title: Relationship between localization of gold mining areas and hair mercury levels in people from Bolivar, north of Colombia.
abstract: Mercury (Hg) is a heavy metal that, once in the environment, is bioaccumulated and biomagnified through food chain impacting ecosystems. The aim of this study was to evaluate total Hg (T-Hg) concentrations in individuals along Cauca and Magdalena Rivers in Colombia, where most gold mining activities take place. A total of 1,328 hair samples were collected and analyzed for T-Hg using atomic absorption spectroscopy. T-Hg concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 20.14 μg/g. Greatest levels were detected in La Raya (5.27 ± 0.32 μg/g), Achi (2.44 ± 0.22 μg/g), and Montecristo (2.20 ± 0.20 μg/g), places that are located near gold mines. Concentrations decreased with the distance from main mining areas. Only 0.75% of the individuals had T-Hg levels above 10 μg/g. Men had significantly higher T-Hg levels than women, and correlation analysis revealed moderately weak but significant relationships between T-Hg and weight (R = 0.111, P < 0.001), stature (R = 0.111, P < 0.001), and age (R = 0.073, P = 0.007). However, T-Hg concentrations did not vary according to fish consumption frequency. Subjective health survey showed no Hg-related signs or symptoms within studied sample. However, studies are necessary to detect neurological damage linked to the metal. Changing technologies to Hg-free mining, monitoring, and educational programs are necessary to protect health of people living near Colombian rivers.
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Computational Chemistry Group, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia. joliverov@unicartagena.edu.co
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olivero-Verbel
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Caballero-Gallardo
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marrugo Negrete
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Negrete-Marrugo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005843:Geography; D006046:Gold; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D020262:Mercury Poisoning, Nervous System / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D008628:Mercury