Environmental mercury exposure assessment and health effects among residents in Dayton, Nevada.

摘要

In 1990, mercury contamination resulted in the establishment of the stretch between Carson City and Fallon, Nevada as the Carson River Mercury Site (CRMS). Because the town of Dayton is located within the CRMS, its population may have been exposed to environmental mercury and be at risk for adverse health effects. Exposure to mercury can manifest various health effects.; Subjects went through an interview process and biological sampling. Data analyses were performed to investigate human environmental mercury exposure and if the population may be at risk for adverse health effects posed by environmental mercury.; Highly elevated urine and blood total mercury content levels were not observed. The Dayton community population were not exposed to high concentrations of mercury from the environment. However, some correlations between potential low mercury exposure and health effects were detected. Consumption of fish or game from the CRMS provides methylmercury exposure and can cause adverse health effects.