Question

Which population group is most susceptible to methylmercury exposure?

• A. Elderly adults
• B. Adult males
• C. Unborn children (fetuses)
• D. Young children

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Unborn children (fetuses)

• 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