Intake rates of methylmercury in the Belgian population: Evolution over 40 years.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is one of the most toxic compounds, it bioaccumulates and biomagnifies along the food chain and finally damages human's nervous system. Knowing that the main intake route for MeHg in humans is through fish consumption, intake rates were studied in various countries, but not in Belgium. Based on Hg and MeHg measurements in various fishes, mainly from North Sea catches, in combination with the national food consumption surveys, we could calculate daily Hg and MeHg intake rates for the Belgian population in 1975, 1997 and 2014-2021. These values are then compared with daily intake values reported by other countries and with the acceptable daily intake (ADI) values recommended by international organizations. Daily Hg and MeHg intake rates decreased strongly between 1975 and the 2 later periods: while average intake rates are all below the ADI norms, this is not the case for the 95th percentile rates because they exceed or are very close to the ADI values. Since daily MeHg intake rates correlate well with hair and blood concentrations, these were used as a good proxy of MeHg intoxication and were related to health effects observed in children, adolescents, adults and elderly persons living in Belgium via biomonitoring.

Dynamics of the total mercury content in the hair of adolescent residents of the industrial center of Northwest Russia (Cherepovets City).

Total mercury content dynamics were evaluated in the hair of adolescent residents of the industrial center of North West Russia. The content of total mercury varied from less than 0.002 to 0.83 mg/kg. The content of total mercury in the hair of males was 1.5-2 times lower than that of females. The relationship between the body mass index of females and the content of total mercury in the hair (for the entire observation period rs = 0.28-0.48, at p < 0.05) was observed. Metal's concentration in the hair of the study participants was found to depend on of fish consumption frequency. Total mercury concentration values were found to increase of 70% of the participants, by 0.03 mg/kg per year on average, over 3 years of study. Indicators of the content of total mercury in the hair of females and males in the city of Cherepovets did not exceed the standard values established in Russia and in the world. At the same time, the recorded values of the annual increase in the content of total mercury in the hair allow us to predict the potentially hazardous levels of metal in the body of the study participants when they reach adulthood.

Exposure assessment and semi-quantitative risk analysis of histamine in tuna and tuna-like fish from Indonesia.

This study aimed to investigate histamine exposure associated with consumption of fresh tuna and tuna-like species in West Java, and to estimate risk of Scombroid Fish Poisoning (SFP) in Indonesia. A range of species, including tuna (Thunnus spp.), bullet tuna (Auxis sp.), and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) were collected from local markets and fish landing sites. Subsequently, histamine concentrations were determined using NMR analysis and exposure was calculated in mg/day for toddlers, children, and adults. The results showed that skipjack had the highest histamine exposure for all age groups, followed by bullet and regular tuna. The highest EDI for histamine was from skipjack consumption, accounting for 38.67; 37.77 and 20.74 percentage of exposure for toddlers, children and adults, respectively. These values are below the defined thresholds levels (ARfD), indicating no potential risk of acute health effect. Cooked bullet tuna and skipjack were estimated to cause similar illnesses, accounting for 6-7 cases per 100,000 individuals, which was higher than cooked tuna at 1-2 cases per 100,000 individuals. Considering the preparation of raw tuna in restaurants following Good Hygienic Practices (GHP), the predicted annual cases decreased significantly to 4-5 cases per million individuals. This risk estimation only considered histamine levels in fresh fish, without including data from fish preparation. Therefore, further studies were recommended to estimate the risk level in raw/fresh tuna and similar species before consumption.

Dietary Habits, Physical Activity and Body Mass Index in Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults in Italy: A Voluntary Sampling Observational Study.

Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals continue to experience harassment and discrimination across various aspects of life, significantly impacting their physical and mental health. The scarcity of data on their general health, particularly regarding dietary habits, remains a challenge in developing effective healthcare strategies for this population. To address this gap, we analyzed selected dietary habits, physical activity (PA), and body mass index (BMI) among Italian TGD adults compared to the Italian general population (IGP). An online anonymous survey was conducted via the Computer Assisted Web Interviewing technique from June 2020 to June 2021. Participants were enrolled through clinical centers and TGD organizations. Data from 959 TGD adults were analyzed using chi-squared tests and logistic regression models. Key findings indicated that approximately 70% of TGD individuals consumed fewer servings of fruit and vegetables (FV) than recommended (five or more servings per day). Although red meat consumption was lower overall, a greater percentage of TGD individuals reported consuming more than three servings per week. Additionally, 58% of TGD participants indicated that they did not engage in any PA, compared to 36% of the IGP. Notably, significant differences in BMI were identified, with higher rates of overweight and obesity among TGD individuals assigned female at birth. These results underscore the urgent need for tailored nutritional guidelines and inclusive public health strategies to meet the specific health needs of the Italian TGD population. Expanding access to targeted interventions could contribute to improving overall well-being in this marginalized group.

Dietary consumption patterns in breast cancer survivors: Pilot evaluation of diet, supplements and clinical factors.

PURPOSE: Adherence to dietary intake guidelines is recommended for optimal nutrition and outcomes in breast cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to examine dietary quality in a cohort of breast cancer survivors related to current guidelines, guiding further education-based research. METHODS: This exploratory evaluation examined compliance with current dietary guidelines. Data collected included demographics, medical histories and repeated, three-day 24-h dietary recalls. Women with early-stage breast cancer (n = 97) who completed breast cancer treatment between 6 and 24 months were recruited. Descriptive statistics and frequencies were calculated for demographic and lifestyle characteristics, reported fish consumption, body mass index categories, supplement consumption, and adequacy of macronutrient and micronutrient consumption (classified as below, meeting, or exceeding needs). RESULTS: In this cohort, 28.9% were classified as overweight and 35% were obese. The mean dietary macronutrient consumption was 44.3% (±8.9%) carbohydrates, 36.6% (±7.3%) fat, and 17.3% (±4.7%) protein. Additionally, 32.3% participants consumed >45 g sugar/d. The mean n-6 to n-3 ratio was 8.0 (±3.3):1. Further, 38% of survivors reported consuming less than 1 serving of fish per week. Participants consumed between 0 and 1.03 servings of fish per day, with an average consumption of 0.16 (±0.26) servings per day and 61.5% (n = 59) consuming 0 servings per day. The mean daily combined dietary and supplement consumption of multiple micronutrients was below the Recommended Daily Allowance for Vitamin D (30%), Calcium (52.6%), Magnesium (42.1%), and Vitamin E (80%). CONCLUSION: Breast cancer survivors 0.5-2 years post-treatment are not meeting recommended nutrition consumption guidelines for a number of nutrients. Findings suggested that nutrition therapy targeting weight loss through reduced sugar, total and saturated fat, while increasing foods rich in omega-3, and ensuring adequate micronutrient consumption would promote better nutritional consumption patterns and improve overall health during survivorship.

Blood mercury mediates the associations between fish consumption and serum uric acid levels among Chinese adults: A nationally representative study.

Fish consumption can increase purine load in human body, and the enrichment of mercury in fish may affect the glomerular filtration function, both resulting in increased serum uric acid (SUA) levels. The data of blood mercury (BHg), fish consumption frequency and SUA levels of 7653 participants aged 18 years or older was from China National Human Biomonitoring (2017-2018). The associations between fish consumption frequency, ln-transformed BHg and SUA levels were explored through weighted multiple linear regressions. The mediating effect of BHg levels between fish consumption frequency and SUA levels was evaluated by mediation analysis. We found that both the fish consumption frequency and BHg were positively associated with SUA levels in both sexes. Compared to participants who had never consumed fish, participants who consumed fish once a week or more had higher SUA levels [ß (95% confidence interval, CI): 20.39 (2.16, 38.62) in males; ß (95% CI): 10.06 (0.76, 19.37) in females] and ln-transformed BHg [ß (95% CI): 0.97 (0.61, 1.34) in males; ß (95% CI): 0.84 (0.63, 1.05) in females]. Each 1-unit increase in ln-transformed BHg, the SUA levels rose by 4.78 (95% CI: 0.01, 9.54) µmol/L for males and 3.81 (95% CI: 1.60, 6.03) µmol/L for females. The association between fish consumption with SUA levels was mediated by ln-transformed BHg with the percent mediated of 34.66% in males and 26.58% in females. It revealed that BHg played mediating roles in the elevation of SUA levels caused by fish consumption. This study's findings could promote the government to intervene in mercury pollution in fish, so as to ensure the safety of fish consumption.

