Mercury intake associated with fish consumption in a cohort of Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain
Larrañaga, N.; Amiano, P.; Dorronsoro, M.; Sanzo, J.M.
IARC Scientific Publications 156: 207-209
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-5038 PMID: 12484167 Document Number: 542401
A study was conducted to estimate mercury intake using data on fish consumption among the participants of Gipuzkoa's cohort, in Spain, of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). The estimation was validate by measuring the blood mercury level in a sample of individuals (4158 males and 4259 females). The daily amount consumed of each fish species by the participants was calculated, along with the daily number of individual consumers. The average consumption of fish was 73.9 g/day in this cohort, the highest fish consumption among the different EPIC regions in Spain. males consumed, on average, 85.9 g/day of fish and women, 60.9 g/day. The average amount of mercury on red blood cells was 17.9 micro g/kg, with 19.8 micro g/kg in men and 16.3 micro g/kg in women. There was a significant relationship between fish consumption and mercury intake (P<0.001) as well as mercury in erythrocytes (P<0.001). It is suggested that mercury in fish should be monitored to assess the risk for the population.