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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Apr 19.
Published in final edited form as: Am J Ind Med. 2007 Oct;50(10):712–719. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20474

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Path diagram for a structural equation model linking mercury exposure to adverse effects, while taking into regard confounders. The estimated true exposure (Hg) is modeled as a latent parameter based on mercury concentrations in cord blood (B), umbilical cord tissue (UC), maternal full-length hair (H), and maternal short-segment hair (SH). In addition, the maternal pilot whale meat intake during pregnancy (Whale) is taken into account. Two latent effect parameters (Motor and Verbal) are likewise based on clinical test outcomes analysis [Budtz-Jørgensen et al., 2002]. Motor and verbal function may be correlated (indicated by double-headed arrow) and potential confounders are allowed to be associated both with the latent exposure and to the latent effect variables.