Total and methyl mercury in whole blood measured for the first time in the U.S. population: NHANES 2011–2012

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Environ Res
• Personal Author:
  Mortensen, Mary E. ; Caudill, Samuel P. ; Caldwell, Kathleen L. ; Ward, Cynthia D. ; Jones, Robert L.
• Description:
  Background
  
  Despite the public health and toxicologic interest in methyl mercury (MeHg) and ethyl mercury (EHg), these mercury species have been technically difficult to measure in large population studies.
  
  Methods
  
  Using NHANES 2011–2012 data, we calculated reference ranges and examined demographic factors associated with specific mercury species concentrations and the ratio of MeHg to THg. We conducted several multiple regression analyses to examine factors associated with MeHg concentrations and also with the ratio of MeHg to THg.
  
  Results
  
  Asians had the highest geometric mean concentrations for MeHg, 1.58 μg/L (95% CI 1.29, 1.93) and THg, 1.86 μg/L (1.58, 2.19), followed by non-Hispanic blacks with MeHg, 0.52 μg/L (0.39, 0.68) and THg, 0.68 μg/L (0.54, 0.85). Greater education attainment in adults and male sex were associated with higher MeHg and THg concentrations. Race/ethnicity, age, and sex were significant predictors of MeHg concentrations, which increased with age and were highest in Asians in all age categories, followed by non-Hispanic blacks. Mexican Americans had the lowest adjusted MeHg concentrations. The ratio of MeHg to THg was highest in Asians, varied by racial/ethnic group, and increased with age in a non-linear fashion. The amount of increase in the MeHg to THg ratio with age depended on the initial ratio, with a greater increase as age increased.
  
  Conclusions
  
  Asians, males, older individuals, and adults with greater educational attainment had higher MeHg concentrations. The ratio of MeHg to THg varied with racial/ethnic group, increased with age, and was nonlinear. U.S. population reference values for MeHg and the ratio of MeHg to THg can assist in more precise assessment of public health risk from MeHg consumed in seafood.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Adult Aged Aged, 80 And Over Child Child, Preschool Female Humans Infant Male Mercury Methylmercury Compounds Middle Aged Nutrition Surveys Young Adult

  More +
• Source:
  Environ Res. 134:257-264.
• Pubmed ID:
  25173092
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC5584810
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Volume:
  134
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:93f81a09fba655d472e699172dd9024f782a0a700b38a84d149508d3567c01b7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/48018/cdc_48018_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 217.95 KB ]