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Skinner K, Ratelle M, Brandow D, Furgal C, Boyd A, Laird B. Awareness and perceptions of contaminants in the Dehcho and sahtú regions of the Northwest Territories. Int J Circumpolar Health 2024; 83:2387381. [PMID: 39097940 PMCID: PMC11299443 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2024.2387381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The development and dissemination of health messaging is a critical component of reducing health disparities. Participants (n = 87) from a human biomonitoring study in six Dene communities responded to a survey about health communication regarding contaminants. The survey included questions on awareness of health messages and risk perceptions related to country foods and contaminants. The vast majority of participants reported eating country foods (99%) and heard that country foods had beneficial nutrients (90%). Seventy per cent of respondents had heard or seen messages about fish with high levels of mercury, and 60% had concerns about the safety or quality of country foods they consumed. Respondents who reported decreasing the number of fish they ate since hearing the messages about fish and mercury had lower (p = 0.04) mercury concentration in hair, compared to those who had not heard the messages. However, no differences in hair mercury were observed for respondents who reported to have changed their fishing location, chosen smaller fish or eaten less predatory fish since hearing the messages. Results indicate the need to examine reasons for self-reported behaviour changes, in addition to awareness. The conclusions of this study can inform the development of messaging and risk management decisions about contaminants within Indigenous populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Skinner
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Mylene Ratelle
- School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Danielle Brandow
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Christopher Furgal
- Indigenous Environmental Studies and Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
| | - Amanda Boyd
- Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Seattle, USA
| | - Brian Laird
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
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López-González U, Riutort-Mayol G, Soler-Blasco R, Lozano M, Murcia M, Vioque J, Iriarte G, Ballester F, Llop S. Exposure to mercury among Spanish adolescents: Eleven years of follow-up. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 231:116204. [PMID: 37211180 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The toxic effects of mercury exposure on human health are a public health concern. The most important source of this exposure is the consumption of fish and marine mammals. This study aims to describe hair mercury concentrations and their evolution from birth until eleven years of age in adolescents from the INMA (Environment and Childhood) birth cohort study, and to assess the association of hair mercury concentrations at eleven years of age with sociodemographic and dietary factors. The sample comprised 338 adolescents from the sub-cohort of Valencia (in eastern Spain). Total mercury (THg) was measured in hair samples collected at 4, 9 and 11 years old and in cord blood at birth. The equivalent of hair for cord-blood THg concentrations was calculated. Fish consumption and other characteristics at 11 years old were collected through questionnaires. Multivariate linear regression models were conducted to explore the association between THg concentrations, fish consumption and covariates. The geometric mean of hair THg concentrations at 11 years of age was 0.86 μg/g (95%CI: 0.78-0.94) and 45.2% of the participants presented concentrations above the equivalent RfD proposed by the US EPA (1 μg/g). Consumption of fish such as swordfish, canned tuna and other large oily fish was associated with higher levels of hair mercury at 11 years of age. Swordfish had the highest effect with an increase of 125% in hair mercury (95%CI: 61.2-214.9%) given a 100 g/week increase in its consumption, and, taking into account the frequency of consumption, canned tuna was the main contributor to Hg exposure among our population. The hair THg concentrations at 11 years of age represented a reduction of around 69% with respect to that estimated at childbirth. Even though THg exposure shows a sustained decreasing trend, it can still be considered elevated. INMA birth cohort studies provide a longitudinal assessment of mercury exposure in a vulnerable population, its associated factors and temporal trends, and this information could be used to adjust recommendations about this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriel Riutort-Mayol
- Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Raquel Soler-Blasco
- Department of Nursing, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Lozano
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Sciences, Toxicology and Forensic Medicine Department, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mario Murcia
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Servei de Planificació I Avaluació de Polítiques de Salut, Conselleria de Sanitat Universal I Salut Pública, Generalitat Valenciana, Spain
| | - Jesús Vioque
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Alicante Institute of Health and Biomedical Research, University Miguel Hernandez (ISABIAL-UMH), Alicante, Spain
