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Tetsuya Endo - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • correlations between mercury concentration and stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen of amino acids in scalp hair from Whale Meat eaters and heavy fish eaters
    Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 2017
    Co-Authors: Tetsuya Endo, Hideki Ogasawara, Moriaki Hayasaka, Yohei Hotta, Osamu Kimura, Klaus J. Petzke
    Abstract:

    RATIONALE As mercury (Hg) accumulation in marine animals generally increases with increased trophic level (δ15 N values) through the food web, predators accumulate higher levels of Hg. The main source of human Hg intake is the consumption of fish and other marine animals, and Hg concentration in scalp hair is the preferred marker for evaluating consumption of marine animals. Difference in δ15 N values between trophic and source amino acids of human consumers could enable us to estimate the trophic level of the consumer without knowing the bulk δ15 N value of their prey. METHODS We measured the δ15 N values of 15 amino acids in scalp hair from heavy fish eaters and Whale Meat eaters using isotope ratio monitoring gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (irm-GC/MS), and investigated the correlations between Hg concentrations in the hair and the δ15 N values of the individual constituent amino acids. RESULTS The δ15 N values for all trophic amino acids (Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Asx and Glx) increased with increases in Hg concentration (p < 0.01), with the highest correlation being with Glx (R2  = 0.725). In contrast, the δ15 N value for Thr decreased with increases in Hg concentration (R2  = 0.663, p < 0.01). The difference in δ15 N values between Glx and Thr was positively correlated with Hg concentration, showing the highest correlation coefficient (R2  = 0.773, p < 0.01) among the various combinations for amino acids. CONCLUSIONS The difference in δ15 N values between Glx and Thr appears to be the best proxy for the estimation of Hg concentration in scalp hair. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  • Correlations between mercury concentration, and stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen of amino acids in scalp hair from Whale Meat eaters and heavy fish eaters.
    Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM, 2017
    Co-Authors: Tetsuya Endo, Hideki Ogasawara, Moriaki Hayasaka, Yohei Hotta, Osamu Kimura, Klaus J. Petzke
    Abstract:

    RATIONALE As mercury (Hg) accumulation in marine animals generally increases with increased trophic level (δ15 N values) through the food web, predators accumulate higher levels of Hg. The main source of human Hg intake is the consumption of fish and other marine animals, and Hg concentration in scalp hair is the preferred marker for evaluating consumption of marine animals. Difference in δ15 N values between trophic and source amino acids of human consumers could enable us to estimate the trophic level of the consumer without knowing the bulk δ15 N value of their prey. METHODS We measured the δ15 N values of 15 amino acids in scalp hair from heavy fish eaters and Whale Meat eaters using isotope ratio monitoring gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (irm-GC/MS), and investigated the correlations between Hg concentrations in the hair and the δ15 N values of the individual constituent amino acids. RESULTS The δ15 N values for all trophic amino acids (Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Asx and Glx) increased with increases in Hg concentration (p 

  • Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios and mercury concentration in the scalp hair of residents from Taiji, a whaling town.
    Marine pollution bulletin, 2013
    Co-Authors: Tetsuya Endo, Moriaki Hayasaka, Osamu Kimura, Yohsuke Hisamichi, Koichi Haraguchi
    Abstract:

    We analyzed stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ(13)C) and nitrogen (δ(15)N) as well as mercury (Hg) concentration in the scalp hair of Japanese who consumed Whale Meat and those who did not, and investigated the relationships among the δ(13)C and δ(15)N values and Hg concentration. The average δ(15)N and δ(13)C values of Whale Meat-eaters (10.11‰ and -18.5‰) were significantly higher than those of non-eaters (9.28‰ and -18.9‰), respectively. The average Hg concentration of Whale Meat-eaters (20.6 μg/g) was significantly higher than that of non-eaters (2.20 μg/g). Significant positive correlations were found between the δ(13)C and δ(15)N values and between the δ(15)N value and Hg concentration in the hair of Whale Meat-eaters, while the correlation between the δ(15)N value and Hg concentration was not statistically significant in the non-eaters. The consumption of Whale Meat may increase Hg concentration as well as δ(15)N and δ(13)C values in scalp hair.

