[Mercury exposure by fish consumption in Rhine fishermen]

In this study 149 test persons were included, which were divided in 2 groups: consumption of Rhine fish (n = 77) and control group which consumed no Rhine fish (n = 72), but eventually fish from other sources. The consumption of Rhine fish averaged 1290 g per month (range: 100-5250 g per month), in the control group the consumption of fish averaged 340 g per month (range: 0-4000 g per month). The monthly fish consumption for inhabitants of Baden-Württemberg is in the range of 300 to 400 g. From this it can be seen that the control group consumed fish in the range of the general population, whereas in the group with Rhine fish consumption the quantity of consumed fish was 4 fold. In the group with Rhine fish consumption the levels of mercury in blood were in the geometric mean (GM) 2.41 micrograms/l, arithmetic mean (AM) 3.43 micrograms/l (range: 0.5-17.8 micrograms/l); control group an estimated GM: 0.68 micrograms/l, AM of 0.90 micrograms/l (range: 0.2-3.2 micrograms/l). The corresponding levels in hair were in the group with Rhine fish consumption GM: 1060 micrograms/kg, AM: 1410 micrograms/kg (range: 190-7200 micrograms/kg) and in the control group: GM 520 micrograms/kg, AM: 610 micrograms/kg (range: 190-2710 micrograms/kg). From this data it can be concluded that the consumption of Rhine fish gives rise to higher levels of mercury in blood (GM: 3.5, AM: 3.8 fold) and hair (GM: 2.0, AM: 2.3 fold). In the Umwelt-Survey of the German Bundesgesundheitsamt for the general German population an estimated GM of 0.46 microgram/l and AM of 0.74 microgram/l for mercury levels in blood was reported. The corresponding mercury concentrations determined in the group with Rhine fish consumption were 5.2. and 4.6 fold higher. No significant differences of mercury levels in urine were seen in the 2 groups (Rhine fish consumption GM: 0.57 microgram/l, AM: 0.84 microgram/l, range: < 0.1-4.7 micrograms/l; control group GM: 0.40 micrograms/l, AM: 0.93 microgram/l, range: < 0.1-13.6 micrograms/l). In both groups no correlation was found between mercury in urine and mercury in blood or hair respectively. For biological monitoring of organic mercury derived from fish consumption the determination of mercury in blood and hair is suited. The excretion of mercury in urine does not reveal an exposition with mercury from fish consumption.