| | - Gorka Iriarte
- Public Health Laboratory in Alava, Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Ferran Ballester
- Department of Nursing, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sabrina Llop
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Mergler D, Philibert A, Fillion M, Da Silva J. The Contribution across Three Generations of Mercury Exposure to Attempted Suicide among Children and Youth in Grassy Narrows First Nation, Canada: An Intergenerational Analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:77001. [PMID: 37466317 PMCID: PMC10355150 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND For 60 y, the people of Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) have endured the effects of massive mercury (Hg) contamination of their river system, central to their traditions, culture, livelihood, and diet. In the years following the Hg discharge into the English-Wabigoon River system by a chloralkali plant in the early 1970s, there was a dramatic increase in youth suicides. Several authors attributed this increase solely to social disruption caused by the disaster. OBJECTIVE This research examined the possible contribution of Hg exposure across three generations on attempted suicides among today's children (5-11 y old) and youth (12-17 y old), using a matrilineal intergenerational paradigm. METHODS Information from the 2016-2017 Grassy Narrows Community Health Assessment (GN-CHA) survey was merged with Hg biomonitoring data from government surveillance programs (1970-1997). Data from 162 children/youth (5-17 years of age), whose mothers (n=80) had provided information on themselves, their parents, and children, were retained for analyses. Direct and indirect indicators of Hg exposure included a) grandfather had worked as a fishing guide, and b) mother's measured and estimated umbilical cord blood and childhood hair Hg and her fish consumption during pregnancy with this child. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine significant links from grandparents (G0) to mothers' exposure and mental health (G1) and children/youth (G2) risk for attempted suicide. RESULTS Mothers' (G1) median age was 33 y, 86.3% of grandmothers (G0) had lived in Grassy Narrows territory during their pregnancy, and 52.5% of grandfathers (G0) had worked as fishing guides. Sixty percent of children (G2) were <12 years of age. Mothers reported that among teenagers (G2: 12-17 years of age), 41.2% of girls and 10.7% of boys had ever attempted suicide. The SEM suggested two pathways that significantly linked grandparents (G0) to children's (G2) attempted suicides: a) through mothers' (G1) prenatal and childhood Hg exposure and psychological distress, and b) through maternal fish consumption during pregnancy (G1/G2), which is an important contributor to children's emotional state and behavior. DISCUSSION Despite minimal individual information on G0 and G1 past life experiences, the findings support the hypothesis that Hg exposure over three generations contributes to the mental health of today's children and youth. The prevalence of Grassy Narrows youth ever having attempted suicide is three times that of other First Nations in Canada. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11301.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna Mergler
- Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur le bien-être, la santé, la société et l'environnement, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Aline Philibert
- Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur le bien-être, la santé, la société et l'environnement, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Myriam Fillion
- Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur le bien-être, la santé, la société et l'environnement, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Département Science et Technologie, Université TÉLUQ, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Judy Da Silva
- Grassy Narrows First Nation, Grassy Narrows, Ontario, Canada
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Singh K, Blechinger S, Pelletier L, Karthikeyan S, St-Amand A, Liberda EN, Chan HM. Characterizing variability in total mercury hair:blood ratio in the general Canadian population. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 224:115491. [PMID: 36791836 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES The body burden of mercury in humans can be measured through hair or blood biomarkers. To compare results from different studies, it is often required to convert mercury in hair to an equivalent level in blood, using a default hair:blood ratio of 250:1 by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, the actual ratio may vary within and between populations. The objectives of this study were to analyze the hair:blood mercury ratio in the general Canadian population, explore factors associated with higher/lower ratios, and determine if the standard ratio of 250:1 is supported. METHODS The Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) Cycle 5 (2016-2017) measured total mercury (THg) in both hair and blood of 1168 participants 20-59 years of age. We calculated geometric mean (GM) concentrations of THg for this entire sample and subgroups. The subgroups included biological sex, women of childbearing age, race, hair treatments, categories of blood and hair selenium, urinary arsenobetaine/arsenocholine, categories of blood and hair mercury, and food consumption. We calculated a hair:blood ratio for each participant and determined population-level ratios from the GMs of the distributions. Differences by subgroups, and agreement with the WHO ratio of 250:1, were tested. The combined effect of factors on the THg hair:blood ratio was explored using staged regression analysis. RESULTS For participants with paired hair and blood mercury measurements, the GM of the hair:blood THg ratio was 293 (95%CI:273-316), and significantly >250. In women of childbearing age, the ratio did not differ from 250. The GMs of the ratio were higher (i.e.