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Relationship Between Mercury Levels in Hair and Fish Consumption in a Population Living Near a Hydroelectric Tropical Dam

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Abstract

In the present study, total mercury (T-Hg) concentrations were assessed in human hair samples (n = 76) and fish muscle (n = 33) collected at Urrá dam, upstream Sinú river, northwestern Colombia. Based on interviews with study participants, weekly intakes of total mercury (WIT-Hg) and methylmercury (WIMeHg) by fish consumption were also estimated. T-Hg concentrations in hair samples ranged from 0.40 to 24.56 μg/g dw. The highest concentrations were recorded in children (CH) (2–15 years old, n = 24) with significant differences (p < 0.05) with respect to women of childbearing age (WCHA) (16–49 years old, n = 29) and the rest of the population (RP) (n = 23), which were not significantly different. The highest T-Hg concentrations in muscle tissue were recorded in the carnivorous fish (0.65-2.25 μg/g wet weight, ww), with significant differences (p < 0.05) compared to non-carnivorous fish (0.16–0.54 μg/g ww). WIT-Hg recorded the highest values in CH (2.18–50.41 μg/kg/week), with significant differences (p < 0.05) with respect to WCHA (2.02–23.54 μg/kg/week) and RP (1.09–24.71 μg/kg/week), which were not significantly different. Correlation analysis showed a significant relationship between weekly fish consumption and hair T-Hg in CH (r = 0.37, p < 0.05) and WCHA (r = 0.44, p < 0.05). This association was also observed with the number of days per week with fish consumption in CH (r = 0.37, p < 0.05) and WCHA (r = 0.45, p < 0.05). These results suggest that Hg exposure in people inhabiting the Urrá dam should be carefully monitored, particularly in vulnerable groups such as CH and WCHA.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the University of Cordoba, Montería-Colombia (Grant FCB-03-2007) and The Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation COLCIENCIAS (1112-519-29083), for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water, Applied and Environmental Chemistry Group, Laboratory Toxicology and Environmental Management, University of Córdoba, Montería, Colombia

    José Luis Marrugo-Negrete & Javier Alonso Ruiz-Guzmán

  2. Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain

    Sergi Díez

  3. Córdoba University, Laboratory Toxicology and Environmental Management, University of Córdoba, Cra 6 #76-103 Montería, 354, Montería, Colombia

    José Luis Marrugo-Negrete

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  1. José Luis Marrugo-Negrete
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Correspondence to José Luis Marrugo-Negrete.

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Marrugo-Negrete, J.L., Ruiz-Guzmán, J.A. & Díez, S. Relationship Between Mercury Levels in Hair and Fish Consumption in a Population Living Near a Hydroelectric Tropical Dam. Biol Trace Elem Res 151, 187–194 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9561-z

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