Total mercury concentrations in the general Korean population, 2008-2011

- We pooled data from recent national surveys.
- We evaluated the blood mercury levels of the general Korean population.
- We found that the overall GM of blood mercury concentration was 3.45 μg/L.
- The time trend for exposure to mercury in Korea showed a marked decline.
- Nearly all subjects in every age groups were below the Korean TWI of 2.0 μg/kg bw/week.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the blood mercury levels of the general Korean population. The data from subjects of all ages were pooled from recent national surveys. In the combined surveys, the geometric means (GMs) of the blood mercury concentrations in subjects aged 0-7, 8-18, and 19 years and above were 2.05 (2010-2011), 2.12 (2010-2011), and 3.74 μg/L (2008-2011), respectively. There was an increasing trend in blood mercury levels with age until 59 years and then a slight decline in the group above 60 years. The time trend for exposure to mercury in Korea also showed a marked decline. In comparing estimated methylmercury exposure to the Korean health-based guidance value (tolerable weekly intake [TWI]: 2.0 μg/kg bw/week), the GMs of methylmercury exposure for subjects aged 0-7, 8-18, and 19 years and above were 0.30, 0.31, and 0.43 μg/kg bw/week, respectively, while methylmercury exposure did not exceed the TWI (15.0%, 15.5%, and 21.5% compared to the TWI, respectively). The 95th percentiles of estimated methylmercury exposure ranged from 0.71 to 1.61 μg/kg bw/week, which was not above the TWI (range, 35.5-80.5%).