Inorganic and methylmercury levels in plasma are differentially associated with age, gender, and oxidative stress markers in a population exposed to mercury through fish consumption

J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2014;77(1-3):69-79. doi: 10.1080/15287394.2014.865584.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the concentrations of plasma methylmercury (Me-Hg) and inorganic mercury (I-Hg) in a population exposed to Me-Hg. In addition, associations between each form of mercury (Hg) and gender, age, plasma selenium (Se), and oxidative stress markers were also investigated. The mean plasma I-Hg level was 5.7 μg/L while the mean for plasma Me-Hg was 3.6 μg/L, representing approximately 59 and 41% of the total Hg in blood, respectively. However, several plasma samples contained higher percentages of Me-Hg. Age displayed a direct linkage with plasma I-Hg levels, whereas gender did not correlate with any of the Hg species. In addition, fish intake was only correlated with and a predictor of plasma Me-Hg, suggesting that plasma I-Hg levels originated endogenously through a demethylation reaction that needs to be verified. Further, plasma Me-Hg was markedly correlated with adverse effects to a greater extent than plasma I-Hg and may be considered a valuable, reliable internal dose biomarker for Hg in chronically Me-Hg- exposed individuals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Brazil
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
  • Environmental Exposure / analysis
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Female
  • Food Contamination*
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Mercury / blood*
  • Mercury / toxicity
  • Methylmercury Compounds / blood*
  • Methylmercury Compounds / toxicity
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Seafood*
  • Sex Factors
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / blood*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Methylmercury Compounds
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Mercury