Relationship Between Localization of Gold Mining Areas and Hair Mercury Levels in People from Bolivar, North of Colombia

• Published in: Biological trace element research Vol. 144; no. 1-3; pp. 118 - 132
• Main Authors: Olivero-Verbel, Jesús, Caballero-Gallardo, Karina, Negrete-Marrugo, José
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.12.2011; Humana Press Inc; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis of Variance; Animals; atomic absorption spectrometry; Atomic absorption spectroscopy; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Body Mass Index; Child; Child, Preschool; Colombia - epidemiology; Correlation analysis; Diet; ecosystems; education programs; Environmental health; Environmental impact; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollution - analysis; Epidemiological Monitoring; Female; fish consumption; Fishes; food chain; Geography; Gold; Gold mines & mining; Hair; Hair - chemistry; Health Surveys; Heavy metals; Humans; Infant; Life Sciences; Male; Meat; men; Mercury; Mercury - analysis; Mercury Poisoning, Nervous System - epidemiology; Mercury Poisoning, Nervous System - psychology; Middle Aged; Mining; monitoring; Nutrition; Oncology; Rivers; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Spectral analysis; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; surveys; Toxicity; women; Young Adult; Colombia; Southern Bolivar; Mercury pollution; Gold mining; Human hair
• ISSN: 0163-4984; 1559-0720
• DOI: 10.1007/s12011-011-9046-5

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.