Mercury in Canadians

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Organization: Health Canada
Date published: 2021-12-14
Information on human biomonitoring of mercury in Canada with results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey.
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Background
What is mercury?
Mercury (CASRN 7439-97-6) is a naturally occurring metal that is liquid at room temperature. It exists in elemental, inorganic and organic forms and enters the environment through both natural and industrial processes. Mercury persists in the environment and can accumulate over time.
Where is mercury found?
Mercury is present in the environment, even in remote Arctic regions, because it is persistent, mobile and tends to accumulate in colder climates. Canada prohibits the manufacture and import of most mercury-containing products. However, certain essential products are exempt, such as dental amalgams and fluorescent lamps. Mercury is also found in certain foods, such as fish.
How are people exposed to mercury?
Mercury exposure in the general population is mainly through eating larger species of fish. Organic methylmercury is the primary form of exposure in that case. In Arctic communities, eating marine mammals is a major source of mercury. To a lesser extent, the general population is exposed to inorganic mercury from dental amalgams.
How is mercury measured in people?
Mercury is absorbed into the bloodstream after being ingested or inhaled. Mercury in urine is commonly measured to evaluate long-term exposure to its elemental and inorganic forms. Mercury concentrations in blood reflect recent dietary exposure to organic forms, particularly methylmercury.
What are the potential health impacts of mercury?
Exposure to organic mercury may cause neurological effects, including developmental neurotoxicity in fetuses and children. Inhaling mercury vapour may cause respiratory, cardiovascular, kidney and neurological effects. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified methylmercury compounds as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
What is the Government of Canada doing to lower human exposures to mercury?
Mercury is identified as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Mercury is subject to numerous federal risk management initiatives in Canada directed toward industrial releases. The Products Containing Mercury Regulations prohibit the manufacture and import of most mercury-containing products in Canada. However, there are exemptions for a few essential products, such as fluorescent lamps, which are subject to mercury content limits. In addition, regulations under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act limit the amount of mercury in surface-coating materials. Health Canada has established a methylmercury blood guidance value of 20 µg/L for the general adult population. For children, pregnant women and women of child-bearing age, the provisional methylmercury blood guidance value is 8 µg/L. Health Canada has also established maximum levels for mercury in fish sold to consumers. Guidelines are in place for mercury in Canadian drinking water. The Government of Canada continues to monitor and assess mercury.
Data sources
Initiative | Target population |
---|---|
Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) | General Canadian population living in the 10 provinces |
First Nations Biomonitoring Initiative (FNBI) | First Nations people living on-reserve south of the 60° parallel |
Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study | Pregnant women and their infants recruited from obstetric and prenatal clinics in 10 cities across Canada |
International Polar Year Inuit Health Survey (IPY IHS) | Inuit populations from the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), Nunavut and Nunatsiavut |
U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) | General U.S. population |
This fact sheet presents nationally representative data from the CHMS. These data are compared with data from the FNBI, the MIREC study, the IPY IHS and the U.S. NHANES.
Collection period | Age range (years) | Matrix | Biomarker |
---|---|---|---|
CHMS | |||
2007–2009 | 6 to 79 | Blood | Total mercury |
2009–2011 | 3 to 79 | Blood | Total mercury |
2012–2013 | 3 to 79 | Blood | Total mercury |
2014–2015 | 3 to 79 | Blood | Total mercury |
2016–2017 | 3 to 79 | Blood | Total mercury |
2018–2019 | 3 to 79 | Blood | Total mercury |
FNBI | |||
2011 | 20+ | Blood | Total mercury |
MIREC study | |||
2008–2011 | 18+ | Blood | Total mercury |
IPY IHS | |||
2007–2008 | 18+ | Blood | Total mercury |
U.S. NHANES | |||
2007–2008 | 1+ | Blood | Total mercury |
2009–2010 | 1+ | Blood | Total mercury |
2011–2012 | 1+ | Blood | Total mercury |
2013–2014 | 1+ | Blood | Total mercury |
2015–2016 | 1+ | Blood | Total mercury |
Results
Canadian population
This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of mercury in blood (µg/L) in the Canadian population from the CHMS (2007–2019).

Figure 1: Text description
Collection period | Geometric mean |
---|---|
2007–2009 | 0.88 |
2009–2011 | 0.92 |
2012–2013 | 0.92 |
2014–2015 | 0.70 |
2016–2017 | 0.76 |
2018–2019 | 0.85 |
Concentrations of mercury were relatively unchanged in the Canadian population from 2007–2019. There was no statistically significant change over time (P = 0.132).
Canadian population, by age group
This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of mercury in blood (µg/L) in the Canadian population by age group from the CHMS (2007–2019). Geometric mean mercury concentrations could not be calculated for individuals under 20 years old. This was because too many samples were below the analytical limit of detection.

Figure 2: Text description
Collection period | Age group (years) | Geometric mean |
---|---|---|
2007–2009 | 20 to 39 | 0.72 |
2007–2009 | 40 to 59 | 1.0 |
2007–2009 | 60 to 79 | 0.92 |
2009–2011 | 20 to 39 | 0.71 |
2009–2011 | 40 to 59 | 1.0 |
2009–2011 | 60 to 79 | 1.2 |
2012–2013 | 20 to 39 | 0.82 |
2012–2013 | 40 to 59 | 0.96 |
2012–2013 | 60 to 79 | 1.0 |
2014–2015 | 20 to 39 | 0.55 |
2014–2015 | 40 to 59 | 0.77 |
2014–2015 | 60 to 79 | 0.88 |
2016–2017 | 20 to 39 | 0.61 |
2016–2017 | 40 to 59 | 0.88 |
2016–2017 | 60 to 79 | 0.84 |
2018–2019 | 20 to 39 | 0.78 |
2018–2019 | 40 to 59 | 0.84 |
2018–2019 | 60 to 79 | 0.98 |
Concentrations of mercury were similar across age groups in the Canadian population.
Canadian population, by sex
This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of mercury in blood (µg/L) in the Canadian population by sex from the CHMS (2007–2019).

