A human health risk assessment of mercury species in soil and food around compact fluorescent lamp factories in Zhejiang Province, PR China

This study investigated total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) contamination in a major production center of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) located in Gaohong, Zhejiang Province, China. This was a result of the growing concern associated with the release of mercury into the environment from such components. The results of the study included the following mean concentrations for THg and MeHg of 157 ± 11 (61-518) ng/g dw and 0.28 ± 0.07 (0.07-0.67) ng/g dw in agricultural soil, respectively, and 18.6 ± 6.5 (3.2-47.8) ng/g ww and 0.11 ± 0.03 (0.02-0.37) ng/g ww in vegetable samples, respectively. A significant correlation was observed between THg in vegetables and corresponding soil samples (r= 0.64, p< 0.01). THg and MeHg in sediment samples had respective concentrations ranging from 28 to 1019 ng/g dw and 0.11 to 3.15 ng/g dw. Mud skipper bought from the local market contained the highest Hg (THg: 170 ± 45 ng/g ww, MeHg: 143 ± 37 ng/g ww) amongst all fish species (THg: 14-170; MeHg: 11-143 ng/g ww) of the study. The risk assessment indicated that fish consumption should not result in a MeHg EDI exceeding the RfD (0.1 μg/kg bw/d) for both adults and children, when MeHg bioaccessibility is taken into account. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.