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Table 5 Dietary and non-dietary correlates of whole blood mercury a in a participant sample (n = 3972) from the KNHANES (2008–2009) b

From: Population correlates of circulating mercury levels in Korean adults: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV

 

% difference in blood mercury

p-value

Age (years)

  

20-29

Reference

 

30-39

6.0

<0.001

40-49

11.1

<0.001

50-59

12.9

<0.001

≥60

5.6

<0.001

Men

9.8

<0.001

BMI (kg/m2)

1.0

<0.001

White fish intake level (g/day)

  

Low tertile (0)

Reference

 

Medium tertile (0 < - ≤ 40)

2.7

0.02

High tertile (>40)

3.9

<0.001

Oily/fatty fish intake level (g/day)

  

Low tertile (0)

Reference

 

Medium tertile (0 < - ≤ 40)

1.6

0.05

High tertile (>40)

2.6

0.03

Total shellfish intake level (g/day)

  

Low tertile (0)

Reference

 

Medium tertile (0 < - ≤ 20)

-1.4

0.1

High tertile (>20)

3.2

<0.001

MET-h/week

  

<20

Reference

 

20-39

2.6

0.01

≥40

0.8

0.3

Smoking status

  

Never

Reference

 

Former

0.9

0.5

Current

1.7

0.1

Alcohol intake

  

Never

Reference

 

≤1/mo

1.7

0.1

≤1/week

4.7

<0.001

2-3/week

9.4

<0.001

4+/week

9.7

<0.001

Income

  

Low

Reference

 

Mid low

3.0

0.004

Mid high

4.2

<0.001

High

8.1

<0.001

Education

  

Middle school graduation or less

Reference

 

High school graduation

0.4

0.7

College or more

3.7

0.003

Residence area

  

Midwest

Reference

 

North

5.5

<0.001

Southwest

8.7

<0.001

Mideast

16.5

<0.001

Southeast and an island

17.5

<0.001

  1. aBlood mercury was logarithmically transformed as the dependent variable for the purpose of the multiple linear regression analysis. Beta-coefficient is approximately % difference in blood mercury (ln (μg/L)) from the reference category or per unit of continuous BMI).
  2. bMultivariable-adjusted findings including each of the variables in the Table.