Human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) via the consumption of fish leads to exceedance of safety thresholds.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) receive global attention due to their adverse effects on human health and the environment. Fish consumption is a major source of human PFAS exposure. The aim of this work was to address the lack of harmonization within legislations (in the EU and the USA) and highlight the level of PFAS in fish exposed to pollution from diffuse sources in the context of current safety thresholds. A non-exhaustive literature review was carried out to obtain PFAS concentrations in wild fish from the Norwegian mainland, Svalbard, the Netherlands, the USA, as well as sea regions (North Sea, English Channel, Atlantic Ocean), and farmed fish on the Dutch market. Median sum wet weight concentrations of PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, and PFOS ranged between 0.1 µg kg-1 (farmed fish) and 22 µg kg-1 (Netherlands eel). Most concentrations fell below the EU environmental quality standard (EQSbiota) for PFOS (9.1 µg kg-1) and would not be defined as polluted in the EU. However, using recent tolerable intake or reference dose values in the EU and the USA revealed that even limited fish consumption would lead to exceedance of these thresholds - possibly posing a challenge for risk communication.

A Novel Approach to Assessing the Joint Effects of Mercury and Fish Consumption on Neurodevelopment in the New Bedford Cohort.

Understanding health risks from methylmercury (MeHg) exposure is complicated by its link to fish consumption which may confound or modify toxicities. One solution is to include fish intake and a biomarker of MeHg exposure in the same model, but resulting estimates do not reflect the independent impact of accumulated MeHg or fish exposures. In fish-eating populations, this can be addressed by separating MeHg exposure into fish intake and average Hg content of the consumed fish. We assessed the joint association of prenatal MeHg exposure (maternal hair Hg) and fish intake (among fish-eating mothers) with neurodevelopment in 361 eight-year-olds from the New Bedford Cohort (born 1993-1998). Neurodevelopmental assessments used standardized tests of IQ, language, memory, and attention. Covariate-adjusted regression assessed the association of maternal fish consumption, stratified by tertiles of estimated average fish Hg, with neurodevelopment. Associations between maternal fish intake and child outcomes were generally beneficial for those in the lowest average fish Hg tertile, but detrimental in the highest average fish Hg tertile where, for example, each serving of fish was associated with 1.3 fewer correct responses (95% CI: -2.2, -0.4) on the Boston Naming test. Standard analyses showed no outcome associations with hair Hg or fish intake.

Genetically determined dietary habits and risk of Alzheimer's disease: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Emerging evidence have suggested that dietary habits have potential implication on the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, elucidating the causal relationship between specific dietary factors and AD risk remains a challenge. Therefore, our study endeavors to investigate the causal association between dietary habits and the risk of AD. Materials and methods: We analyzed data on 231 dietary habits sourced from the UK Biobank and MRC-IEU, and AD data obtained from the FinnGen database. Employing a framework based on the classic two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study, we utilized the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method as the primary analysis. Additionally, we conducted Steiger filtering and other methods to mitigate horizontal pleiotropy. The robustness of our overall findings was confirmed through multiple sensitivity analysis methods, and forward MR and reverse MR to address potential reverse causality bias. Results: Our study evaluated the causal effect between 231 dietary habits involving over 500,000 participants of European ancestry, and 10,520 AD cases. Only oily fish intake demonstrated a significant protective causal relationship with AD following FDR correction (raw p-value = 1.28e-4, FDR p-value = 0.011, OR = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.47-0.78). Additionally, six dietary habits potentially influenced AD risk, with protective causal effects observed for average monthly intake of other alcoholic drinks (raw p-value = 0.024, FDR p-value = 0.574, OR = 0.57, 95%CI: 0.35-0.93) and tea intake (raw p-value = 0.047, FDR p-value = 0.581, OR = 0.78, 95%CI: 0.603-1.00). Conversely, detrimental causal effects were observed for the average weekly champagne plus white wine intake (raw p-value = 0.006, FDR p-value = 0.243, OR = 2.96, 95%CI: 1.37-6.38), Danish pastry intake (raw p-value = 0.036, FDR p-value = 0.574, OR = 13.33, 95%CI: 1.19-149.69), and doughnut intake (raw p-value = 0.039, FDR p-value = 0.574, OR = 7.41, 95%CI: 1.11-49.57). Moreover, the protective effect of goat's cheese intake phenotype exhibited statistical significance only in the IVW method (raw p-value<0.05). Conclusion: Our results provide genetic support for a protective causal effect of oily fish intake on AD risk. Additionally, average monthly intake of other alcoholic drinks and tea consumption were also related with a lower risk of AD. Conversely, average weekly champagne plus white wine intake, Danish pastry intake, and doughnut intake were causally associated with increased risk of AD.