>300) for second tertile blood selenium (365, 95%CI:307-433), third and fourth quartiles hair mercury (347, 95%CI:308-390 and 376, 95%CI:336-422), and consumers of shellfish (338, 95%CI:308-371). Shellfish consumption was the only statistically significant factor associated with the hair:blood ratio as identified in the regression model. CONCLUSIONS The mean hair:blood THg ratio among Canadians generally exceeded the default ratio of 250:1. Higher ratios were observed in certain subgroups, such as seafood consumers, and shellfish consumption was the most important variable associated with the ratio. Our results suggest that population-specific hair:blood THg ratios be considered, if possible, when converting mercury levels from hair to blood to better characterize the variation around the conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavita Singh
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
| | - Scott Blechinger
- Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Luc Pelletier
- Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Subramanian Karthikeyan
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Annie St-Amand
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Eric N Liberda
- School of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hing Man Chan
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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Guo X, Su W, Li N, Song Q, Wang H, Liang Q, Li Y, Lowe S, Bentley R, Zhou Z, Song EJ, Cheng C, Zhou Q, Sun C. Association of urinary or blood heavy metals and mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:67483-67503. [PMID: 35917074 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22353-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Amounting epidemiological evidence has shown detrimental effects of heavy metals on a wide range of diseases. However, the effect of heavy metal exposure on mortality in the general population remains unclear. The primary objective of this study was to clarify the associations between heavy metals and mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer based on prospective studies. We comprehensively searched Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science electronic databases to identify studies published from their inception until 1 March 2022. Investigators identified inclusion criteria, extracted study characteristics, and assessed the methodological quality of included studies according to standardized guidelines. Meta-analysis was conducted if the effect estimates of the same outcome were reported in at least three studies. Finally, 42 original studies were identified. The results of meta-analysis showed that cadmium and lead exposure was significantly associated with mortality from all causes, CVD, and cancer in the general population. Moderate evidence suggested there was a link between arsenic exposure and mortality. The adverse effects of mercury and other heavy metals on mortality were inconclusive. Epidemiological evidence for the joint effect of heavy metal exposure on mortality was still indeterminate. In summary, our study provided compelling evidence that exposure to cadmium, lead, and arsenic were associated with mortality from all causes, CVD, and cancer, while the evidence on other heavy metals, for example mercury, was insignificant or indeterminate. Nevertheless, further prospective studies are warranted to explore the joint effects of multiple metal exposure on mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianwei Guo
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanying Su
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiuxia Song
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiwei Liang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaru Li
- Internal Medicine, Swedish Hospital, 5140 N California Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625, USA
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Des Moines University, 3200 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, USA
| | - Scott Lowe
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City University, 1750 Independence Ave, Kansas City, MO, 64106, USA
| | - Rachel Bentley
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City University, 1750 Independence Ave, Kansas City, MO, 64106, USA
| | - Zhen Zhou
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Evelyn J Song
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ce Cheng
- The University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
- Banner-University Medical Center South, 2800 E Ajo Way, Tucson, AZ, 85713, USA
| | - Qin Zhou
- Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Chenyu Sun
- AMITA Health Saint Joseph Hospital Chicago, 2900 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60657, USA.
