Other arguments have been put forth, such as that receptor-mediated endpoints have no threshold.
The World Health Organization states "mercury may have no threshold below which some adverse effects do not occur" [ 1].
However, in a large population, there could be "abnormal" individuals who have no threshold or individuals who have thresholds below background exposure levels, in which case the population-averaged response would show no threshold.
Mattison [ 9] indicated that the impact of environmental pollutants on pregnancy outcomes might have no threshold level, and that the only reasonable approach is to minimize exposures for everyone.
Data strongly suggest that effects have no threshold within the studied range of ambient concentrations, can occur at levels close to PM2.5 background concentrations and that they follow a mostly linear concentration response function.
Furthermore, data strongly suggest that effects have no threshold within the studied range of ambient concentrations, can occur at levels close to PM2.5 background concentrations and that they follow a mostly linear concentration response function (WHO 2013a).
The cosmetics industry claims the levels of mercury found in cosmetics pose little risk to human health, but an August 2005 WHO policy paper asserts that "studies suggest that mercury may have no threshold below which some adverse health effects do not occur".