Consumption of Meats and Fish in Poland during the COVID-19 Lockdown Period.

The COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions have significantly impacted the quality of life of society in many countries in various aspects. The purpose of this study was to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the consumption of meat and fish in society in Poland as well as the factors that determined these changes. The cross-sectional study was conducted using an original online questionnaire between 8th and 18th of April 2020. The subjects were selected randomly. The target population were adults living in Poland. The inclusion criterion for the study was the age of at least 18 years and consent to selfless participation in the study. Communication via social media such as Facebook or Instagram was used to enroll more participants from different socio-demographic subgroups. The questionnaire was divided into two parts-the first part contained questions about sex, age, body mass, body height, residence, level of education, and occupation, and the second part consisted of specific questions about the consumption frequency of different kinds of meat during the COVID-19 lockdown period (in comparison to the time before the pandemic). A total of 3888 people took part in the study including 84.54% women, with an average age of 30.17 ± 9.22 years. The frequency of poultry consumption increased, while for pork, beef, ham and other meat products as well as fish and seafood it declined. The factors that influenced the change in dietary patterns during the lockdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic included age, body mass index, gender, place of residence, and type of work performed. However, no relationship was found between the change in meat and fish consumption during the pandemic and the level of education and form of employment during the pandemic.

Association between fish and shellfish consumption, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and gastric cancer risk: the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study.

PURPOSE: Fish and shellfish consumption is suggested to be a cancer-protective factor. However, studies investigating this association for gastric cancer, especially considering Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and atrophic gastritis (AG), are limited. We investigated gastric cancer risk associated with fish, shellfish, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) consumption among Japanese adults. METHODS: 90,504 subjects enrolled in the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study (JPHC Study) were followed until December 2013. Dietary intake data were collected using a food frequency questionnaire. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for gastric cancer risk associated with fish and shellfish consumption and marine n-3 PUFAs (sum of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) using Cox proportional hazards models. Among those with avaliable data, we conducted a subgroup analysis taking H. pylori infection and AG status  into consideration. RESULTS: There were 2,701 gastric cancer cases during an average of 15 years of follow-up. We observed an increased gastric cancer risk for salted fish consumption for men [HR for fifth quintile versus first quintile 1.43 (95% CI 1.18-1.75)] and for women [HR 1.33 (95% CI 1.00-1.77)]. We observed a weak risk reduction trend for women as the intake of marine n-3 PUFAs increased (p-trend:0.07). When we included H. pylori infection and atrophic gastritis status in the analysis, the associations diminished. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that salted fish increases gastric cancer risk for men and women, while marine n-3 PUFAs marginally decreases this risk among women in Japan.

Awareness of fish-borne zoonoses and prevalence of Contracaecum in Oreochromis niloticus and Lates niloticus collected from Lake Chamo, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.

