Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Original Article

Analysis of shark meat consumption patterns among young and middle-aged women in Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea, using community health survey data: Soyoung Son, Junmin Seong, Chulyong Park, Kiook Baek, Joon Sakong; Ann Occup Environ Med 2025;37:e26. Published online September 9, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2025.37.e26

Abstract Abstract in Korean PDF: Background
Mercury, particularly in its methylmercury form, significantly affects neurological and developmental functions. In Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea, blood mercury levels are elevated due to high fish consumption, especially shark meat. Vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, are at increased risk as methylmercury can cross the placenta and accumulate in breast milk. This study aimed to investigate the risks of mercury exposure from shark meat consumption among young and middle-aged women in Gyeongsangbuk-do.
Methods
The data of women aged 19–55 years from the 2018 Gyeongsangbuk-do Community Health Survey were included. Survey questions focused on frequency and amount of shark meat consumption, as well as pregnancy status, recent childbirth, and breastfeeding status. The Complex Sample Analysis was used to determine the prevalence and risk of overconsumption. Weekly mercury intake was calculated for respondents who reported their body weight, and the population size exceeding Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)’s threshold was estimated.
Results
Regions where the consumption rate of shark meat exceeds the average for Gyeongsangbuk-do are found to be distributed in the southeastern part of the province. Population estimates revealed that approximately 9,895 women aged 19–55, including 255 who had breastfed in the past year, consumed shark meat exceeding the recommended intake. Based on the maximum recorded mercury concentration (8.93 µg/g), an estimated 2,645 women surpassed the JECFA’s mercury exposure threshold, while 845 exceeded the MFDS’s threshold.
Conclusions
In young and middle-aged women of Gyeongsangbuk-do, approximately 7.1% exceed the single intake limit, while up to 1.9% exceed the JECFA's provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) and 0.6% exceed the MFDS's PTWI, suggesting considerable risk that warrants monitoring and guidance. More stringent advisory measures regarding shark meat consumption and updated standards on mercury concentration in shark meat are essential for young and middle-aged women in the province.; 지역사회건강조사 데이터를 이용한 경상북도지역 청년-중년기 여성의 상어고기 섭취 행태 분석
목적
수은, 특히 메틸수은 형태의 수은은 신경 및 발달 기능에 큰 영향을 미친다. 수은이 기타 어류보다 더 높게 축적된 상어고기는 경상북도에서 전통적으로 소비되고 있으며, 경상북도 지역 주민의 혈중 수은 농도가 타 지역에 높게 관찰된 바 있다. 임산부와 어린이와 같은 취약 계층은 메틸수은이 태반을 통과하여 모유에 축적될 수 있기 때문에 상어고기를 섭취에 대한 위험이 더 높다. 본 연구는 2018년 지역사회건강조사 자료를 활용하여, 경상북도 내 청년-중년기 성의 메틸수은 노출에 대한 잠재적 위해도를 조사하고자 하였다.
방법
2018년 경상북도 지역사회 건강조사에 참여한 19~55세 여성 데이터를 바탕으로 상어고기 섭취 특성을 분석하였다. 설문 문항은 상어고기 섭취 여부, 빈도, 섭취량을 포함하였으며, 임신 여부, 최근 출산 여부, 모유 수유 여부를 확인하였다. 복합 표본 분석을 통해 상어고기 섭취 인구 비율과 모집단을 추정하고, 섭취 빈도와 섭취량의 평균 및 최대값을 산출하였다. 체중을 보고한 응답자를 대상으로 주간 수은 섭취량을 계산하였으며, 이를 통해 JECFA와 식약청의 규제 기준을 초과한 인구 규모를 추정하였다.
결과
경상북도 남동부 지역(영천시, 경주시, 청도군, 군위군, 경산시 등)의 상어고기 섭취율이 경상북도 평균 섭취율보다 높은 것으로 나타났다. 모집단 추정 결과, 19~55세 여성 약 9,895명과 지난 1년간 모유 수유를 한 255명이 권장 섭취량을 초과하여 상어고기를 섭취한 것으로 나타났다. 경상북도에서 기록된 최대 수은 농도(8.93 µg/g)를 기준으로, 약 2,645명의 여성이 FAO/WHO JECFA의 수은 노출 기준을 초과하였으며, 845명은 식약청 기준을 초과한 것으로 추정되었다.
결론
인구 추정치를 고려하면, 메틸수은 노출에 대한 민감 집단인 청년-중년기 여성 중 약 7.1%는 1회 섭취 기준, 1.9%는 JECFA PTWI, 0.6%는 식약청 PTWI를 초과해 모니터링과 지도가 필요한 수준의 위험으로 보인다. 가임기 여성의 상어고기에 섭취에 대하여는 지역사회 수준의 적극적 홍보 및 상어고기 내의 수은에 대한 지속적인 모니터링이 필요하다.