  • high mercury levels in hair samples from residents of taiji a japanese whaling town
    Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2010
    Co-Authors: Tetsuya Endo, Koichi Haraguchi
    Abstract:

    Abstract We investigated the mercury concentrations in red Meat from pilot Whales consumed by some residents of the Japanese whaling town, Taiji, and in hair samples from 50 residents for their maker of mercury burden. The methyl mercury (M-Hg) level in the red Meat was 5.9 μg/wet g, markedly higher than the US FDA action level and Cordex Alimentarius guideline level for predatory fish (1.0 μg/wet g). The average level of total mercury (T-Hg) in the hair from residents who ate Whale Meat more than once a month was 24.6 μg/g, whereas the average from the residents who did not consume any Whale Meat was 4.3 μg/g. The T-Hg concentrations in the hair from three donors exceeded 50 μg/g, the level for NOAEL set by WHO. The T-Hg level found in the Taiji Whale Meat consumers was markedly higher than that observed in the Japanese population overall (about 2 μg/g).

  • Human health significance of organochlorine and mercury contaminants in Japanese Whale Meat.
    Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A, 2002
    Co-Authors: Mark Simmonds, Koichi Haraguchi, Tetsuya Endo, Frank Cipriano, Stephen R. Palumbi, G. M. Troisi
    Abstract:

    The concentrations of total mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides ( ‡ DDT, dieldrin, hexachlorobenzene [HCB], and ‡ HCH) were determined in 61 Whale Meat products (bacon, blubber, red Meat, liver, intestine, and tongue) purchased from retail outlets across Japan. Mean (range) concentrations of contaminants in all samples were: total mercury 4.17 (0.01-204); ‡ PCB 1.14 (0-8.94); ‡ DDT 0.98 (0-7.46); dieldrin 0.07 (0-0.35); HCB 0.06 (0-0.22); and ‡ HCH 0.07 (0-0.19) µg/g (wet weight). The data were used to calculate estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of contaminants at two hypothetical levels of Whale Meat consumption. These EDIs were compared with FAO/WHO "tolerable daily intake" (TDI) values for each chemical. EDIs calculated for higher levels of Whale Meat consumption were in some cases exceptionally high and for many products exceeded FAO/ WHO-TDIs for total mercury, PCBs, and dieldrin, with exceedance factor values (EDI/TDI) for total mercury, PCBs, and dieldrin reaching ...

Philippe Grandjean - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • secondary sex ratio in relation to exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene and methylmercury
    International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 2017
    Co-Authors: Clara Amalie Gade Timmermann, Pal Weihe, Flemming Nielsen, Maria Skaalum Petersen, Anna L. Choi, Esben Budtzjorgensen, Philippe Grandjean
    Abstract:

    This study was undertaken to assess the potential impact of maternal exposures to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene (DDE) and methylmercury on the secondary sex ratios (the ratio of male to female live births) over a span of 23 years. The study includes prospective data from three Faroese birth cohorts, with a total of 2,152 healthy mother-child dyads recruited between 1986 and 2009. The Faroe Islands is a subarctic fishing community, where pilot Whale Meat and blubber are part of the traditional marine diet. Exposures were measured in maternal hair, serum or umbilical cord blood. Confounder adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between maternal exposures and the secondary sex ratio. A doubling in ΣPCB, p,p'-DDE and mercury concentrations were associated with increased odds by 8% (95% CI = 0-16%), 7% (95% CI = 0-14%) and 9% (95% CI = 2-17%), respectively, of giving birth to a boy. In conclusion, maternal exposure to ΣPCB, DDE and methylmercury was associated with a slightly increased secondary sex ratio. The impact of paternal exposures could not be taken into account and deserves attention.