AIM: Many fish species can harbour a wide range of pathogenic agents in their tissues. Of many pathogens, the parasitic nematode of genus Contracaecum, which resides in the tissues of fish species, can results in fish-borne infections in humans. This study was planned to assess consumers' awareness of fish-borne zoonoses in the fishing sites of Lake Chamo, Arba Minch, Ethiopia. The study was also aimed at demonstrating the zoonotic nematode, Contracaecum parasites in the Oreochromis niloticus and Lates niloticus fishes collected from Lake Chamo, Arba Minch, Ethiopia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Assessment of awareness about fish-borne zoonoses was conducted in randomly selected participants (n = 162) using face-to-face interviews via a structured and semi-structured questionnaire. Besides, 70 fishes (O. niloticus = 35 and L. niloticus = 35) were examined for the presence of larva of Contracaecum and other anisakid genera through standard dissection, pepsin-hydrochloric acid digestion and microscopic observation. Consumers have inadequate awareness about fish-borne zoonoses based on the answers they provided to the questions. The majority of respondents (82%) consume raw fish in the area. Of these, a significantly higher proportion were male (p < 0.001), completed their elementary or high school (p = 0.004), Orthodox Christian (p = 0.044), fishermen (p < 0.001) and participants without previous information about fish-borne zoonoses (p < 0.001). Overall, of examined fishes (n = 70), n = 15 (21.4%, 95% CI, 12.8-33.2) were infected with Contracaecum larva. A significant (p = 0.028) higher infection prevalence was noted in L. niloticus (34.3%, 95% CI, 19.7-52.3) compared to O. niloticus (8.6%, 95% CI, 2.2-24.2). A unit gram addition in the total weight of fish would significantly raise the risk of Contracaecum infection by 1% (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of Contracaecum, a zoonotic nematode in the fishes, which are often preferred by consumers for raw dishes, designates a high risk of possible fish-borne infections in the area. Thus, providing education and training for fishermen, visitors of the area, and local people who visit the area for fish consumption, it is inevitably important to minimize the risk. Furthermore, health workers should suspect fish-borne infections, such as anisakidosis in patients who have a history of raw fish consumption in Arba Minch, Ethiopia.

Hair Mercury Levels in Pregnant Women: Fish Consumption as a Determinant of Exposure.

The consumption of fish in food may contain mercury, a harmful element and dangerous chemical detrimental to human health. The purpose of this study was to determine the mercury level in the hair of pregnant women with different fish intakes in their diets. The concentration of total mercury in hair was determined using an atomic absorption spectrometer. In this study, 98 pregnant women were invited to participate (aged from 18 to 48 years). The mean content of mercury in the hair of pregnant women in Northwestern Russia was 0.428 mg/kg (ranging from 0.018 to 3.1 mg/kg). As a result, 22% of women had mercury values above 0.58 mg/kg, which is considered dangerous for the fetus. The hair mercury concentration in a village area was higher than that in a city area (i.e., 0.548 mg/kg and 0.326 mg/kg). Moreover, the maximum level of mercury was noted for a group of pregnant women who consumed more than 5 kg/month of fish and fish products. Furthermore, the consumption of freshwater fish in the diet leads to a higher mercury content in the hair of pregnant women than the consumption of marine fish.

Early life exposure to mercury and relationships with telomere length and mitochondrial DNA content in European children.

BACKGROUND: Telomere length (TL) and mitochondrial function expressed as mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) are biomarkers of aging and oxidative stress and inflammation, respectively. Methylmercury (MeHg), a common pollutant in fish, induces oxidative stress. We hypothesized that elevated oxidative stress from exposure to MeHg decreases mtDNAcn and shortens TL. METHODS: Study participants are 6-11-year-old children from the HELIX multi-center birth cohort study, comprising six European countries. Prenatal and postnatal total mercury (THg) concentrations were measured in blood samples, TL and mtDNAcn were determined in child DNA. Covariates and confounders were obtained by questionnaires. Robust regression models were run, considering sociodemographic and lifestyle covariates, as well as fish consumption. Sex, ethnicity, and fish consumption interaction models were also run. RESULTS: We found longer TL with higher pre- and postnatal THg blood concentrations, even at low-level THg exposure according to the RfD proposed by the US EPA. The prenatal association showed a significant linear relationship with a 3.46 % increase in TL for each unit increased THg. The postnatal association followed an inverted U-shaped marginal non-linear relationship with 1.38 % an increase in TL for each unit increased THg until reaching a cut-point at 0.96 µg/L blood THg, from which TL attrition was observed. Higher pre- and postnatal blood THg concentrations were consistently related to longer TL among cohorts and no modification effect of fish consumption nor children's sex was observed. No association between THg exposure and mtDNAcn was found. DISCUSSION: We found evidence that THg is associated with TL but the associations seem to be time- and concentration-dependent. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanism behind the telomere changes of THg and related health effects.

