Mercury levels in food and its intake in high-risk population groups

The mercury levels in many diet samples collected in 5 groups of normal Italian adult population were measured and compared to those referred to an area well known for its high environmental mercury content. In the same subjects, the hair and blood concentration of mercury was evaluated and related to the dietary intake. In fact, the somatic and cytogenetic effects due to the mercury contamination are mainly correlated with the blood and hair content of mercury. Significant cytogenetic effects were detected in a group of subjects exposed to elemental mercury vapor, thus showing an average mercury concentration in the blood of about 45 micrograms/ml. On the basis of the mercury content in the diet and in the blood of both the Italian population groups and the population group of the high mercury area, it can be argued that significant somatic and cytogenetic effects are undetectable at those mercury exposures, thus confirming that a daily intake of 10-40 micrograms mercury can be considered as an acceptable level for the normal population as suggested by WHO.