Question

Based on laboratory studies using rats, the EPA has set an oral ingestion rate of 3x10^-4 mg of mercury (Hg)/kg of body weight/day as the threshold for causing chronic health effects in humans. A coalition of environmental and health care organizations had samples of canned tuna, purchased at grocery stores in several US cities, analyzed for mercury (Hg) content. The average level of Hg found was 0.1 ppm on a mass basis, i.e. 0.1 g of Hg per 10⁶ g of tuna.

a) If a person eats, on average, one 6-ounce (170 g) can of chunk light tuna (the fish most frequently eaten by Americans) per week, calculate the average amount of mercury ingested daily.

b) Compare this value to the EPA threshold value above for the following cases:

• The person is an adult male of weight 70-kg (about 150 lbs).
• The person is a 4-year old child of weight 15-kg (about 33 lbs).

Answer 1

Given The H deund tn dsh avesage Leval tuna fish Ha pes 610. tay -tuna dish pRS eoit s A pesson Amount gngested pes uoeek concentoaton tura ish Amount o tuna sh eaton pes NO in LoRele (140) 0.1603t gm

Avraye dtgatad daily amount 0. 0229 gm Amount mescuoy ngesied dily hap ad th) EPA tAseshold volue 3kio bady wt day case- The adult male useiaht Peoson an +0 mass the aomge ingesion alte daily Hagasted Amounk wight d psson's lady ty) ka 40 2.242 x1o 3.213 K1O x 1000 gr 2. 2 .323 The. avcronge ngestn EPA seshod Valse ate

Case-2 The persson dggatad dal Amaunt The ingestion 2 odgitpeosos body Cha .0229 gm douy legody 15 3 い5244 o x1000 い524 2 EPA hseshold Fhe avge tagestion aate Nolue igh coesed P3 to EPA The inoestionale lasth Hes eshold value tases in