Mercury exposure in Ireland: results of the DEMOCOPHES human biomonitoring study
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review
Standard
Mercury exposure in Ireland : results of the DEMOCOPHES human biomonitoring study. / Cullen, Elizabeth; Evans, David S; Davidson, Fred; Burke, Padraig; Burns, Damien; Flanagan, Andrew; Griffin, Chris; Kellegher, Anne; Mannion, Rory; Mulcahy, Maurice; Ryan, Michael; Biot, Pierre; Casteleyn, Ludwine; Castaño, Argelia; Angerer, Jürgen; Koch, Holger M; Esteban, Marta; Schindler, Birgit K; Navarro, Carmen; Kolossa-Gehring, Marike; Fiddicke, Ulrike; Schoeters, Greet; Hond, Elly Den; Sepai, Ovnair; Exley, Karen; Bloemen, Louis; Knudsen, Lisbeth E.; Joas, Reinhard; Joas, Anke; Aerts, Dominique.
In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol. 11, No. 9, 09.2014, p. 9760-75.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Mercury exposure in Ireland
T2 - results of the DEMOCOPHES human biomonitoring study
AU - Cullen, Elizabeth
AU - Evans, David S
AU - Davidson, Fred
AU - Burke, Padraig
AU - Burns, Damien
AU - Flanagan, Andrew
AU - Griffin, Chris
AU - Kellegher, Anne
AU - Mannion, Rory
AU - Mulcahy, Maurice
AU - Ryan, Michael
AU - Biot, Pierre
AU - Casteleyn, Ludwine
AU - Castaño, Argelia
AU - Angerer, Jürgen
AU - Koch, Holger M
AU - Esteban, Marta
AU - Schindler, Birgit K
AU - Navarro, Carmen
AU - Kolossa-Gehring, Marike
AU - Fiddicke, Ulrike
AU - Schoeters, Greet
AU - Hond, Elly Den
AU - Sepai, Ovnair
AU - Exley, Karen
AU - Bloemen, Louis
AU - Knudsen, Lisbeth E.
AU - Joas, Reinhard
AU - Joas, Anke
AU - Aerts, Dominique
PY - 2014/9
Y1 - 2014/9
N2 - BACKGROUND: Monitoring of human exposure to mercury is important due to its adverse health effects. This study aimed to determine the extent of mercury exposure among mothers and their children in Ireland, and to identify factors associated with elevated levels. It formed part of the Demonstration of a study to Coordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale (DEMOCOPHES) pilot biomonitoring study.METHODS: Hair mercury concentrations were determined from a convenience sample of 120 mother/child pairs. Mothers also completed a questionnaire. Rigorous quality assurance within DEMOCOPHES guaranteed the accuracy and international comparability of results.RESULTS: Mercury was detected in 79.2% of the samples from mothers, and 62.5% of children's samples. Arithmetic mean levels in mothers (0.262 µg/g hair) and children (0.149 µg /g hair) did not exceed the US EPA guidance value. Levels were significantly higher for those with higher education, and those who consumed more fish.CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the benefit of human biomonitoring for assessing and comparing internal exposure levels, both on a population and an individual basis. It enables the potential harmful impact of mercury to be minimised in those highly exposed, and can therefore significantly contribute to population health.
AB - BACKGROUND: Monitoring of human exposure to mercury is important due to its adverse health effects. This study aimed to determine the extent of mercury exposure among mothers and their children in Ireland, and to identify factors associated with elevated levels. It formed part of the Demonstration of a study to Coordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale (DEMOCOPHES) pilot biomonitoring study.METHODS: Hair mercury concentrations were determined from a convenience sample of 120 mother/child pairs. Mothers also completed a questionnaire. Rigorous quality assurance within DEMOCOPHES guaranteed the accuracy and international comparability of results.RESULTS: Mercury was detected in 79.2% of the samples from mothers, and 62.5% of children's samples. Arithmetic mean levels in mothers (0.262 µg/g hair) and children (0.149 µg /g hair) did not exceed the US EPA guidance value. Levels were significantly higher for those with higher education, and those who consumed more fish.CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the benefit of human biomonitoring for assessing and comparing internal exposure levels, both on a population and an individual basis. It enables the potential harmful impact of mercury to be minimised in those highly exposed, and can therefore significantly contribute to population health.
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph110909760
DO - 10.3390/ijerph110909760
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 25233018
VL - 11
SP - 9760
EP - 9775
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
SN - 1661-7827
IS - 9
ER -
ID: 137757395