Browsing by Author "Carvalho, Cristina"
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- Afinal, é ou não seguro consumir regularmente pescado?Publication . Santiago, Susana; Namorado, Sónia; Dias, Carlos; Martins, Carla; Santos, Mariana; Carvalho, Cristina; Assunção, RicardoConsumo de pescado em Portugal, Riscos e beneficios do consumo de pescado, Metilmercúrio (MeHg), População mais suscetível ao MeHg, Avaliação da exposição ao MeHg, Recomendações para o consumo de pescado.
- Avaliação da exposição das mulheres portuguesas em idade fértil a mercúrio: a perspetiva da biomonitorização humanaPublication . Santiago, Susana; Namorado, Sónia; Dias, Carlos Matias; Martins, Carla; Santos, Mariana; Castanheira, Isabel; Carvalho, Cristina; Assunção, RicardoPrivilegiado pela sua situação geográfica, Portugal tem como tradição alimentar o consumo de peixe. Contudo, este consumo está também associado à presença de mercúrio, na forma de metilmercúrio. A elevada suscetibilidade de alguns grupos populacionais a este composto, nomeadamente as mulheres grávidas pelas consequências desta exposição para os fetos, torna imperativo conhecer o risco destes grupos populacionais. Assim, o presente estudo, através de uma abordagem de biomonitorização humana, teve como objetivo principal avaliar a exposição das mulheres portuguesas em idade fértil ao mercúrio. Foram selecionadas aleatoriamente 300 mulheres em idade fértil (25-44 anos) participantes no Inquérito Nacional de Saúde com Exame Físico (INSEF), um estudo transversal de prevalência representativo a nível nacional e regional, e estimada a sua exposição a mercúrio através da determinação do teor de mercúrio total (THg) em amostras de sangue total por espectrofotometria de absorção atómica com decomposição térmica e amalgamação. Os resultados obtidos revelaram a presença de mercúrio em 298 amostras, com valores entre 0,6 e 32,0μg/L, e um valor médio de 5,9 ± 4,2μg/L. Verificou-se que 48% das amostras apresentaram valores de concentração de mercúrio superiores a 5,0μg/L e cerca de 13% apresentaram valores superiores a 10,0μg/L, representando, por isso, um risco de danos para a saúde. Com base nos resultados obtidos, é recomendável reduzir a exposição das mulheres portuguesas em idade fértil ao mercúrio, nomeadamente, se este corresponder a um período em que se planeie gravidez, por forma a prevenir potenciais consequências para a saúde. Estratégias de informação e comunicação do risco deverão ser desenvolvidas, testadas e implementadas em Portugal, por forma a contribuir para escolhas mais saudáveis e evitar a exposição a mercúrio.
- Exposure assessment of Portuguese women of childbearing age to methylmercury: first results of a human biomonitoring studyPublication . Santiago, Susana; Namorado, Sónia; Dias, Carlos; Martins, Carla; Carvalho, Cristina; Assunção, RicardoMethylmercury (MeHg) is a toxic compound that undergoes bioaccumulation in the aquatic food chain. Fish, especially predatory species such as tuna or swordfish, are an important human exposure source. Portugal presents the highest consumption of fishery and aquaculture products in the European Union (EU), above the EU and world average. The central nervous system is the main target of MeHg and the prenatal period represents a period of greatest vulnerability regarding neurodevelopmental effects on the fetus. As recommended by EFSA, the risk of exceeding the MeHg tolerable dose through consumption of fish and seafood should be properly assessed by each member state. Total mercury concentration in blood is usually considered a suitable biomarker for estimating short-term internal exposure to methylmercury, in individuals with regular fish consumption. The present study aimed at evaluating the exposure of Portuguese women of childbearing age to MeHg through human biomonitoring. For this study, 300 Portuguese women of childbearing age (25 to 44 years) were randomly selected among the participants in a cross-sectional epidemiological study carried out in Portugal (INSEF, http://www.insef.pt/). Total mercury content was determined in whole blood samples collected in 2015 by thermal decomposition and amalgamation atomic absorption spectrophotometry (TDA/AAS). Two samples had total mercury levels below LOQ (0.5 μg/L), and in the remaining (n=298), mercury levels ranged from 0.6 to 35 μg/L. Almost 52% of the samples had values below 5 μg/L, a HBM value below which no adverse health effects are expected. However, 48% of samples revealed levels above 5 μg/L, and therefore presented an increased risk of adverse health outcomes. This study reinforces the need to develop and implement in Portugal strategies regarding risk communication focused on the selection of fish species with lower MeHg concentration in order to prevent human exposure to this compound, especially in particularly susceptible populations.
- Methylmercury: A Human Biomonitoring Study of Portuguese Women of Childbearing AgePublication . Santiago, Susana; Namorado, Sónia; Matias Dias, Carlos; Martins, Carla; Carvalho, Cristina; Assunção, RicardoBACKGROUND AND AIM: Methylmercury (MeHg) is a toxic compound that undergoes bioaccumulation in the aquatic food chain. Predatory fish species are an important human exposure source. Portugal has the highest consumption of fishery products in the European Union (EU), above the EU and world average. The main target of MeHg is the central nervous system and the prenatal period represents a period of greatest vulnerability regarding neurodevelopmental effects on the foetus. Human biomonitoring (HBM) allows direct exposure assessment of human exposure to chemical compounds. Total mercury (THg) concentration in blood is usually considered an appropriate biomarker for estimating short-term internal exposure to MeHg in individuals with regular fish consumption. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the exposure of Portuguese women of childbearing age to MeHg through HBM. METHODS: Three hundred Portuguese women of childbearing age (25 to 44 years) were randomly selected among the participants in a cross-sectional epidemiological study carried out in Portugal (INSEF) in 2015. THg content was determined in whole blood samples by thermal decomposition and amalgamation atomic absorption spectrophotometry (TDA/AAS). RESULTS:Two samples had THg levels below LOQ (0.5 µg/L), and in the remaining (n=298), THg levels ranged from 0.6 to 35.0 µg/L. About 52% of the samples had values below 5 µg/L, a HBM value below which no adverse health effects are expected. However, 48% of samples revealed levels above 5 µg/L and therefore presented risk of adverse health effects. Blood mercury concentration values were higher in older women, in higher education level and residents in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, with statistically significant differences compared to the other groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:This study reinforces the need to develop and implement in Portugal strategies regarding risk communication focused on the selection of fish species with lower MeHg concentration in order to reduce human exposure to this compound.