Polychlorinated biphenyls and incident coronary heart disease-related outcomes in Great Lakes fish consumers.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been linked to risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as increased inflammation, accelerated atherosclerosis, diabetes, and sex hormone dysregulation. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence suggesting associations between internal dose of PCBs and cardiovascular outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to investigate longitudinal associations of PCBs with coronary heart disease (CHD)-related outcomes in a cohort of Great Lakes sport fish consumers. METHODS: The Great Lakes Sport Fish Consumer cohort was established in the early 1990's. Eight hundred nineteen participants were followed from 1993 to 2017. Serum PCBs were measured in 1994/1995 (baseline), in 2001, and in 2004, while health history questionnaires were administered in 1996, 2003, 2010, and 2017. Cox models were used to prospectively investigate associations of total PCBs and PCB groupings, based on aryl hydrocarbon receptor activity, with incident self-reported physician diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CHD), myocardial infarction (MI), and angina pectoris. RESULTS: A 2-fold increase in phenobarbital-type PCBs was associated with a 72% increase in likelihood of self-reported incident diagnosis of CHD (HR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.06-2.81; p=0.0294). Similar results were observed for total PCBs (HR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.05-2.69; p=0.0306) and mixed methacholine/phenobarbital type (mixed-type) PCBs (HR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.02-2.52; p=0.0427), but not methacholine-type PCBs. PCBs were not strongly associated with risk of MI or angina. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents evidence that exposure to PCBs increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease. Given the large number of risk factors and causal pathways for CHD, future research is required to better understand biological mechanisms of action for PCBs on CHD.

Considerations and challenges in support of science and communication of fish consumption advisories for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Federal, state, tribal, or local entities in the United States issue fish consumption advisories (FCAs) as guidance for safer consumption of locally caught fish containing contaminants. Fish consumption advisories have been developed for commonly detected compounds such as mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. The existing national guidance does not specifically address the unique challenges associated with bioaccumulation and consumption risk related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). As a result, several states have derived their own PFAS-related consumption guidelines, many of which focus on one frequently detected PFAS, known as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). However, there can be significant variation between tissue concentrations or trigger concentrations (TCs) of PFOS that support the individual state-issued FCAs. This variation in TCs can create challenges for risk assessors and risk communicators in their efforts to protect public health. The objective of this article is to review existing challenges, knowledge gaps, and needs related to issuing PFAS-related FCAs and to provide key considerations for the development of protective fish consumption guidance. The current state of the science and variability in FCA derivation, considerations for sampling and analytical methodologies, risk management, risk communication, and policy challenges are discussed. How to best address PFAS mixtures in the development of FCAs, in risk assessment, and establishment of effect thresholds remains a major challenge, as well as a source of uncertainty and scrutiny. This includes developments better elucidating toxicity factors, exposures to PFAS mixtures, community fish consumption behaviors, and evolving technology and analytical instrumentation, methods, and the associated detection limits. Given the evolving science and public interests informing PFAS-related FCAs, continued review and revision of FCA approaches and best practices are vital. Nonetheless, consistent, widely applicable, PFAS-specific approaches informing methods, critical concentration thresholds, and priority compounds may assist practitioners in PFAS-related FCA development and possibly reduce variability between states and jurisdictions. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1839-1858. © 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Mercury levels in Nile perch fillets in processing industries in Uganda.

Mercury levels of Nile perch fillets to be exported from selected fish processing industries in Uganda were determined by hot digestion in strong acids, followed by analysing the extracts with Inductive Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). There was a clear link between atmospheric mercury and methylmercury accumulation in fish tissues, thus exposing a possible threat for human health. A quantitative cross-sectional study design was undertaken from two fish processing factories around Kampala city. Simple random sampling was utilised where ten fish products were picked for analysis. The results obtained from the analysis of samples from both factories presented mercury levels far below the FAO/WHO guideline level of 0.5 mg/kg for mercury in fish. The mercury levels for both factories were higher than the oral daily recommended dose of 0.001 mg/kg body weight for the vulnerable population raising eyebrows for the general population, since fish is a major contributor to mercury intake for consumers.

