Evaluation of blood mercury and serum selenium levels in the pregnant population of the Community of Madrid, Spain.

Background: The main exposure route to methylmercury (MeHg) is from eating fish and shellfish containing this compound. Since 2004, women of childbearing age in Spain have been urged not to eat some species (eg, tuna, shark, and swordfish), instead choosing low-MeHg seafood as part of a healthy diet.

Objective: To describe maternal total blood mercury (THg) and serum selenium (Se) in a cohort of pregnant women living in Spain as it relates to fish intake during the three trimesters and to assess whether or not Spanish women of childbearing age follow the recommendations listed in fish advisories and choose fish species with lower mercury levels.

Reference levels of trace elements in hair samples from children and adolescents in Madrid, Spain.

Introduction: Hair samples are used as a tool to evaluate environmental exposure to contaminants and metabolic status in the individual. However, the use of human hair is controversial, mainly because of the lack of well-defined reference levels. In the case of Spain, very few biomonitoring studies have investigated these issues in infants, children or adolescents.

Total and speciated urinary arsenic levels in the Spanish population.

Background: Very few studies exist on urinary arsenic exposure in Spain.

Objective: To evaluate total and speciated urinary arsenic (As) levels in a Spanish population sample.

Methods: Demographic, lifestyle and dietary data was collected for 124 volunteers (aged 20-76years; 88 women and 36 men), who were tested for total arsenic and five arsenic species using high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

[Methylmercury: existing recommendations; methods of analysing and interpreting the results; economic evaluation].

The beneficial effects of fish consumption are well- known. Nevertheless, there is worldwide concern regard methylmercury concentrations in fish, which is why many countries such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and numerous European countries have made fish consumption recommendations for their populations, particularly vulnerable groups, in order to México methylmercury intake. Blood and hair are the best biological samples for measuring methylmercury.