  • Effects of Maternal Smoking and Exposure to Methylmercury on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Concentrations in Umbilical Cord Serum
    Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology, 2010
    Co-Authors: Stefan Spulber, Pal Weihe, Philippe Grandjean, Tomi Rantamäki, Outi Nikkilä, Eero Castrén, Sandra Ceccatelli
    Abstract:

    Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin essential for neuronal survival and differentiation. We examined the concentration of BDNF in cord serum from newborns exposed to methylmercury (MeHg) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in utero by maternal consumption of Whale Meat. The cohort consisted of 395 singleton births (206 boys and 189 girls), gestational age ranging from 38 to 42 weeks. Serum BDNF was measured by sandwich ELISA. Maternal smoking habits and other relevant factors were obtained by interviewing the mothers. The exposure to MeHg was estimated from Hg concentrations in cord blood, whereas exposure to PCB was estimated based on maternal serum concentrations. Only MeHg exposure affected the serum BDNF, which decreased in a concentration-dependent manner in girls born to nonsmoking mothers. Maternal smoking significantly increased BNDF in girls but not in boys. For further statistical analyses, we used the serum BDNF concentration as a continuous outcome variable in supervised regression models. Serum BDNF concentration increased with gestational age, increased by maternal smoking, decreased slightly with MeHg exposure, and maternal smoking enhanced the decrease in serum BDNF induced by MeHg exposure. Cord blood BDNF has been reported to increase in association with perinatal brain injuries and has been proposed as a possible predictive marker of neurodevelopmental outcomes. The negative effect that MeHg seems to exert on cord blood BDNF concentration could endanger compensatory responses to an adverse impact and therefore deserves attention.

  • Serum concentrations of polyfluoroalkyl compounds in Faroese Whale Meat consumers.
    Environmental science & technology, 2008
    Co-Authors: Pal Weihe, Larry L Needham, Kayoko Kato, Antonia M. Calafat, Flemming Nielsen, Amal A. Wanigatunga, Philippe Grandjean
    Abstract:

    To learn the extent of human exposure to polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) in a remote fishing population, we measured, in Faroese children and pregnant women, the serum concentrations of nine PFCs, including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorononanoate (PFNA), by using on-line solid-phase extraction coupled to isotope dilution high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The serum samples analyzed had been collected between 1993 and 2005 from 103 children 7 years of age, 79 of these children at 14 years of age, and from 12 pregnant women and their children 5 years later. PFOS was detected in all samples analyzed, and both PFOA and PFNA in all but one of the samples. The concentrations found are comparable to those reported elsewhere. Correlations between paired concentrations were poor. However, PFOS and PFNA concentrations correlated well with the frequency of pilot Whale dinners and with concentrations of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. One Whale meal every two weeks increased the PFOS concentration in 14-year olds by about 25% and PFNA by 50%. The high frequency of detection of most PFCs suggests widespread exposure in the Faroe Islands already by the early 1990s, with Whale Meat being an important source. Synopsis: Pilot Whale Meat may have been an important source of dietary exposure to PFOS and PFNA among Faroe Islands residents since the 1990s

  • Increased prenatal exposure to methylmercury does not affect the risk of Parkinson's disease.
    Neurotoxicology, 2008
    Co-Authors: Maria Skaalum Petersen, Pal Weihe, Anna L. Choi, Philippe Grandjean
    Abstract:

    Abstract This study aimed to determine whether prenatal methylmercury (MeHg) exposure is a risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD). A total of 172 clinically confirmed PD cases and 1018 controls matched by vital status, sex and age were included. The cases were ascertained in 1995 or were diagnosed during 1995–2005 in the Faroe Islands where the prevalence of PD is twice as high as elsewhere in northern Europe. Because the main single source of increased MeHg exposure in the Faroes is Whale Meat, retrospective exposure assessment was possible using detailed whaling records, rules of Whale Meat distribution and census lists. The share for each resident was calculated from the total amount of Whale Meat landed divided by the number of residents in the district entitled to a share. Utilizing the calculated share per resident at the mother's residence prior to the date of parturition, maternal body burden profiles were calculated as the average hair Hg concentration during the whole pregnancy, during the third trimester, and at the beginning of the third trimester. The exposures were compared between cases and controls using Mantel–Haenszel odds ratios (ORs), χ2 and logistic regressions. All analytical methods gave ORs close to 1.0, none of them approaching statistical significance. The upper confidence limit was clearly below 2.0 in all analyses. No significant association between PD and prenatal MeHg exposure was found in this study, thus providing no support for prenatal MeHg exposure as an important risk factor that might explain the doubling of PD prevalence in this population.

