Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39989115›Full record

ArticleAnnals of occupational and environmental medicine2025

Association of weight and dietary habits with high blood mercury levels in Korean adolescents: data from the KoNEHS cycle 4, 2018-2020.

Ji Hoon Kim, Minju Jung, Jaewon Mun, Dong-Jae Seo, Jong-Han Leem, Shin-Goo Park, Dong-Wook Lee, Hyung Doo Kim, Hwan-Cheol Kim

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of occupational and environmental medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ji Hoon KimDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
Minju JungDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
Jaewon MunDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
Dong-Jae SeoDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
Jong-Han LeemDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
Shin-Goo ParkDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
Dong-Wook LeeDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
Hyung Doo KimDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
Hwan-Cheol KimDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.

Funding

Inha University Hospital's Environmental Health CenterMinistry of Environment
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHumans are exposed to mercury primarily in its highly toxic form, methyl mercury, which is known to have adverse effects on various organs and systems. The negative impact of mercury exposure on the growth, development, and mental health of children, from infancy to adolescence, is well-documented. However, there are no internationally standardized safe limits for mercury exposure. This study investigated the impact of dietary habits and higher body mass index (BMI) on blood mercury levels in adolescents.

methodsThis study analyzed the data from the 4th Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2018-2020. The focus was on 825 middle and high school students aged 13-18 years, whose blood mercury levels were measured. A survey on dietary and lifestyle habits was also conducted. Blood mercury levels were categorized by geometric median values, and associations with overweight status and seafood consumption were examined using a generalized linear model.

resultsThe geometric mean blood mercury level for the entire sample was 1.37 μg/L, with levels of 1.31 μg/L in normal-weight individuals and 1.43 μg/L in overweight individuals, showing a statistically significant difference between the two groups. After adjusting for other variables, blood mercury levels were significantly associated with overweight status (estimate: 0.084; p = 0.018; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.015-0.153), consumption of large fish and tuna more than once a week (estimate: 0.18; p = 0.001; 95% CI: 0.077-0.284), and consumption of fish once a week or more (estimate: 0.147; p = 0.004; 95% CI: 0.043-0.250).

conclusionsIn adolescents, a higher BMI and an increased consumption of large fish, tuna, and fish were associated with higher blood mercury levels. Notably, a stronger association was found between large fish consumption and blood mercury levels in the overweight group. These findings suggest the need to moderate seafood consumption and establish more proactive mercury exposure standards for adolescents.

Indexed as

Blood mercuryDietary habitsKorean adolescentsOverweight

Identifiers

PMID39989115
PMCPMC12315779

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.