Mercury exposure monitoring for Korean schoolchildren: I. Influence of socioeconomic and demographic variables

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the total Hg in both urine and blood samples and to investigate an association between Hg levels, and the socioeconomic and demographic factors (covariates) from school children of 7–13 years old (n=2,000) during 2005–2006. This paper was the first part of the twopart series. Part 1 introduced the effect of the factors in Hg level. The second part focused upon dietary habits, fish consumption (sources and frequency), smoking habits, alcohol consumption, residential location and other factors. The parameters in this study included parental age, income, parental educational level, and parental age at delivery. Average Hg levels in blood and urinary from both female and male subjects were 2.42±1.02 μg/L [Unit] (N=1,974) and 2.53±1.88 (N=1,528) μg/g-ct (corrected for creatinine), respectively. Moreover, total Hg levels in blood did not exceed guidelines of U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) or the Commission of Human Biological monitoring (CHBM). Conclusively, statistical significance was elucidated between age of children and mercury levels in urine or blood. Levels of parental education also exerted a direct influence on Hg levels.