  • Impact of dietary exposure to food contaminants on the risk of Parkinson's disease.
    Neurotoxicology, 2008
    Co-Authors: Maria Skaalum Petersen, Pal Weihe, Esben Budtz-jørgensen, Flemming Nielsen, Poul J. Jørgensen, Jónrit Halling, Sara Bech, Lene Wermuth, Philippe Grandjean
    Abstract:

    Abstract This study aimed to investigate the association of Parkinson's disease (PD) with dietary exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and methylmercury (MeHg) in a community with increased exposure levels. A total of 79 clinically verified idiopathic PD cases and 154 controls matched by sex and age were examined in this case–control study in the Faroe Islands. Blood and hair samples were collected and a questionnaire recorded lifetime information on residence, dietary habits, smoking history, and occupational exposure to solvents, pesticides, and metals. Both unconditional and conditional logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in regard to relevant exposure variables. Increased ORs for dietary intakes of Whale Meat and blubber during adult life were statistically significant. The ORs for occupational exposure to solvents, pesticides and metals also suggested an increased risk for PD. Current serum concentrations of ∑PCB and related contaminants suggested slightly increased ORs, although only β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) was statistically significant. Increased intake of Whale Meat and blubber in adult life was significantly associated with PD, thus suggesting a positive association between previous exposure to marine food contaminants and development of PD.

Pal Weihe - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • secondary sex ratio in relation to exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene and methylmercury
    International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 2017
    Co-Authors: Clara Amalie Gade Timmermann, Pal Weihe, Flemming Nielsen, Maria Skaalum Petersen, Anna L. Choi, Esben Budtzjorgensen, Philippe Grandjean
    Abstract:

    This study was undertaken to assess the potential impact of maternal exposures to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene (DDE) and methylmercury on the secondary sex ratios (the ratio of male to female live births) over a span of 23 years. The study includes prospective data from three Faroese birth cohorts, with a total of 2,152 healthy mother-child dyads recruited between 1986 and 2009. The Faroe Islands is a subarctic fishing community, where pilot Whale Meat and blubber are part of the traditional marine diet. Exposures were measured in maternal hair, serum or umbilical cord blood. Confounder adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between maternal exposures and the secondary sex ratio. A doubling in ΣPCB, p,p'-DDE and mercury concentrations were associated with increased odds by 8% (95% CI = 0-16%), 7% (95% CI = 0-14%) and 9% (95% CI = 2-17%), respectively, of giving birth to a boy. In conclusion, maternal exposure to ΣPCB, DDE and methylmercury was associated with a slightly increased secondary sex ratio. The impact of paternal exposures could not be taken into account and deserves attention.

  • dietary recommendations regarding pilot Whale Meat and blubber in the faroe islands
    International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 2012
    Co-Authors: Pal Weihe, Hogni Debes Joensen
    Abstract:

