Analysis of the health risk of exposure to breast milk mercury in infants in Taiwan

The aim of this study was to assess the total concentration and health risk to infants of breast milk mercury in urban mothers and mothers married to fishermen in relation to fish intake in Taiwan. A total of sixty-eight healthy mothers were recruited for the study. The breast milk mercury geometric mean concentration was 2.02 microgl(-1) (n=56, range: 0.24-9.45 microgl(-1)) for the city group and 2.04 microgl(-1) (n=12, range: 0.26-8.62 microgl(-1)) for the fishermen's group. Of the three sources of mercury exposure (i.e., ingestion (breast milk), inhalation (ambient air), and dermal exposure (shower)), breast-feeding was found to be the largest (96.3-99.6% of the total). From a Monte Carlo simulation, in which methyl mercury accounted for about 50% of total mercury, the hazard quotient (exposure estimate/oral minimal risk level or target organ toxicity dose) exceeded 1.0 for 12.9% of urban babies and 18.8% of fishermen's babies (chronic oral minimal risk level and target organ toxicity dose: 3 x 10(-4)mgkg(-1)d(-1)). The calculated mercury exposure was 3.02 x 10(-1) microgkg(-1)d(-1) for a 3.49 kg urban baby boy and 3.06 x 10(-1) microgkg(-1)d(-1) for a 3.44 kg urban baby girl. These results suggest the life style of mothers (eating raw fish and shellfish such as used in "Sashimi" and "Sushi," and vitamin supplementation) may influence the mercury concentration in breast milk.     

Sex-specific differences in early renal impairment associated with arsenic,lead, and cadmium exposure among young adults in Taiwan

Exposure to a single metal has been reported to damage renal function in humans. However, information regarding the association between multiple-metal exposure and markers for early renal impairment in different sexes among the young adult Taiwanese population is scarce. We assessed the association between exposure to arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), and early renal impairment markers using urinary microalbumin (MA), β2-microglobulin (β2MG), and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) by analyzing 157 young adults aged 20?29 years, in Taiwan. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine urinary As, Cd, and Pb levels. Regression models were applied to different sex groups. The results showed that after adjusting for potential confounding factors and each metal, urinary Cd levels were significantly positively associated with urinary MA (β?=?0.523, 95% CI: 0.147–0.899) and β2MG (β?=?1.502, 95% CI: 0.635–2.370) in males. However, the urinary Cd level was significantly positively associated with only urinary NAG (β?=?0.161, 95% CI: 0.027–0.296) in females. This study thus indicates that the effect of exposure to metals (especially Cd) on early renal impairment among young adults in Taiwan is sex-specific. Our study results could contribute toward developing early intervention programs for decreasing the incidence of renal dysfunction. Further studies are warranted to confirm our findings and clarify the potential mechanisms involved.

     

Estimation of acceptable mercury intake from fish in Taiwan

The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) are advising women and young children to avoid eating fish that contain high levels of mercury (Hg). However in Taiwan, the annual Black Fin Tuna Festival encourages the public to consume fish. The aim of this study was to assess fish intake in relation to the health risks of mercury exposure and calculate the acceptable and safe intake of fish in children and women of childbearing age. From the Monte Carlo simulation, based on USEPA's reference dose (0.1 microgkg(-1)d(-1)), we found that 21.6%-24.3% and 45.6%-57.4% of the daily mercury dose estimates exceeded the reference dose for typical and high-seafood consumers. The acceptable ingestion rates are <50 g d(-1) (children) and 90.8 +/- 15.7 g d(-1) (women of childbearing). Sensitivity analysis suggests that Hg concentration in fish may be a key parameter to aid governments as they offer guidance for risk management.