Mercury Concentration of Whole Blood and Red Blood Cell in Taiwan Residents

Abstract

PP-31-151 Background/Aims: People are exposed to different forms of mercury (Hg), and about 80% of methylmercury (MeHg) in blood is associated with red blood cells (RBC), where it is largely bound to hemoglobin. We aimed at measuring the Hg concentration in whole blood (WB) and RBC and evaluating their correlation in Taiwan residents. Methods: We recruited 43 volunteers (18 male and 23 female) aged between 19 and 48 years who were not exposed to Hg. Samples of blood (5 mL) were collected and 3 mL RBC was obtained at the same time. The amount of total Hg in WB and RBC is determined by using cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy. The WB and RBC samples were treated by microwave-assisted digestion to reach complete solubilization before determination. Results: We found 95% of Hg kept in RBC, the concentration of Hg in WB and RBC was 5.91 ± 2.81 and 11.22 ± 5.68 ng/g, respectively. A high correlation of Hg concentration between WB and RBC was observed (r = 0.93, P < 0.001), this correlation was higher in males (r = 0.95) than that in females (r = 0.90). We divided volunteers into 2 groups by median of age; both WB and RBC Hg concentrations were found almost the same in these 2 metrics. The Hg concentration of WB observed in males was higher than in females (6.14 vs. 5.72 ng/g, P = 0.34), however, in RBC, the results showed adverse direction (10.47 vs. 11.80, P = 0.28). Conclusion: We found the WB and RBC Hg concentrations in Taiwan residents were 5.91 ± 2.81 and 11.22 ± 5.68 ng/g, respectively, this level was higher as compared with the residents of United States and European countries.