Autor(es):
Namorado, Sónia ; Gomes, Diogo ; Iria, Diogo ; Cestelli, Federico ; Mota, Afonso ; Alves, Bernardo ; Leal, João ; Luz, Andreia ; Gomes, João ; Barros, Rafael ; Pastorinho, M. Ramiro ; Sousa, Ana C.A.
Data: 2021
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/8217
Origem: Repositório Científico do Instituto Nacional de Saúde
Assunto(s): Mercúrio; Adolescentes; Exposição a Químicos; Mercury; Adolescents; Chemical exposure; Determinantes da Saúde e da Doença; Portuguese Population; Portugal
Descrição
The possible health effects related to exposure to hazardous chemicals have let to citizens interest in environmental health. Mercury, in particular, has been recognized as a chemical of concern, due to its well-known neurotoxicity and endocrine disrupting potential. In this work a group of teenagers from a school in Lisbon together with their teachers and researchers from the academia conducted a human biomonitoring survey on mercury levels in the students from their school. Recruitment was performed in a private school in Lisbon by a group of students from the 11th and 12th grade under the supervision of biology teachers and after having received training from researchers from the academia. All participants answered a questionnaire with specific questions on possible mercury exposure sources (e.g. seafood consumption, dental amalgams). Hair samples were collected and analysed using atomic absorption spectrometry with thermal decomposition and gold amalgamation alongside with human hair certified reference material. The study protocol was approved by the Pedagogical Board of the school and authorized by the National Data Protection Commission. From the 92 students recruited, with ages ranging from 12 to 18 years, 56.5% were females, most lived in urban areas (91.3%) and the majority (97.8%) did not have dental amalgam fillings. Participants Body Mass index (BMI) ranged from 15.1 to 28.4 kg/m2, with a mean of 20.6 ± 2.6 kg/m2. Total mercury in hair ranged from 0.01 to 3.32 μg/g, with a mean of 1.09 ± 0.66 μg/g. Around 40% of the students had mercury levels higher the US EPA reference limit of 1 μg/g, while 9.8% exhibit levels higher than the reference dose set by the WHO (2 μg/g). Levels of mercury above the US EPA reference limit are significantly associated with higher consumption of fish (more than once a week), but not with shellfish and seaweed consumption.