Figure 3: Text description
Collection period | Sex | Geometric mean |
---|---|---|
2007–2009 | Females | 0.87 |
2007–2009 | Males | 0.90 |
2009–2011 | Females | 0.86 |
2009–2011 | Males | 0.99 |
2012–2013 | Females | 0.94 |
2012–2013 | Males | 0.90 |
2014–2015 | Females | 0.68 |
2014–2015 | Males | 0.73 |
2016–2017 | Females | 0.79 |
2016–2017 | Males | 0.73 |
2018–2019 | Females | 0.83 |
2018–2019 | Males | 0.87 |
Concentrations of mercury were similar between females and males in the Canadian population.
Comparison of the general population and First Nations on-reserve population in Canada
This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of mercury in blood (µg/L) in the general population aged 20 to 79 from the CHMS (2009–2011) and in the First Nations on-reserve population aged 20 and older from the FNBI (2011).

Figure 4: Text description
Biomonitoring initiative | Geometric mean |
---|---|
CHMS | 0.87 |
FNBI | 0.95 |
Concentrations of mercury were similar between the general population and First Nations on-reserve population in Canada.
Comparison of women of child-bearing age and pregnant women in Canada
This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of mercury in blood (µg/L) for women of child-bearing age (18 to 49) in the general population from the CHMS (2009–2011) and for women in the first or third trimester of pregnancy from the MIREC study (2008–2011).

Figure 5: Text description
Biomonitoring initiative | Geometric mean |
---|---|
CHMS | 0.67 |
MIREC study (1st trimester) | 0.61 |
MIREC study (3rd trimester) | 0.50 |
Concentrations of mercury were similar between women of child-bearing age and women in the first or third trimester of pregnancy in cities across Canada.
Comparison of the general population and Inuit populations in Canada
This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of mercury in blood (µg/L) in females and males in the general population aged 18 to 79 from the CHMS (2007–2009) and in Inuit populations aged 18 and older in the ISR, Nunavut and Nunatsiavut from the IPY IHS (2007–2008).

Figure 6: Text description
Biomonitoring initiative | Sex | Geometric mean |
---|---|---|
CHMS | Females | 0.81 |
CHMS | Males | 0.82 |
IHS (ISR) | Females | 4.1 |
IHS (ISR) | Males | 5.6 |
IHS (Nunavut) | Females | 7.9 |
IHS (Nunavut) | Males | 9.4 |
IHS (Nunatsiavut) | Females | 2.8 |
IHS (Nunatsiavut) | Males | 4.2 |
Concentrations of mercury were higher in Inuit populations in the ISR, Nunavut and Nunatsiavut than in the general population in Canada.
Comparison of the Canadian and U.S. populations
This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of mercury in blood (µg/L) in the Canadian population from the CHMS (2007–2019) and in the U.S. population from the NHANES (2007–2016). Note that there are slight differences between the surveys in sampling (such as the age ranges of participants) and analysis (such as the limits of detection).

Figure 7: Text description
Biomonitoring initiative | Collection period | Geometric mean |
---|---|---|
CHMS | 2007–2009 | 0.88 |
CHMS | 2009–2011 | 0.92 |
CHMS | 2012–2013 | 0.92 |
CHMS | 2014–2015 | 0.70 |
CHMS | 2016–2017 | 0.76 |
CHMS | 2018–2019 | 0.85 |
NHANES | 2007–2008 | 0.94 |
NHANES | 2009–2010 | 1.0 |
NHANES | 2011–2012 | 0.86 |
NHANES | 2013–2014 | 0.81 |
NHANES | 2015–2016 | 0.81 |
Concentrations of mercury were similar between the Canadian and U.S. populations.
Suggested citation
Health Canada. 2021. Mercury in Canadians. Ottawa, ON. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/environmental-contaminants/human-biomonitoring-resources/mercury-canadians.html
Additional information
- Arbuckle TE, Liang CL, Morisset A-S, Fisher M, Weiler H, Cirtiu CM, Legrand M, Davis K, Ettinger AS, Fraser WD, MIREC Study Group. 2016. Maternal and fetal exposure to cadmium, lead, manganese and mercury: The MIREC study. Chemosphere, 163: 270–282.
- Assembly of First Nations. 2013. First Nations Biomonitoring Initiative: National Results (2011). Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2021. National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals. Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. 2017. Canadian Arctic Contaminants Assessment Report (CACAR IV): Human Health Assessment. Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Environment Canada and Health Canada. 2010. Risk Management Strategy for Mercury. Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Government of Canada. 2020. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Risk Management Measures for Mercury. Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Health Canada. 2010. Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada: Results of the Canadian Health Measures Survey Cycle 1 (2007–2009). Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Health Canada. 2013. Second Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada: Results of the Canadian Health Measures Survey Cycle 2 (2009–2011). Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Health Canada. 2015. Third Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada: Results of the Canadian Health Measures Survey Cycle 3 (2012–2013). Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Health Canada. 2017. Fourth Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada: Results of the Canadian Health Measures Survey Cycle 4 (2014–2015). Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Health Canada. 2019. Fifth Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada: Results of the Canadian Health Measures Survey Cycle 5 (2016–2017). Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Health Canada. 2021. Sixth Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada: Results of the Canadian Health Measures Survey Cycle 6 (2018–2019). Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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