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BIOLOGICAL MARKERS FOR MONITORING EXPOSURE TO MERCURY AND OTHER METALS

Learn about biological markers for monitoring mercury and metal exposure in Northern Canada, focusing on Arctic communities consuming traditional diets. Discussions include mercury levels in populations, selenium variations, lead and cadmium sources, and historical trends. Explore health concerns, mercury analysis methods, and Health Canada laboratories involvement. Current issues with dental amalgams, household mercury exposure, and other metals are also addressed.

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BIOLOGICAL MARKERS FOR MONITORING EXPOSURE TO MERCURY AND OTHER METALS

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  1. BIOLOGICAL MARKERS FOR MONITORING EXPOSURE TO MERCURY AND OTHER METALS Mike Inskip Andy Gilman Healthy Environments & Consumer Safety Branch Health Canada

  2. Recent results from Canada Involvement in Arctic monitoring (AMAP) Involvement in looking at contaminants in the north of Canada Laboratory facilities Revisiting Health Canada / Mexico opportunities for cooperation on Mercury analyses (& other metals?) OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

  3. Fish is major source for ALL Canadians Focus on Northern Canada - consumers of traditional diets (fish and marine mammals) Link to ARCTIC MONITORING & ASSESSMENT [AMAP] program (8 countries) Methylmercury is just one of contaminants of concern in northern ecosystems MERCURY SURVEILLANCE IN CANADIAN POPULATIONS

  4. MERCURY IN MATERNAL BLOOD (ug/L) AMAP Report 2002 (in press) • means: • Wide range in Canadian Inuit populations • for 5 Inuit populations, 6.7, 2.1, 3.4, 3.7, 9.8 • for Caucasian: 0.9 • Compare with: • Alaska, USA: 5.5 and 2.3 • Greenland: 50, 12.4, 3.6, 10.5 • Russia: 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.7, 2.9, 1.4, 1.2 • Finland : 1.4 • Faroe Islands 1.2

  5. Selenium very variable but elevated in some Greenlandcommunities (marine mammal consumption- whaleskin) Lead in blood higher in some Inuit (lead shot for hunting?) Cadmium elevated in women who smoke (x10) but also diet is a source Trend data - not possible yet as only one or two sampling points But historical records (human hair, animal hair) from 15th and 16th Century vs the 20th century show 3-7 times and 4-6 times elevation for Hg OTHER METALS IN AMAP COUNTRIES

  6. Recent evidence on dental amalgams reveal potentially elevated exposure (Legal action underway) Incidence of household thermometer breakages - potential risk to inhabitants if remediation incomplete Mercury in jewelry items and consumer protection issues Hobbyist uses of mercury (and lead) Many others - difficulties in quantifying incidences and risk assessment approaches OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS RE MERCURY & metals in Health Canada

  7. Mercury in blood ug/L Flameless AAS good indicator of recent methyl-Hg intake from diet Mercury in hair ug/g Flameless AAS good relationship with Methyl-Hg levels in blood segmental analysis can show monthly trends Mercury in urine ug/L Flameless AAS better indicator for inorganic /gaseous mercury exposure (e.g., occupational exposure, chlor alkali mining industries.) MERCURY ANALYSIS - choice of medium for exposureassessment

  8. Inter-laboratory comparisons - participate in international ‘round-robins’ 30 year involvement with First Nations & Inuit Health Branch, HG surveillance Previous visit by CENAM staff from Mexico to observe analytical methods Involvement in ‘capacity building’ tasks with other laboratories and countries HEALTH CANADA LABORATORIES

  9. Health Canada could : Provide advice on analytical methods and inter-laboratory QA/QC recent advances in mercury measurement and exposure assessment Provide advice on biological monitoring approaches and communication strategies. Cover analytical costs of samples at Health Canada laboratories and/or assist scientists from Mexico in technology transfer. DISCUSSIONS ON EARLIER PROPOSAL for Hg monitoring in Zacatecas region

  10. Select appropriate exposure marker(s) (urine/hair/blood, etc.) and region of Zacatecas Focus on ‘susceptible groups’ e.g.: 25 women of childbearing age 25 occupationally exposed adults 25 children (e.g., in homes of exposed adults) Adopt appropriate communicationstrategy in community, create questionnaire & links with all stakeholders and necessary ethical approval. 1999 MONITORING PROPOSAL & DISCUSSIONS

  11. What were main routes of exposure from Mercury? Hg vapour? Fish consumption? Dust/air fractions? Were other contaminants (e.g. Pb, Cd) also likely to be present? Where could a ‘control group’ of people be identified away from the Zacetecana region? What needed to be in place to ensure interested parties were in agreement and were there opportunities for liaison between federal/state /regional/local authorities? EXAMPLES OF 1999 UNCERTAINTIES AT THE TIME

  12. What new information is available to help decisions on exposure assessment of population? Are the sources of Hg exposure better understood? Is there any change in the types of advice, analyses or expertise which Health Canada could provide? More/less samples? other contaminant monitoring? Capacity building/scientist exchange? ZACATECAS: THE SITUATION IN 2002 - new data to assist in refining monitoring proposal

  13. Listen to reports of new data and findings from Zacatecana region Refine capacity building opportunities note ‘mutual benefit’ to all 3 NAFTA parties Canada receives 50% or more of its Hg deposition from outside its borders efforts to assist partners reduce emissions will have good ‘pay-back’ in reduced impact of Hg MESSAGES TO TAKE BACK to Health Canada

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