Rothschild Roger F N, Duffy Lawrence K
Institute of Arctic Biology, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 756160, Fairbanks, Alaska 99776-6160, USA.
Alaska Med. 2002 Oct-Dec;44(4):89-93, 103.
Total mercury (THg), which includes neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg), poses a health risk to subsistence food users in the circumpolar north. Low levels of THg, usually below 200 ng/g, have been reported in fish muscle from both returning salmon and freshwater species samples on the Kuskokwim River in southwest Alaska. Alaska subsistence users use fish all year long, with both salmon and freshwater species stored for winter usage. A recent study showed low mercury levels in the hair of villagers and suggested that in the last 25 years, MeHg exposure has remained the same or slightly decreased in the Bethel region of Alaska. Although several previous studies have measured THg in hair of Alaskan subsistence food users, few studies have looked at the THg levels in the prepared foods of rural Alaskans. Several types of subsistence foods from Napakiak, a small Yup'ik Eskimo village on the Kuskokwim River, were assessed for total mercury content. The THg levels were low, ranging from 1 ng/g to 443.8 ng/g. A trend for the dried fish to have higher concentrations than the unprocessed fish was observed. Plants, as well as raindeer and moose meats, are low in THg and not associated with dietary exposure. Our data for Napakiak show that THg levels are low enough that mercury does not pose a significant health risk; however, more detailed consumption data in western Alaska is needed.
总汞（THg），其中包括具有神经毒性的甲基汞（MeHg），对环北极地区以自给性食物为生的人群构成健康风险。据报道，阿拉斯加西南部库斯科基姆河洄游鲑鱼和淡水物种样本的鱼肉中总汞含量较低，通常低于200纳克/克。阿拉斯加靠自给性食物为生的人群全年都食用鱼类，鲑鱼和淡水物种都会储存起来以备冬季食用。最近一项研究表明，当地村民头发中的汞含量较低，并指出在过去25年里，阿拉斯加贝瑟尔地区的甲基汞暴露水平保持不变或略有下降。尽管此前有几项研究测量了阿拉斯加靠自给性食物为生人群头发中的总汞含量，但很少有研究关注阿拉斯加农村地区加工食品中的总汞含量。对库斯科基姆河上一个小型尤皮克族爱斯基摩村庄纳帕基亚克的几种自给性食物的总汞含量进行了评估。总汞含量较低，范围在1纳克/克至443.8纳克/克之间。观察到干鱼的汞含量高于未加工鱼的趋势。植物以及驯鹿和驼鹿肉的总汞含量较低，与饮食暴露无关。我们在纳帕基亚克的数据表明，总汞含量足够低，汞不会构成重大健康风险；然而，阿拉斯加西部还需要更详细的消费数据。