Association between Fish Consumption during Pregnancy and Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes: A Statistical Study in Southern Italy.

Background: This research aimed to evaluate the association between the monthly consumption of fish (differentiated by type) and both gestational and neonatal outcomes. Methods: Women who were admitted for delivery in the last 6 months of 2023 were prospectively included and divided according to type of fish consumed (based on DHA and mercury content) and frequency of consumption. Neonatal outcomes included weight, length, head circumference, and 1st and 5th minute Apgar scores. Maternal outcomes were threats of abortion, preterm birth, gestational diabetes and hypertension, cesarean section, and differential body mass index (BMI). Results: Small-size oily fish with high DHA and low mercury content (type B fish) consumption was positively associated with neonatal weight and head circumference, and less weight gain in pregnancy. It was also significantly associated with lower incidences of gestational diabetes and hypertension, and cesarean section. Correlation between differential BMI and monthly consumption of fish resulted in statistical significance, especially in type B fish consumers. Conclusions: The consumption of type B fish was significantly associated with increased neonatal weight and head circumference and better maternal outcomes.

The impact of prenatal mercury on neurobehavioral functioning longitudinally assessed from a young age to pre-adolescence in a Spanish birth cohort.

The objective is to investigate the relation between cord blood mercury concentrations and child neurobehavioural functioning assessed longitudinally during childhood until pre-adolescence. METHODS: The study involves mothers and their offspring engaged in the Spanish INMA birth cohort (n = 1147). Total mercury (THg) was determined in cord blood. Behavioural problems were assessed several times during childhood using the ADHD-DSM-IV at age 4, SDQ at ages 7 and 11, CPRS-R:S and the CBCL at ages 7, 9 and 11. Covariates were obtained through questionnaires during the whole period. Multivariate generalised negative binomial (MGNB) models or mixed-effects MGNB (for those tests with information at one or more time points, respectively) were used to investigate the relation between cord blood THg and the children's punctuations. Models were adjusted for prenatal fish intake. Effect modification by sex, prenatal and postnatal fish intake, prenatal fruit and vegetable intake, and maternal polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations (PCBs) was assessed by interaction terms. RESULTS: The geometric mean ± standard deviation of cord blood THg was 8.22 ± 2.19 µg/L. Despite adjusting for fish consumption, our results did not show any statistically significant relationship between prenatal Hg and the children's performance on behavioural tests conducted between the ages of 4 and 11. Upon assessing the impact of various factors, we observed no statistically significant interaction. CONCLUSION: Despite elevated prenatal THg exposure, no association was found with children's behavioural functioning assessed from early childhood to pre-adolescence. The nutrients in fish could offset the potential neurotoxic impact of Hg. Further birth cohort studies with longitudinal data are warranted.

Determinants of Fish Intake and Complying with Fish Consumption Recommendations-A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study among Secondary School Students in Poland.

Fish intake in youth is commonly inadequate with several potential determinants. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the influence of potential fish intake determinants in a nationwide sample of Polish youth. Associations between the participants' fish intake and their gender, age, body mass index, place of residence (region and size of locality), school type, nutritional knowledge about fish, and their parents'/legal guardians' fish intake were assessed. A total sample of 1317 adolescents (870 female, 447 male) aged 14-22 from 32 secondary schools from all regions of Poland participated in the study. Median fish intake among the youth was 34.9 g/week. The recommendation to consume at least 300 g of fish/week was followed by 6% of participants. Fish intake was determined by gender and the type of school, with males and comprehensive high school students consuming more fish, but it was not determined by the region or size of the locality of residence and age group, nor did the body mass index determine fish intake. Participants' fish intake was positively associated with their nutritional knowledge about fish, as well as with their parents'/legal guardians' fish intake. Most youths do not follow the recommendation to consume at least 300 g of fish weekly; hence, nutritional education on the recommendations and the benefits of fish consumption is necessary.