Mercury exposure in ireland: results of the democophes human biomonitoring study
View/ Open
Full Text
Date
2014-09-17Author
Cullen, Elizabeth
Evans, David
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
Esteban, Marta
Schindler, Birgit
Navarro, Carmen
Kolossa-Gehring, Marike
Fiddicke, Ulrike
Schoeters, Greet
Hond, Elly
Sepai, Ovnair
Exley, Karen
Bloemen, Louis
Knudsen, Lisbeth
Joas, Reinhard
Joas, Anke
Aerts, Dominique
Metadata
Show full item recordUsage
This item's downloads: 0 (view details)
Cited 6 times in Scopus (view citations)
Recommended Citation
Cullen, Elizabeth; Evans, David; 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; Esteban, Marta; Schindler, Birgit; Navarro, Carmen; Kolossa-Gehring, Marike; Fiddicke, Ulrike; Schoeters, Greet; Hond, Elly; Sepai, Ovnair; Exley, Karen; Bloemen, Louis; Knudsen, Lisbeth; Joas, Reinhard; Joas, Anke; Aerts, Dominique (2014). Mercury exposure in ireland: results of the democophes human biomonitoring study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 11 (9), 9761-9775
Published Version
Abstract
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 mu g/g hair) and children (0.149 mu g /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.