Table 2 Total blood mercury concentrations depending on general characteristics

Total

4.11 (3.94–4.29)

4.58 (4.31–4.87)^a

3.68 (3.47–3.92)^a

  ≤ 29

3.43 (3.06–3.85)

3.35 (2.78–4.04)

3.32 (2.90–3.80)

 30–39

4.12 (3.88–4.38)

5.01 (4.57–5.50)

3.44 (3.18–3.72)

 40–49

4.35 (4.03–4.70)

5.21 (4.72–5.77)

3.47 (3.10–3.88)

 50≤

4.39 (3.82–5.06)

5.68 (4.68–6.90)

3.34 (2.75–4.05)

  p-value^b

0.006

< 0.001

0.953

 Men

4.23 (4.05–4.43)

5.12 (4.80–5.46)

3.50 (3.30–3.71)

 Women

3.28 (2.90–3.72)

3.68 (3.06–4.42)

2.87 (2.44–3.37)

  p-value^b

< 0.001

0.001

0.022

 Nonsmokers

3.68 (3.42–3.97)

4.25 (3.82–4.72)

3.19 (2.88–3.52)

 Ex-smokers

4.50 (4.10–4.94)

5.57 (4.90–6.32)

3.60 (3.16–4.10)

 smokers

4.26 (4.01–4.53)

5.19 (4.74–5.68)

3.50 (3.24–3.79)

  p-value^b

0.001

0.002

0.237

 Nondrinkers

3.79 (3.52–4.08)

4.44 (3.97–4.96)

3.23 (2.94–3.55)

 Drinkers

4.28 (4.06–4.50)

5.17 (4.80–5.56)

3.52 (3.29–3.77)

  p-value^b

0.008

0.027

0.151

 Urban

3.53 (3.35–3.72)

4.32 (3.96–4.72)

3.13 (2.95–3.32)

 Rural

5.64 (5.23–6.07)

5.62 (5.16–6.13)

5.70 (4.93–6.59)

  p-value^b

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001