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Domínguez-Morueco N, Pedraza-Díaz S, González-Caballero MDC, Esteban-López M, de Alba-González M, Katsonouri A, Santonen T, Cañas-Portilla A, Castaño A. Methylmercury Risk Assessment Based on European Human Biomonitoring Data. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10080427. [PMID: 36006106 PMCID: PMC9416112 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10080427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A risk assessment (RA) was conducted to estimate the risk associated with methylmercury (MeHg) exposure of vulnerable European populations, using Human Biomonitoring (HBM) data. This RA was performed integrating published data from European HBM surveys and earlier EFSA approaches (EFSA 2012). Children/adolescents (3 to 17 years old) and women of childbearing age (18 to 50 years old) were selected as relevant study population groups for this RA. Two types of HBM datasets were selected: HBM studies (n = 18) with mercury (Hg) levels (blood and hair, total Hg and/or MeHg) in the general population in different EU countries and the DEMOCOPHES harmonized study in child–mother pairs (hair, total Hg) in 17 EU countries as a reference. Two approaches were included in the RA strategy: the first one was based on estimations of the fraction of children/adolescents and women of childbearing age, respectively, from the EU general population exceeding the HBM-I value established by the German Human Biomonitoring Commission, measured as Hazard Quotients (HQ); and the second approach was based on estimations of the fraction of the two population groups exceeding the Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI) (or their equivalent to Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI)) defined by EFSA in 2012. The HQ approach showed that for both groups, the risk varies across EU countries and that some EU areas are close to or exceeding the exposure guidance values. This is the case of Spain and Portugal, which showed the highest HQ (GM and/or P95), probably due to their higher fish consumption. Results from the EFSA approach show that hair values of children/adolescents and women of childbearing age (both in selected HBM studies and in DEMOCOPHES study) are below the TDI of 1.9 µg/g; therefore, in general, the European population does not exceed the daily average/intake dose for MeHg and/or Hg. A possible risk underestimation was identified in our assessment since for many studies no data on P95 were available, causing loss of relevant information for risk characterization on the upper bound. In addition, data from other European countries also with high seafood consumption, such as France, Greece or Iceland, were not available. For this reason, further RA refinement is needed with harmonized and more widespread HBM data to account for differences in European exposure and associated risks, so that interventions to protect vulnerable citizens, can be applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Domínguez-Morueco
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (N.D.-M.); (M.d.C.G.-C.); (M.E.-L.); (M.d.A.-G.); (A.C.)
| | - Susana Pedraza-Díaz
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (N.D.-M.); (M.d.C.G.-C.); (M.E.-L.); (M.d.A.-G.); (A.C.)
- Correspondence: (S.P.-D.); (A.C.-P.)
| | - María del Carmen González-Caballero
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (N.D.-M.); (M.d.C.G.-C.); (M.E.-L.); (M.d.A.-G.); (A.C.)
| | - Marta Esteban-López
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (N.D.-M.); (M.d.C.G.-C.); (M.E.-L.); (M.d.A.-G.); (A.C.)
| | - Mercedes de Alba-González
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (N.D.-M.); (M.d.C.G.-C.); (M.E.-L.); (M.d.A.-G.); (A.C.)
| | - Andromachi Katsonouri
- Cyprus State General Laboratory, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 28648, Nicosia 2081, Cyprus;
| | - Tiina Santonen
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 40, 00032 Työterveyslaitos, Finland;
| | - Ana Cañas-Portilla
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (N.D.-M.); (M.d.C.G.-C.); (M.E.-L.); (M.d.A.-G.); (A.C.)
- Correspondence: (S.P.-D.); (A.C.-P.)
| | - Argelia Castaño
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (N.D.-M.); (M.d.C.G.-C.); (M.E.-L.); (M.d.A.-G.); (A.C.)
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Zhang H, Zhou G, Zhang S, Yang Y, Dev S, Su Q, Deng X, Chen Q, Niu B. Risk assessment of heavy metals contamination in pork. Food Control 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
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