Mercury concentrations in hair from populations in Wau-Bulolo area, Papua New Guinea.
Total mercury (Hg) concentrations were determined in scalp hair from the populations in the Wau-Bulolo area, eastern Papua New Guinea (PNG), where humans are exposed to large quantities of Hg through gold-mining activities by Hg amalgamation processes. Humans living upstream and not engaged in gold mining had a mean hair Hg concentration of 0.55 micro g g-1 (range: 0.19-1.1 micro g g-1 (n = 80), which was recognized as the background level in this area. In contrast, the populations involved in gold-mining activities had a significantly higher level of hair Hg (mean: 1.2 micro g g-1, range: 0.39-3.0 micro g g-1 (n = 86) than the background level, indicating direct or indirect exposure to Hg from gold mining. The hair Hg level in populations downstream of the gold-mining area was significantly higher than the background level, due to the consumption of Hg-contaminated fish. Mercury concentrations were significantly higher in males than in females, regardless of location properties.
Saeki
K
K
Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, Department of Environment Conservation, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan.
Fujimoto
M
M
Kolinjim
D
D
Tatsukawa
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D012737:Sex Factors
D008628:Mercury