Methylmercury exposure and urinary metabolic profile in Cree people from Northern Quebec

This pilot project aimed to explore whether urine can reveal signs of chronic exposure to methylmercury, a contaminant to which some northern communities are more exposed because of fish consumption. The research team compared the profiles of small molecules present in the urine of Cree adults with high or low levels of exposure, as well as those of a control group from southern Quebec. Samples were analyzed using advanced chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques capable of detecting thousands of metabolites. The study identified several urinary molecules that vary according to the level of methylmercury exposure, including some associated with kidney function. The project also helped validate the metabolomic profiling method used, paving the way for its application in future projects with CARTaGENE. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the potential health effects of long-term exposure to methylmercury.

• Public health and epidemiology

• Biological samples
• Questionnaire data