    For centuries the pilot Whale has been an important part Faroese life − both in regard to food and culture. However, studies dating back to 1977 have shown an increase in contamination of the Meat, blubber, liver and kidneys of pilot Whales. Several birth cohorts have been established in the Faroes in order to discover the health effects related to mercury and organchlorine exposure. In short the results have so far shown that: mercury from pilot Whale Meat adversely affects the foetal development of the nervous system; the mercury effect is still detectable during adolescence; the mercury from the maternal diet affects the blood pressure of the children; the contaminants of the blubber adversely affect the immune system so that the children react more poorly to immunizations; contaminants in pilot Whales appear to increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease in those who often eat pilot Whale; the risk of hypertension and arteriosclerosis of the carotid arteries is increased in adults who have an increased exposure to mercury; septuagenarians with type 2 diabetes or impaired fasting glycaemia tended to have higher PCB concentrations and higher past intake of traditional foods, especially during childhood and adolescence. Also impaired insulin secretion appears to constitute an important part of the type 2 diabetes pathogenesis associated with exposure to persistent lipophilic food contaminants. From the latest research results, the authors consider that the conclusion from a human health perspective must be to recommend that pilot Whale is no longer used for human consumption. Keywords: mercury; pilot Whale; POPs; dietary recommendations (Published: 10 July 2012) Citation: Int J Circumpolar Health 2012, 71 : 18594 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v71i0.18594

  • Effects of Maternal Smoking and Exposure to Methylmercury on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Concentrations in Umbilical Cord Serum
    Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology, 2010
    Co-Authors: Stefan Spulber, Pal Weihe, Philippe Grandjean, Tomi Rantamäki, Outi Nikkilä, Eero Castrén, Sandra Ceccatelli
    Abstract:

    Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin essential for neuronal survival and differentiation. We examined the concentration of BDNF in cord serum from newborns exposed to methylmercury (MeHg) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in utero by maternal consumption of Whale Meat. The cohort consisted of 395 singleton births (206 boys and 189 girls), gestational age ranging from 38 to 42 weeks. Serum BDNF was measured by sandwich ELISA. Maternal smoking habits and other relevant factors were obtained by interviewing the mothers. The exposure to MeHg was estimated from Hg concentrations in cord blood, whereas exposure to PCB was estimated based on maternal serum concentrations. Only MeHg exposure affected the serum BDNF, which decreased in a concentration-dependent manner in girls born to nonsmoking mothers. Maternal smoking significantly increased BNDF in girls but not in boys. For further statistical analyses, we used the serum BDNF concentration as a continuous outcome variable in supervised regression models. Serum BDNF concentration increased with gestational age, increased by maternal smoking, decreased slightly with MeHg exposure, and maternal smoking enhanced the decrease in serum BDNF induced by MeHg exposure. Cord blood BDNF has been reported to increase in association with perinatal brain injuries and has been proposed as a possible predictive marker of neurodevelopmental outcomes. The negative effect that MeHg seems to exert on cord blood BDNF concentration could endanger compensatory responses to an adverse impact and therefore deserves attention.

  • Serum concentrations of polyfluoroalkyl compounds in Faroese Whale Meat consumers.
    Environmental science & technology, 2008
    Co-Authors: Pal Weihe, Larry L Needham, Kayoko Kato, Antonia M. Calafat, Flemming Nielsen, Amal A. Wanigatunga, Philippe Grandjean
    Abstract:

    To learn the extent of human exposure to polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) in a remote fishing population, we measured, in Faroese children and pregnant women, the serum concentrations of nine PFCs, including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorononanoate (PFNA), by using on-line solid-phase extraction coupled to isotope dilution high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The serum samples analyzed had been collected between 1993 and 2005 from 103 children 7 years of age, 79 of these children at 14 years of age, and from 12 pregnant women and their children 5 years later. PFOS was detected in all samples analyzed, and both PFOA and PFNA in all but one of the samples. The concentrations found are comparable to those reported elsewhere. Correlations between paired concentrations were poor. However, PFOS and PFNA concentrations correlated well with the frequency of pilot Whale dinners and with concentrations of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. One Whale meal every two weeks increased the PFOS concentration in 14-year olds by about 25% and PFNA by 50%. The high frequency of detection of most PFCs suggests widespread exposure in the Faroe Islands already by the early 1990s, with Whale Meat being an important source. Synopsis: Pilot Whale Meat may have been an important source of dietary exposure to PFOS and PFNA among Faroe Islands residents since the 1990s

