Mercury and methylmercury in population risk groups on the Atlantic coast of southern Spain

• Published in: Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 27; no. 3; pp. 415 - 419
• Main Authors: Lopez-Artiguez, M, Grilo, A, Martinez, D, Soria, M.L, Nunez, L, Ruano, A, Moreno, E, Garcia Fuente, F, Repetto, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.10.1994
• Subjects: ALIMENTOS; ALMEJAS; CLAM; CLAMS; COASTS; CONTAMINACION; CONTAMINANTES; CONTAMINATION; COSTA; COTES; ESPAGNE; ESPANA; FISH; food contamination; FOOD SAFETY; FOODS; HAIR; INNOCUITE DES PRODUITS ALIMENTAIRES; INOCUIDAD ALIMENTARIA; MERCURE; MERCURIO; MERCURY; methylmercury compounds; PELO; PESCADO; POILS; POISSON (ALIMENT); POLLUANT; POLLUTANTS; POLLUTION DE L'EAU; POLUCION DEL AGUA; PRODUIT ALIMENTAIRE; PUBLIC HEALTH; SALUD PUBLICA; SANTE PUBLIQUE; SPAIN; WATER POLLUTION; Spain
• ISSN: 0090-4341; 1432-0703
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00213180

The hair of fishermen from 2 different coastal areas in the highly industrialized south Atlantic coastal area of Spain had geometric means of 10.41 and 8.36 ug total mercury per g and 8.28 and 6.72 ug methylmercury per g. Mercury content in both groups differed significantly from controls (geometric mean 2.5 ug total mercury per g and 4.50 ug methylmercury per g). Pregnant women from 2 coastal areas and controls had geometric means of 2.40, 5.94 and 0.94 ug total mercury per g and 1.93, 4.78 and 0.82 ug methylmercury per g. Fish and molluscs most consumed by people in these groups had the following values for total mercury and methylmercury, respectively: sword fish 1.57 plus or minus 1.27 and 1.20 plus or minus 0.94 ug per g; Scrobicularia plana 0.07 plus or minus 0.052 and 0.053 plus or minus 0.039 ug per g Tapes decussatus 0.046 plus or minus 0.20 and 0.039 plus or minus 0.018 ug per g. There are 32 references.