Abstract
The relationship between the consumption of fish containing methylmercury (MeHg) and human MeHg levels has been studied for many years. Although this relationship has been demonstrated and some models have been developed to assess the risks associated with fish consumption, there is still a need for a simple and efficient predicting tool that can be applied to community settings. This paper provides such a practical model developed through empirical evidence using two sources of data.
In ideal conditions, models used to identify hazardous behaviour in individuals would be derived from theoretical and clinical models, however, these conditions are often technically difficult to meet. To overcome this problem, a more empirically oriented model has been developed, based on the estimation of personal mercury intake and its comparison to the Tolerable Daily Intake. The theory and methodology of the model development, including technical limitations, are presented first. The methodology is then applied to the real data to create the final model and the results given. Finally, a discussion of the model's accuracy, limitations and usefulness as a community health assessment tool is presented.
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Paradis, S., Wheatley, B., Boswell-Purdy, J. et al. Mercury Contamination Through Fish Consumption: A Model for Predicting and Preventing Hazardous Behaviour on a Community Level. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 97, 147–158 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018323531131
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018323531131