  • Increased prenatal exposure to methylmercury does not affect the risk of Parkinson's disease.
    Neurotoxicology, 2008
    Co-Authors: Maria Skaalum Petersen, Pal Weihe, Anna L. Choi, Philippe Grandjean
    Abstract:

    Abstract This study aimed to determine whether prenatal methylmercury (MeHg) exposure is a risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD). A total of 172 clinically confirmed PD cases and 1018 controls matched by vital status, sex and age were included. The cases were ascertained in 1995 or were diagnosed during 1995–2005 in the Faroe Islands where the prevalence of PD is twice as high as elsewhere in northern Europe. Because the main single source of increased MeHg exposure in the Faroes is Whale Meat, retrospective exposure assessment was possible using detailed whaling records, rules of Whale Meat distribution and census lists. The share for each resident was calculated from the total amount of Whale Meat landed divided by the number of residents in the district entitled to a share. Utilizing the calculated share per resident at the mother's residence prior to the date of parturition, maternal body burden profiles were calculated as the average hair Hg concentration during the whole pregnancy, during the third trimester, and at the beginning of the third trimester. The exposures were compared between cases and controls using Mantel–Haenszel odds ratios (ORs), χ2 and logistic regressions. All analytical methods gave ORs close to 1.0, none of them approaching statistical significance. The upper confidence limit was clearly below 2.0 in all analyses. No significant association between PD and prenatal MeHg exposure was found in this study, thus providing no support for prenatal MeHg exposure as an important risk factor that might explain the doubling of PD prevalence in this population.

Koichi Haraguchi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios and mercury concentration in the scalp hair of residents from Taiji, a whaling town.
    Marine pollution bulletin, 2013
    Co-Authors: Tetsuya Endo, Moriaki Hayasaka, Osamu Kimura, Yohsuke Hisamichi, Koichi Haraguchi
    Abstract:

    We analyzed stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ(13)C) and nitrogen (δ(15)N) as well as mercury (Hg) concentration in the scalp hair of Japanese who consumed Whale Meat and those who did not, and investigated the relationships among the δ(13)C and δ(15)N values and Hg concentration. The average δ(15)N and δ(13)C values of Whale Meat-eaters (10.11‰ and -18.5‰) were significantly higher than those of non-eaters (9.28‰ and -18.9‰), respectively. The average Hg concentration of Whale Meat-eaters (20.6 μg/g) was significantly higher than that of non-eaters (2.20 μg/g). Significant positive correlations were found between the δ(13)C and δ(15)N values and between the δ(15)N value and Hg concentration in the hair of Whale Meat-eaters, while the correlation between the δ(15)N value and Hg concentration was not statistically significant in the non-eaters. The consumption of Whale Meat may increase Hg concentration as well as δ(15)N and δ(13)C values in scalp hair.

  • high mercury levels in hair samples from residents of taiji a japanese whaling town
    Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2010
    Co-Authors: Tetsuya Endo, Koichi Haraguchi
    Abstract:

    Abstract We investigated the mercury concentrations in red Meat from pilot Whales consumed by some residents of the Japanese whaling town, Taiji, and in hair samples from 50 residents for their maker of mercury burden. The methyl mercury (M-Hg) level in the red Meat was 5.9 μg/wet g, markedly higher than the US FDA action level and Cordex Alimentarius guideline level for predatory fish (1.0 μg/wet g). The average level of total mercury (T-Hg) in the hair from residents who ate Whale Meat more than once a month was 24.6 μg/g, whereas the average from the residents who did not consume any Whale Meat was 4.3 μg/g. The T-Hg concentrations in the hair from three donors exceeded 50 μg/g, the level for NOAEL set by WHO. The T-Hg level found in the Taiji Whale Meat consumers was markedly higher than that observed in the Japanese population overall (about 2 μg/g).

