Mercury levels in urine and hair of children in an Andean gold-mining settlement

S. Allen Counter; Leo H. Buchanan; Fernando Ortega

doi:10.1179/oeh.2005.11.2.132

Mercury levels in urine and hair of children in an Andean gold-mining settlement

S. Allen Counter^*
, Leo H. Buchanan
, Fernando Ortega

^*Corresponding author for this work

Maestría en Salud Pública

Harvard University
University of Massachusetts Medical School

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

This field study investigated mercury (Hg) levels in urine and hair of Andean children of indigenous Saraguro and Metizo gold miners in the Nambija, Ecuador gold mining settlement. Spot samples of urine and hair samples were collected concurrently from 80 children each. Urine samples were used to determine the inorganic Hg burden, while hair samples were used as an index of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure from consumption of Hg contaminated fish. The mean level of Hg in urine (Hg_U) was 10.9 pg/L, and the mean level in hair (Hg_H) was 6.0 μ/g. Regression analysis showed a significant association (r = 0.404, p = 0.0007) between matched Hg_U and Hg _H samples. Mean Hg_U and Hg_H levels tended to be higher for children aged 6-14 years than for a younger group. The wide range of Hg levels in the urine and hair of Andean children of gold miners may place them at risk for neurodevelopmental and learning disorders.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	132-137
Number of pages	6
Journal	International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health
Volume	11
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1179/oeh.2005.11.2.132
State	Published - 2005

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Environmental
Inorganic mercury
Methylmercury
Neurotoxicity
Occupational
Pediatric

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10.1179/oeh.2005.11.2.132

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title = "Mercury levels in urine and hair of children in an Andean gold-mining settlement",

abstract = "This field study investigated mercury (Hg) levels in urine and hair of Andean children of indigenous Saraguro and Metizo gold miners in the Nambija, Ecuador gold mining settlement. Spot samples of urine and hair samples were collected concurrently from 80 children each. Urine samples were used to determine the inorganic Hg burden, while hair samples were used as an index of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure from consumption of Hg contaminated fish. The mean level of Hg in urine (HgU) was 10.9 pg/L, and the mean level in hair (HgH) was 6.0 μ/g. Regression analysis showed a significant association (r = 0.404, p = 0.0007) between matched HgU and Hg H samples. Mean HgU and HgH levels tended to be higher for children aged 6-14 years than for a younger group. The wide range of Hg levels in the urine and hair of Andean children of gold miners may place them at risk for neurodevelopmental and learning disorders.",

keywords = "Environmental, Inorganic mercury, Methylmercury, Neurotoxicity, Occupational, Pediatric",

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AU - Counter, S. Allen

AU - Buchanan, Leo H.

AU - Ortega, Fernando

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - This field study investigated mercury (Hg) levels in urine and hair of Andean children of indigenous Saraguro and Metizo gold miners in the Nambija, Ecuador gold mining settlement. Spot samples of urine and hair samples were collected concurrently from 80 children each. Urine samples were used to determine the inorganic Hg burden, while hair samples were used as an index of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure from consumption of Hg contaminated fish. The mean level of Hg in urine (HgU) was 10.9 pg/L, and the mean level in hair (HgH) was 6.0 μ/g. Regression analysis showed a significant association (r = 0.404, p = 0.0007) between matched HgU and Hg H samples. Mean HgU and HgH levels tended to be higher for children aged 6-14 years than for a younger group. The wide range of Hg levels in the urine and hair of Andean children of gold miners may place them at risk for neurodevelopmental and learning disorders.

AB - This field study investigated mercury (Hg) levels in urine and hair of Andean children of indigenous Saraguro and Metizo gold miners in the Nambija, Ecuador gold mining settlement. Spot samples of urine and hair samples were collected concurrently from 80 children each. Urine samples were used to determine the inorganic Hg burden, while hair samples were used as an index of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure from consumption of Hg contaminated fish. The mean level of Hg in urine (HgU) was 10.9 pg/L, and the mean level in hair (HgH) was 6.0 μ/g. Regression analysis showed a significant association (r = 0.404, p = 0.0007) between matched HgU and Hg H samples. Mean HgU and HgH levels tended to be higher for children aged 6-14 years than for a younger group. The wide range of Hg levels in the urine and hair of Andean children of gold miners may place them at risk for neurodevelopmental and learning disorders.

KW - Environmental

KW - Inorganic mercury

KW - Methylmercury

KW - Neurotoxicity

KW - Occupational

KW - Pediatric

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/21444448940

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DO - 10.1179/oeh.2005.11.2.132

M3 - Artículo

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SN - 1077-3525

VL - 11

SP - 132

EP - 137

JO - International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health

JF - International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health

IS - 2

ER -

Mercury levels in urine and hair of children in an Andean gold-mining settlement

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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