Volume 76
Mercury, fisheries, and health in four Caribbean countries
Authors
Fielding, R., C. Brown, J. Dutton, M. Forde, H. Harewood, L. Hunt, V. Reid, and E. Sunderland Download PDF Open PDF in BrowserOther Information
Date: November, 2023
Event: Proceedings of the Seventy-Sixth Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute
City: Nassau
Country: The Bahamas
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a nonessential, toxic trace element that bioaccumulates in marine organisms and biomagnifies in marine food webs. Exposure to high levels of Hg, often through seafood consumption, can have negative effects on human health (Rice et al. 2014). The dietary cultures of the Southern Caribbean region include a wide range of seafood consumption patterns, with different species consumed at different rates. Therefore, human exposure to Hg is expected to vary by country. In terms of health risk from Hg exposure, the Environmental Protection Agency (USA) considers a hair Hg concentration of <1µg/g as low risk, 1-5µg/g as medium risk, and >5 µg/g as high risk (EPA 1997). Implementing a novel, community-engaged research method, this study partnered with local barbershops and hair salons in Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) to collect human hair samples from volunteer adult (18+) participants, along with responses to a survey with questions pertaining to participants’ demographics, diets, and health histories.