  • Human health significance of organochlorine and mercury contaminants in Japanese Whale Meat.
    Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A, 2002
    Co-Authors: Mark Simmonds, Koichi Haraguchi, Tetsuya Endo, Frank Cipriano, Stephen R. Palumbi, G. M. Troisi
    Abstract:

    The concentrations of total mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides ( ‡ DDT, dieldrin, hexachlorobenzene [HCB], and ‡ HCH) were determined in 61 Whale Meat products (bacon, blubber, red Meat, liver, intestine, and tongue) purchased from retail outlets across Japan. Mean (range) concentrations of contaminants in all samples were: total mercury 4.17 (0.01-204); ‡ PCB 1.14 (0-8.94); ‡ DDT 0.98 (0-7.46); dieldrin 0.07 (0-0.35); HCB 0.06 (0-0.22); and ‡ HCH 0.07 (0-0.19) µg/g (wet weight). The data were used to calculate estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of contaminants at two hypothetical levels of Whale Meat consumption. These EDIs were compared with FAO/WHO "tolerable daily intake" (TDI) values for each chemical. EDIs calculated for higher levels of Whale Meat consumption were in some cases exceptionally high and for many products exceeded FAO/ WHO-TDIs for total mercury, PCBs, and dieldrin, with exceedance factor values (EDI/TDI) for total mercury, PCBs, and dieldrin reaching ...

Klaus J. Petzke - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • correlations between mercury concentration and stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen of amino acids in scalp hair from Whale Meat eaters and heavy fish eaters
    Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 2017
    Co-Authors: Tetsuya Endo, Hideki Ogasawara, Moriaki Hayasaka, Yohei Hotta, Osamu Kimura, Klaus J. Petzke
    Abstract:

    RATIONALE As mercury (Hg) accumulation in marine animals generally increases with increased trophic level (δ15 N values) through the food web, predators accumulate higher levels of Hg. The main source of human Hg intake is the consumption of fish and other marine animals, and Hg concentration in scalp hair is the preferred marker for evaluating consumption of marine animals. Difference in δ15 N values between trophic and source amino acids of human consumers could enable us to estimate the trophic level of the consumer without knowing the bulk δ15 N value of their prey. METHODS We measured the δ15 N values of 15 amino acids in scalp hair from heavy fish eaters and Whale Meat eaters using isotope ratio monitoring gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (irm-GC/MS), and investigated the correlations between Hg concentrations in the hair and the δ15 N values of the individual constituent amino acids. RESULTS The δ15 N values for all trophic amino acids (Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Asx and Glx) increased with increases in Hg concentration (p < 0.01), with the highest correlation being with Glx (R2  = 0.725). In contrast, the δ15 N value for Thr decreased with increases in Hg concentration (R2  = 0.663, p < 0.01). The difference in δ15 N values between Glx and Thr was positively correlated with Hg concentration, showing the highest correlation coefficient (R2  = 0.773, p < 0.01) among the various combinations for amino acids. CONCLUSIONS The difference in δ15 N values between Glx and Thr appears to be the best proxy for the estimation of Hg concentration in scalp hair. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  • Correlations between mercury concentration, and stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen of amino acids in scalp hair from Whale Meat eaters and heavy fish eaters.
    Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM, 2017
    Co-Authors: Tetsuya Endo, Hideki Ogasawara, Moriaki Hayasaka, Yohei Hotta, Osamu Kimura, Klaus J. Petzke
    Abstract:

    RATIONALE As mercury (Hg) accumulation in marine animals generally increases with increased trophic level (δ15 N values) through the food web, predators accumulate higher levels of Hg. The main source of human Hg intake is the consumption of fish and other marine animals, and Hg concentration in scalp hair is the preferred marker for evaluating consumption of marine animals. Difference in δ15 N values between trophic and source amino acids of human consumers could enable us to estimate the trophic level of the consumer without knowing the bulk δ15 N value of their prey. METHODS We measured the δ15 N values of 15 amino acids in scalp hair from heavy fish eaters and Whale Meat eaters using isotope ratio monitoring gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (irm-GC/MS), and investigated the correlations between Hg concentrations in the hair and the δ15 N values of the individual constituent amino acids. RESULTS The δ15 N values for all trophic amino acids (Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Asx and Glx) increased with increases in Hg concentration (p