| Human exposure to methylmercury through rice intake in mercury mining areas, Guizhou province, China. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 18350916 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The toxicity of methylmercury (Me-Hg) has caused widespread public human concern as a result of several widely publicized disasters. Me-Hg is highly toxic, and the nervous system is its principal target tissue for humans. Although the general population is primarily exposed to Me-Hg through contaminated fish and marine mammals, in Hg mining areas a long history of mining activities can produce serious Hg pollution to the local environment In a study of 98 persons from the Wanshan Hg mining area, hair Me-Hg levels indicated Me-Hg exposure. Rice, the staple food of the local inhabitants also showed high total Hg (T-Hg) and Me-Hg levels. The geometric mean concentration of T-Hg and mean concentration of Me-Hg in rice samples collected from 3 villages in Wanshan Hg mining area were 36.2 (ranging from 4.9 to 214.7), and 8.5 (ranging from 1.9 to 27.6) microg/kg, respectively, which were significantly elevated compared to the rice samples collected from a reference area, where the mean T-Hg and Me-Hg concentrations were 7.0 (3.2-15.1) and 2.5 (0.8-4.3) microg/kg, respectively. Pork meat, vegetable, and drinking water samples collected in Wanshan Hg mining area contained highly elevated T-Hg, but very low levels of Me-Hg. The relationships between the estimated rice Me-Hg intake and hair Me-Hg levels (r = 0.65, p < 0.001) confirmed rice with high Me-Hg levels indeed was the main route of Me-Hg exposure for the local residents in the Wanshan Hg mining area. From our study, we can conclude that the main human exposure to Me-Hg via food consumption is not restricted to fish, but in some cases in mining areas of China to frequent rice meals. |
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Authors:
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Xinbin Feng; Ping Li; Guangle Qiu; Shaofeng Wang; Guanghui Li; Lihai Shang; Bo Meng; Hongmei Jiang; Weiyang Bai; Zhonggen Li; Xuewu Fu |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Environmental science & technology Volume: 42 ISSN: 0013-936X ISO Abbreviation: Environ. Sci. Technol. Publication Date: 2008 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2008-03-20 Completed Date: 2008-07-01 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0213155 Medline TA: Environ Sci Technol Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 326-32 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550002, China. fengxinbin@vip.skleg.cn |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adult Brassica / metabolism China Daucus carota / metabolism Environmental Monitoring Environmental Pollutants / analysis*, metabolism* Female Food Contamination / analysis* Hair / chemistry Humans Male Meat / analysis Mercury / analysis, metabolism Methylmercury Compounds / analysis*, metabolism* Middle Aged Mining Oryza sativa / metabolism* Water Supply / analysis |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Environmental Pollutants; 0/Methylmercury Compounds; 7439-97-6/Mercury |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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