title: Assessment of mercury exposure in human populations: A status report from Augusta Bay (southern Italy).
abstract: Here we investigate mercury concentrations in the blood (HgB), urine (HgU) and human hair (HgH) of 224 individuals from a coastal area (Eastern Sicily, SE Italy) strongly affected by Hg contamination from one of the largest chlor-alkali plants in Europe. The factors affecting the distribution of Hg and the extent of the exposure of individuals have been explored with a multidisciplinary approach. Multiple regression analyses, together with evidence of high levels of HgB (exceeding the HBMI recommended levels in 50% of cases) and HgH (exceeding the EPA reference dose in 70% of cases), primarily suggest that the consumption of local fish is the main source of Hg for humans. no. significant exposure to inorganic mercury was identified. Toxicokinetic calculations produced a provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) level that, in most cases, exceeds international recommendations, particularly for residents in the studied area.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Coastal and Marine Environment (IAMC - CNR), Via del Mare, 3, 91021 Torretta 10 Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, TP, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonsignore
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Public Health - ASP of Syracuse, Corso Gelone, 17, 96100, Syracuse, Italy.
authors.forename: Nunzia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andolfi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Coastal and Marine Environment (IAMC - CNR), Calata Porta di Massa, Interno Porto di Napoli, 80133 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barra
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Public Health - ASP of Syracuse, Corso Gelone, 17, 96100, Syracuse, Italy.
authors.forename: Anselmo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madeddu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Public Health - ASP of Syracuse, Corso Gelone, 17, 96100, Syracuse, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tisano
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Public Health - ASP of Syracuse, Corso Gelone, 17, 96100, Syracuse, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ingallinella
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Public Health - ASP of Syracuse, Corso Gelone, 17, 96100, Syracuse, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castorina
authors.affiliation: Institute for Coastal and Marine Environment (IAMC - CNR), Via del Mare, 3, 91021 Torretta 10 Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, TP, Italy. Electronic address: mario.sprovieri@iamc.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sprovieri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000652:urine; D008954:Models, Biological; D017747:Seafood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Human biomonitoring; Mercury; Toxicity