Question

What do human biomonitoring and diet-modelling data suggest about tolerable dietary intakes of methylmercury?

• A. They are rarely exceeded in any population.
• B. They are exceeded among subpopulations that consume large amounts of fish.
• C. They are only exceeded in areas with heavy industrial pollution.
• D. They are easily managed through water purification.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. They are exceeded among subpopulations that consume large amounts of fish.

• Emissions of mercury to the air from both anthropogenic and natural sources are in inorganic forms that can be converted biologically to methylmercury in soil and water.

• Methylmercury bioaccumulates and enters the human body readily via the dietary route.

• Methylmercury is a potent neurotoxic chemical. Unborn children (i.e. fetuses) are the most susceptible population group, the exposure being mainly from fish in the diet of the mother.

• Methylmercury is also excreted in mothers' milk.

• Human biomonitoring and diet-modelling data indicate that tolerable dietary intakes of methylmercury are exceeded among sub populations that consume large amounts of fish.

• E.g. in Scandinavia, North America and France