A quantitative synthesis of mercury in commercial seafood and implications for exposure in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal that presents public health risks through fish consumption. A major source of uncertainty in evaluating harmful exposure is inadequate knowledge of Hg concentrations in commercially important seafood.

Objectives

We examined patterns, variability, and knowledge gaps of Hg in common commercial seafood items in the United States and compared seafood Hg concentrations from our database to those used for exposure estimates and consumption advice.

Methods

We developed a database of Hg concentrations in fish and shellfish common to the U.S. market by aggregating available data from government monitoring programs and the scientific literature. We calculated a grand mean for individual seafood items, based on reported means from individ

SUBMITTER: Karimi R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3556626 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature