School of the Environment, University of Toronto, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Canada.
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Canada.
Environ Res. 2019 Feb;169:261-271. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.11.011. Epub 2018 Nov 15.
Measurements of total blood Hg (tHg), often used as a proxy for methyl Hg (MeHg) concentrations, are most commonly the focus of population-based studies. Data on Hg species in biomarkers can allow for a more nuanced characterization of environmental exposure sources and risk but their availability is limited, especially for newcomer populations. The purpose of the Metals in Newcomer Women (MNW) study was to address existing data gaps on metal concentrations and exposure sources in newcomer women (19-45 years) and to examine tHg, MeHg and inorganic Hg (iHg) in the blood of East and South Asian women recently arrived to Toronto. Study participants were recruited in 2015 (n = 211). Total Hg concentrations were determined using both ICP-Q-MS and isotope dilution (ID)-SPME-GC-ICP-MS. A sample subset (n = 76) was chosen for the analysis of blood MeHg and iHg concentrations (also using ID-SPME-GC-ICP-MS). Hierarchical regression models were used to assess associations between blood tHg concentrations and environmental exposure factors for MNW participants. For the sample subset, a log-linear model was used to examine associations between blood iHg and MeHg concentrations and fish consumption patterns. The geometric mean (GM) blood tHg concentration was 1.05 µg/L (95% CI: 0.88-1.25), which was elevated compared to Canadian-born women (GM: 0.57 µg/L; 95% CI: 0.49-0.66), in a specialized data analysis of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). GM concentrations for iHg and MeHg were 0.21 µg/L (95% CI: 0.16-0.28) and 2.66 µg/L (95% CI: 2.00-3.55), respectively. Significant distal determinants associated with blood tHg concentrations were: level of educational attainment, having lived in a coastal/fishing community prior to arrival, and global region of origin. Use of iron supplements and consumption of higher mercury fish species were also associated with tHg concentrations in the fully adjusted model. The study results demonstrate that blood Hg concentrations in newcomer women are slightly elevated, with some individuals in exceedance of recommended concentrations for women of reproductive age. The consumption of fish species low in Hg is recommended for newcomer women, especially those who consume fish frequently.
测量总血汞(tHg),通常用作甲基汞(MeHg)浓度的替代物,是人群研究的重点。生物标志物中汞的物种数据可以更细致地描述环境暴露源和风险,但它们的可用性有限,尤其是对于新移民群体。新移民妇女中的金属(MNW)研究的目的是解决新移民妇女(19-45 岁)金属浓度和暴露源方面的现有数据差距,并检查最近抵达多伦多的东亚和南亚妇女血液中的 tHg、MeHg 和无机汞(iHg)。2015 年招募了研究参与者(n=211)。使用电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-Q-MS)和同位素稀释(ID)-SPME-GC-ICP-MS 测定总汞浓度。选择了一个样本子集(n=76)用于分析血液 MeHg 和 iHg 浓度(也使用 ID-SPME-GC-ICP-MS)。分层回归模型用于评估 MNW 参与者血液 tHg 浓度与环境暴露因素之间的关联。对于样本子集,对数线性模型用于检验血液 iHg 和 MeHg 浓度与鱼类消费模式之间的关联。tHg 血液浓度的几何平均值(GM)为 1.05μg/L(95%CI:0.88-1.25),与加拿大出生的妇女相比有所升高(GM:0.57μg/L;95%CI:0.49-0.66),这是对加拿大健康衡量调查(CHMS)的专门数据分析。iHg 和 MeHg 的 GM 浓度分别为 0.21μg/L(95%CI:0.16-0.28)和 2.66μg/L(95%CI:2.00-3.55)。与血液 tHg 浓度显著相关的远端决定因素有:教育程度、到达前居住在沿海/渔业社区、原籍全球地区。在完全调整的模型中,使用铁补充剂和食用汞含量较高的鱼类也与 tHg 浓度相关。研究结果表明,新移民妇女的血液 Hg 浓度略有升高,一些人超过了育龄妇女的推荐浓度。建议新移民妇女食用低汞鱼类,尤其是那些经常食用鱼类的妇女。