Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hum Exp Toxicol. 2013 Jun;32(6):591-9. doi: 10.1177/0960327112467041. Epub 2012 Nov 15.
Mercury (Hg) is widely distributed in the environment and oral exposure is a main route in the general population. In this study, we estimated the dietary intake of Hg and its relationship with blood Hg levels in Korean adults. The study subjects were recruited from three different districts (rural: 189, coastal: 208 and urban: 184). We used a general questionnaire to collect information about demographic factors, lifestyles and diet. Dietary habits were studied using the 24-h recall method. The estimation of Hg intake was performed using the database of Hg contents in 128 Korean foods based on the previous studies. Blood Hg was analyzed using Direct Mercury Analyzer with the gold-amalgam method. Daily intake of Hg by diet was estimated at 13.57 μg (0.22 μg/kg body weight). The geometric mean Hg concentration in whole blood was 3.92 μg/L. Blood Hg level and Hg intake by diet was higher in coastal areas than in urban or rural areas, respectively. Blood Hg level correlated with the intake of Hg consumed from diet. Seafood was highly responsible and account for 75.6% of total dietary Hg intake. In this study, blood Hg concentrations were found to be significantly affected by sex, age, individual lifestyles and especially the amount of seafood intake, which might play an important role in determining blood Hg levels in Korean adults.
汞（Hg）广泛分布于环境中，经口摄入是一般人群的主要暴露途径。本研究旨在评估韩国成年人的饮食汞摄入量及其与血汞水平的关系。研究对象来自三个不同地区（农村地区：189 人、沿海地区：208 人、城市地区：184 人）。我们使用一般问卷收集人口统计学因素、生活方式和饮食信息。采用 24 小时回忆法研究饮食习惯。基于先前研究，我们使用包含 128 种韩国食品中汞含量的数据库来估计汞摄入量。采用直接测汞仪和金汞齐法分析血汞。通过饮食摄入的汞日摄入量估计为 13.57μg（0.22μg/kg 体重）。全血中汞的几何平均值为 3.92μg/L。与农村或城市地区相比，沿海地区的血汞水平和饮食中汞的摄入量更高。血汞水平与饮食中摄入的汞呈正相关。海鲜的汞贡献率最高，占膳食总汞摄入量的 75.6%。本研究表明，血汞浓度受性别、年龄、个体生活方式的影响，尤其是海鲜摄入量的影响，这可能在确定韩国成年人血汞水平方面发挥重要作用。
