title: Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios and mercury concentration in the scalp hair of residents from Taiji, a whaling town.
abstract: We analyzed stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ(13)C) and nitrogen (δ(15)N) as well as mercury (Hg) concentration in the scalp hair of Japanese who consumed whale meat and those who did not, and investigated the relationships among the δ(13)C and δ(15)N values and Hg concentration. The average δ(15)N and δ(13)C values of whale meat-eaters (10.11‰ and -18.5‰) were significantly higher than those of non-eaters (9.28‰ and -18.9‰), respectively. The average Hg concentration of whale meat-eaters (20.6 μg/g) was significantly higher than that of non-eaters (2.20 μg/g). Significant positive correlations were found between the δ(13)C and δ(15)N values and between the δ(15)N value and Hg concentration in the hair of whale meat-eaters, while the correlation between the δ(15)N value and Hg concentration was not statistically significant in the non-eaters. The consumption of whale meat may increase Hg concentration as well as δ(15)N and δ(13)C values in scalp hair.
authors: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, 1757 Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan. endotty@hoku-iryo-u.ac.jp
authors: Tetsuya
authors: T
authors: Endo
authors: Moriaki
authors: M
authors: Hayasaka
authors: Yohsuke
authors: Y
authors: Hisamichi
authors: Osamu
authors: O
authors: Kimura
authors: Koichi
authors: K
authors: Haraguchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D008628:Mercury