A Revised Probabilistic Estimate of the Maternal Methyl Mercury Intake Dose Corresponding to a Measured Cord Blood Mercury Concentration

The Scientific Paper:

A. H. Stern. Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). Vol. 113, No. 2. 2005.
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2004/7417/7417.html

Review This Scientific Paper’s Abstract:
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2004/7417/7417.html

The Purpose of this Study:
To learn in 2005 the calculated estimate of the mother’s methylmercury intake that corresponds to the methylmercury that is measured in the umbilical cord blood of her infant.

Some Background, Methods, Results, Caveats, and Other Select Points:

• This peer-reviewed, scientific paper was published in 2005.
• In 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted a revised methylmercury reference dose. The EPA methylmercury reference dose is based on nervous system developmental bad effects measured in children. These bad effects are related with these children being exposed in the womb to methylmercury from their mother’s diet.
• The EPA methylmercury reference dose is actually the amount of methylmercury below which the mother can eat methylmercury and there will be no bad effects on her unborn child.
• The EPA methylmercury reference dose has at least two areas of uncertainty that may cause it to be at least somewhat in error.
• The EPA regulates methylmercury in sport and recreational fish – but not in fish sold commercially interstate. The FDA regulates the methylmercury in those fish sold commercially interstate.

A Bottom Line:
For almost all of the mothers with methylmercury exposure, their exposure is about half the methylmercury exposure value previously estimated by the EPA.

These scientists believe that that the EPA methylmercury reference dose is too conservative/restrictive.

Find This Scientific Paper for Your Review:
A Revised Probabilistic Estimate of the Maternal Methyl Mercury Intake Dose Corresponding to a Measured Cord Blood Mercury Concentration. Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) Vol. 113, No. 2. 2005.
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2004/7417/7417.html