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Research Article

Mercury concentration in shark meat from traditional markets of Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea: Han Cheol Heo, Yeon Hee Lim, Young Seok Byun, Joon Sakong; Ann Occup Environ Med 2020;32:e3. Published online January 2, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2020.32.e3

Abstract PDF

Background

Although unusually high levels of blood mercury have been reported in the North Gyeongsang Province (Gyeongsangbuk-do), mercury contents from shark meat distributed in this region have not been assessed yet. Thus, this study aims to identify the hazard by evaluating the mercury contents of the shark meat sold in the traditional market of Gyeongsangbuk-do.

Methods

The shark meat in the form of muscle meat was obtained from 15 traditional markets of Gyeongsangbuk-do in the summer and winter of 2013. Out of 105 samples in total, 49 were collected in the summer and 56 in the winter. The total mercury concentration was measured by the combustion-gold amalgamation method using an automatic mercury analyzer (Milestone DMA-80, Milestone).

Results

The average mercury concentration of shark meat was 2.29 ± 1.77 µg/g, ranging between 0.06–8.93 µg/g with a geometric mean of 1.44 µg/g, which is higher than those reported in many countries. The mercury concentration in 77 of 105 shark meat samples exceeded 1 µg/g. Mercury concentration ranged between 0.09–8.93 µg/g (geometric mean: 1.45) in the summer and 0.06–6.73 µg/g (geometric mean: 1.48) in the winter.

Conclusions

Shark meat sold in the market contained a substantial amount of mercury. This suggests that it is difficult to reduce mercury intake by simply strengthening the standard level of mercury concentration in shark meat. Therefore, it is need to communication and awareness programs with consumers about hazardous effects of mercury inherent in shark meat.

Citations

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Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology.2025; 87: 127581. CrossRef
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Increase of blood mercury level with shark meat consumption: A repeated-measures study before and after Chuseok, Korean holiday
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Chemosphere.2023; 344: 140317. CrossRef
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Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene.2020;[Epub] CrossRef

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Research Article

The associations between blood mercury levels and shark meat intake among workers in Gyeongsangbuk-do: Gun Il Park, Young Seok Byun, Man Joong Jeon, Joon Sakong; Ann Occup Environ Med 2017;29:29. Published online June 27, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-017-0185-9

Abstract PDF

Background

Shark meat is used as sacrificial food in Gyeongsangbuk-do, and is a major source of dietary mercury. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of shark meat intake or the ritual of Jesa on blood mercury levels within workers living in Gyeongsangbuk-do.

Methods

This study was conducted from September 2016 to October 2016 in two cities of Gyeongsangbuk-do. To compare the differences between urban and rural areas, two workplaces each in Daegu as the urban area and Yeongcheon as the rural area were selected. General characteristics and characteristics related to shark meat consumption of the workers were acquired by personal interviews during their health examination. Blood mercury concentrations were analyzed by the gold amalgamation method using a direct mercury analyzer (DMA-80; Milestone Inc., Shelton, CT, USA).

Results

The shark consumption group had a higher blood mercury concentration than the non-consumption group. The levels of blood mercury increased with the frequency, annual intake, as well as most recent date of shark meat consumption. Moreover, the levels of mercury in blood increased according to the annual frequency of participation in Jesa (times per year) and the annual frequency of shark meat consumption during Jesa (times per year).

Conclusions

Shark meat intake and the ritual of Jesa contributed to an increase in the blood mercury levels of workers in Gyeongsangbuk-do. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate dietary exposure, occupational as well as other factors that may influence blood mercury concentrations in workers during their health examination, particularly in regions with high mercury exposures.

Citations

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Microchemical Journal.2025; : 115076. CrossRef
Association between Blood Mercury and Seafood Consumption in Korean Adults: KoNEHS Cycle 4 (2018~2020)
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Increase of blood mercury level with shark meat consumption: A repeated-measures study before and after Chuseok, Korean holiday
Kiook Baek, Chulyong Park, Joon Sakong
Chemosphere.2023; 344: 140317. CrossRef
Mercury concentration in shark meat from traditional markets of Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
Han Cheol Heo, Yeon Hee Lim, Young Seok Byun, Joon Sakong
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2020;[Epub] CrossRef
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Ji-Sung Ahn, Kyung Wook Kang, Won-Yang Kang, Hyeong-Min Lim, Seunghyeon Cho, Jai-Dong Moon, Won-Ju Park
Journal of Occupational Health.2018; 60(1): 89. CrossRef

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