Influence of socio-demographic and diet determinants on the levels of mercury in preschool children from a Mediterranean island
2013
Garí, Mercè | Grimalt, Joan O. | Torrent, Maties | Sunyer, Jordi | European Research Council | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
Mercury levels measured in 302 hair samples of 4 year-old children from Menorca (western Mediterranean Sea) are reported. Their concentrations, arithmetic mean 1.4 μg/g, ranging between 0.040 μg/g and 10 μg/g, were higher than in other children inland populations but lower than in previously studied island cohorts, e.g. Faroe, Madeira and Seychelles. 20% of the samples were above the WHO recommended values. Higher concentrations in females than males were observed. Frequent consumption of fish and other seafood were significantly related to the observed mercury concentrations. Oily fish was the main source of this pollutant but shellfish and squid consumption were also associated with high mercury concentrations. Maternal smoking, occupational status or previous siblings were also found to significantly influence the levels of this pollutant. McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities used to assess children's motor and cognitive abilities did not show association with mercury concentrations at 4 years of age.
Show more [+] Less [-]This study was funded by Fundació La Marató TV3 (090431), the Spanish Ministries of Science and Innovation and Health (Consolider Ingenio GRACCIE, CSD2007-00067, FIS-00/0021-02) and the EU funded project ArcRisk (FP7-ENV-2008-1-226534) and Generalitat de Catalunya (Research Group 2009SGR1178). M.G. thanks a grant from the JAE Predoctoral program (CSIC).
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