Key numbers

Methods

Cross-sectional study of 252 healthy Korean weaning-age infants recruited from Seoul. Infants ranged 6–24 months old (median 11.1 months). Hair and whole blood samples analyzed for total mercury using cold-vapor inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Parental questionnaire captured dietary intake, feeding method, fish species consumed, and anthropometric data. Statistical analysis examined associations between dietary mercury exposure (particularly fish intake) and measured hair and blood mercury levels; growth outcomes assessed by weight-for-age and length-for-age z-scores.

Implications

Mercury exposure in Korean weaning-age infants substantially attributable to fish intake, with levels elevated by local dietary patterns favoring fish consumption. Geometric mean hair mercury (0.22 µg/g) and blood mercury (0.94 µg/L) both reflect ongoing dietary exposure during critical developmental window. Fish-based complementary feeding drives measurable bioaccumulation in this population. Results support dietary diversification and species selection guidance for Korean infant feeding guidelines to minimize mercury exposure while preserving nutritional benefits of fish consumption.

Wiki pages updated on ingest

• ingredients/fish.md — Added citation to study documenting mercury in weaning-age infants from fish-based feeding
• metals/mercury.md — Added population-specific exposure data for infants in Asia-Pacific region

Page history

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