Question

What is the main way methylmercury enters the human body?

• A. Inhalation
• B. Skin contact
• C. Dietary route
• D. Drinking contaminated water

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Dietary route

• 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.