Table 1 Geometric mean and 95% confidence intervals of blood mercury levels by participant characteristics at the first visit

Total

550

2.78 (2.65, 2.92)

 60–69

246

3.31 (3.10, 3.54)

<.0001

 70–79

281

2.70 (2.55, 2.87)

 80-

23

1.99 (1.49, 2.64)

 Men

141

3.67 (3.36, 4.00)

<.0001

 Women

409

2.70 (2.57, 2.84)

 ≤ Elemental school graduate

303

2.68 (2.52, 2.84)

<.0001

 ≥ Middle school graduate

231

3.28 (3.07, 3.51)

 Missing

16

 < 25

308

2.79 (2.62, 2.98)

0.015

 ≥ 25

242

3.09 (2.91, 3.29)

 Non smoker

472

2.86 (2.73, 3.01)

0.077

 Previous smoker

34

3.41 (2.88, 4.03)

 Current smoker

29

3.32 (2.81, 3.93)

 Missing

15

 Non-drinker

414

2.78 (2.64, 2.92)

<.0001

 Regular drinker

119

3.48 (3.14, 3.87)

 Missing

17

 Men:≤34; Women:≤40

532

2.90 (2.77, 3.03)

0.007

 Men:>34; Women:>40

18

3.74 (3.15, 4.45)

 ≤ 35

513

2.87 (2.74, 3.01)

0.003

 > 35

37

3.75 (3.23, 4.36)

 Men:≤48; Women:≤29

461

2.87 (2.74, 3.02)

0.097

 Men:>48; Women:>29

89

3.18 (2.84, 3.57)

 Men:<40; Women < 50

328

2.97 (2.81, 3.14)

0.344

 Men:≥40; Women ≥ 50

222

2.85 (2.64, 3.07)

  < 2000

262

2.76 (2.60, 2.94)

0.014

  > 2000

188

3.13 (2.89, 3.40)

Missing

100