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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Reduce exposure to mercury in children — EH‑09

Status: Improving

  
Improving
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Most Recent Data:
0.96 micrograms per liter (µg/L) (2017-18)

Target:
0.80 µg/L

Desired Direction:
Decrease desired

Baseline:
1.06 micrograms per liter (µg/L) was the concentration level of mercury in blood samples at which 95 percent of the population aged 1 to 5 years was at or below in 2015-16

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Reduce exposure to mercury among children, as measured by blood or urine concentrations of the substance or its metabolites

Target-Setting Method
Projection

Data Source:  National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), CDC/NCHS

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Summary

Exposure to mercury can damage the brain, lungs, gums, and other parts of the body. Mercury is released into the air from burning coal and trash, mining, and smelting — and mercury from industrial waste can get into water. Tracking mercury in the environment and in children’s blood or urine is critical for reducing exposure.

Topics:  Environmental Health, Children

Workgroup: Environmental Health Workgroup

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