Link between blood mercury levels and skin cancer in the USA

Abstract

British Journal of DermatologyVolume 183, Issue 3 p. e76-e76 Plain Language SummaryFree Access Link between blood mercury levels and skin cancer in the USA First published: 02 September 2020 https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.19362AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), also known as keratinocyte cancer, includes squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma and affects more than 5 million people aged over 65 years in the USA every year. We need to understand more about the causes of skin cancer in order to prevent it. Exposure to mercury is an occupational hazard in the nuclear weapons industry, some chemical plants and dentistry. Workers exposed to mercury are at greater risk of brain and lung cancers than the rest of the population, but little is known about their risk of skin cancer. In addition, few studies have focused on how mercury exposure, mainly from eating fish, affects the general population. Previous studies looked at mercury exposure in terms of occupation but did not look at actual mercury levels in the body. These public health doctors and dermatologists from the USA looked for a link between blood mercury levels and NMSC using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which collected health information from a large cross-section of Americans using questionnaires and blood tests. Among 29,413 adults recruited to NHANES from 2003 to 2016, 468 reported having had NMSC. Overall those with higher blood levels of mercury were nearly twice as likely to have NMSC. The results from this study support the possibility of a role for mercury exposure in causing NMSC. Linked Article: Rhee J et al. Br J Dermatol 2020; 183:480–487. Volume183, Issue3September 2020Pages e76-e76 RelatedInformation