the lifestyle, eating patterns and the Mediterranean diet.
authors: Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IdISSC). Electronic address: montse@cmpx.net.
authors: Montserrat
authors: M
authors: González-Estecha
authors: Spanish Association of Health Education (ADEPS), Spain.
authors: Andrés
authors: A
authors: Bodas-Pinedo
authors: Spanish Association of Health Education (ADEPS), Spain.
authors: José Jesús
authors: JJ
authors: Guillén-Pérez
authors: Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (SEEN), Spain.
authors: Miguel Ángel
authors: MÁ
authors: Rubio-Herrera
authors: Spanish Society of Dietetics and Food Science (SEDCA), Spain.
authors: Jesús Román
authors: JR
authors: Martínez-Álvarez
authors: Spanish Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Perinatal Medicine Section (SEMEPE-SEGO), Spain.
authors: Miguel Ángel
authors: MÁ
authors: Herráiz-Martínez
authors: Spanish Hypertension Society - Spanish Hypertension League (SEH-LELHA), Spain.
authors: Nieves
authors: N
authors: Martell-Claros
authors: Spanish Society of Public Health and Health Administration (SESPAS), Spain.
authors: José M
authors: JM
authors: Ordóñez-Iriarte
authors: Spanish Association of Health Education (ADEPS), Spain.
authors: María
authors: M
authors: Sáinz-Martín
authors: Spanish Federation of Nutrition, Food and Dietetics Societies (FESNAD), Spain.
authors: Rosaura
authors: R
authors: Farré-Rovira
authors: Spanish Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Perinatal Medicine Section (SEMEPE-SEGO), Spain.
authors: Txantón
authors: T
authors: Martínez-Astorquiza
authors: Spanish Hypertension Society - Spanish Hypertension League (SEH-LELHA), Spain.
authors: José Antonio
authors: JA
authors: García-Donaire
authors: Madrid-Castilla La Mancha Society of Internal Medicine (SOMIMACA), Spain.
authors: Elpidio
authors: E
authors: Calvo-Manuel
authors: Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (SEEN), Spain.
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Bretón-Lesmes
authors: Spanish Association of Medical Biopathology (AEBM), Spain.
authors: Santiago
authors: S
authors: Prieto-Menchero
authors: Spanish Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Pathology (SEQC), Spain.
authors: M Teresa
authors: MT
authors: Llorente-Ballesteros
authors: Spanish Society of Environmental Health (SESA), Spain.
authors: M José
authors: MJ
authors: Martínez-García
authors: Spanish Society of Dietetics and Food Science (SEDCA), Spain.
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Moreno-Rojas
authors: Spanish Federation of Nutrition, Food and Dietetics Societies (FESNAD), Spain.
authors: Jordi
authors: J
authors: Salas-Salvadó
authors: Spanish Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Pathology (SEQC), Spain.
authors: Pilar
authors: P
authors: Bermejo-Barrera
authors: Spanish Association of Medical Biopathology (AEBM), Spain.
authors: M Ángeles
authors: MÁ
authors: Cuadrado-Cenzual
authors: Spanish Association of Health Education (ADEPS), Spain.
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Gallardo-Pino
authors: Spanish Association of Health Education (ADEPS), Spain.
authors: María Blanco
authors: MB
authors: Fuentes
authors: Spanish Federation of Nutrition, Food and Dietetics Societies (FESNAD), Spain.
authors: Miriam
authors: M
authors: Torres-Moreno
authors: Spanish Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Pathology (SEQC), Spain.
authors: Elena M
authors: EM
authors: Trasobares-Iglesias
authors: Spanish Association of Pharmaceutical Analysts (AEFA), Spain.
authors: Bernardino Barceló
authors: BB
authors: Martín
authors: Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IdISSC).
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Arroyo-Fernández
authors: Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IdISSC).
authors: Alfonso
authors: A
authors: Calle-Pascual
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005399:Fishes; D018857:Food Packaging; D006801:Humans; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds
keywords: Advisory; Biomarkers; Cost-benefit; Fish; Health; Methylmercury