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. 2006 Feb;114(2):302-6.
doi: 10.1289/ehp.7857.

New evidence on variations of human body burden of methylmercury from fish consumption

René Canuel  1 , Sylvie Boucher de Grosbois, Laura Atikessé, Marc Lucotte, Paul Arp, Charles Ritchie, Donna Mergler, Hing Man Chan, Marc Amyot, Robin Anderson
Affiliations

New evidence on variations of human body burden of methylmercury from fish consumption

René Canuel et al. Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Feb.

Abstract

Epidemiologic studies commonly use mercury (Hg) level in hair as a valid proxy to estimate human exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) through fish consumption. This study presents the results yielded by a complete data set on fish consumption habits, Hg levels in edible fish resources, and corresponding Hg accumulation in hair, gathered in three distinct communities of eastern Canada. For one of these communities, the average hair Hg concentration was 14 times less than the expected value based on calculated daily oral exposure and current knowledge of MeHg metabolism. This finding could be explained by differences in specific genetic characteristics and/or interactive effects of other dietary components.

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