1. Assessment of mercury exposure in human populations: A status report from Augusta Bay (southern Italy)
- Author
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Mario Sprovieri, Nunzia Andolfi, Vincenzo Ingallinella, Francesco Tisano, Maria Castorina, Maria Bonsignore, Marco Barra, and Anselmo Madeddu
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,0301 basic medicine ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Food Contamination ,Urine ,010501 environmental sciences ,Biology ,Models, Biological ,01 natural sciences ,Biochemistry ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,Environmental health ,Animals ,Humans ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,General Environmental Science ,Reference dose ,Fishes ,Mercury ,MERCURY EXPOSURE ,Status report ,Inorganic mercury ,Diet ,Mercury (element) ,030104 developmental biology ,Italy ,Seafood ,chemistry ,Environmental chemistry ,Environmental Pollutants ,Female ,Bay ,Environmental Monitoring ,Hair ,Food contaminant - Abstract
Here we investigate mercury concentrations in the blood (HgB), urine (HgU) and human hair (HgH) of 224 individuals from a coastal area (Eastern Sicily, SE Italy) strongly affected by Hg contamination from one of the largest chlor-alkali plants in Europe. The factors affecting the distribution of Hg and the extent of the exposure of individuals have been explored with a multidisciplinary approach. Multiple regression analyses, together with evidence of high levels of HgB (exceeding the HBMI recommended levels in 50% of cases) and HgH (exceeding the EPA reference dose in 70% of cases), primarily suggest that the consumption of local fish is the main source of Hg for humans. no. significant exposure to inorganic mercury was identified. Toxicokinetic calculations produced a provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) level that, in most cases, exceeds international recommendations, particularly for residents in the studied area.
- Published
- 2016