MERCURY EXPOSURE IN HUMANS THROUGH FOOD-CONSUMPTION FROM THP EVERGLADES OF FLORIDA

In March 1989, The Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Ser vices (HRS) issued a Health Advisory recommending the limited consumpt ion of several fish species caught from the Everglades region of South Florida due to elevated methylmercury (MeHg) levels (average 2-3 ppm in fish meat). There were no reports of clinical MeHg poisoning in hum ans in Florida, although deaths of Florida panthers were attributed to mercury (Hg), poisoning. This study evaluated the extent of MeHg expo sure in persons eating contaminated fish in the Everglades region. Pop ulations at risk were identified including sport fishermen, Everglades Residents and subsistence fishermen. Over 1700 individuals were appro ached; those who had eaten fish or wildlife from the contaminated area s at least once/month for the prior three months were asked to partici pate. Three hundred and fifty (350) participants completed a brief que stionnaire and provided a hair sample for Hg analysis. In 119 (36%) of individuals with levels above the limits of detection, the mean total Hg in hair was 3.62 +/- 3.0 mu g/g [+ standard deviation] with a rang e of 1.28 - 15.57. The most at risk populations identified with respec t to Hg levels were Blacks and men. Although the majority of the parti cipants had fished in the Everglades for many years (> 15 years), they reported relatively low intake of fish and had low hair Hg levels com pared with similar populations in prior studies of other populations a t risk. Although 71% of participants knew of the State Health Advisori es concerning ingestion of Hg contaminated fish from the Everglades, t his did not change their consumption habits. In addition, Blacks, indi viduals of lower income and of lower education levels were less likely to know about the Health Advisories. Given recent studies of neurolog ic effects from relatively low in utero MeHg exposure, the continuatio n of the Mercury Health Advisories and wildlife monitoring in the Ever glades are warranted, especially for women of childbearing age and chi ldren. However, public education must be targeted for the populations at risk identified in this study in order to reach these populations m ore effectively.