Serum mercury concentration in relation to survival, symptoms, and diseases: results from the prospective population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden

A prospective population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden was started i n 1968-69 and comprised 1462 women aged 38, 46, 50, 54, or 60 years at base line. Follow-up studies were carried out in 1974-75, 1980-81, and 1992-93. The baseline study included an extensive medical and dental examination. Se rum mercury concentration (S-Hg) was determined in deep-frozen samples from all participants in 1968-69 and in a random subsample of sera from partici pants in 1980-81, about 20 years after the baseline examinations;. S-IIIS w as statistically significantly correlated with number of amalgam Is at both examinations. Of 30 defined symptoms and 1 different clusters of symptoms, no one was independently correlated with S-Hg measured in the samples from 1968-69, while there was a negative statistically significant correlation with over-exertion and poor appetite in 1980-81. Blood hemoglobin and serum B-12 concenntrations in 1968-69 were statistically significantly and posit ively correlated with S-Hg, while erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the se rum concentrations of potassium and triglycerides were significantly and ne gatively correlated with S-Hg, also after including potential confounders. Blood hematocrit examined in 1980-81 was negatively correlated with S-Hg. W hen including potential confounders, serum IgA was also statistically signi ficantly correlated with S-Hg, but not in univariate analysis. No statistic ally significant correlation was observed between S-Hg, on the one hand, an d the incidence of diabetes, myocardial infarction. stroke, or cancer on th e other, while a statistically significant negative correlation was observe d with overall mortality when age and education were included as background variables. There were some correlations between biological variables and S -Hg probably of no negative clinical significance, and we conclude that the re is no association between disease and S-Hg on a population basis in midd le-ag ed and elder women.