Mercury concentrations in hair from populations in Wau-Bulolo area, Papua New Guinea

Total mercury (Hg) concentrations were determined in scalp hair from the populations in the Wau-Bulolo area, eastern Papua New Guinea (PNG), where humans are exposed to large quantities of Hg through gold-mining activities by Hg amalgamation processes. Humans living upstream and not engaged in gold mining had a mean hair Hg concentration of 0.55 mu g g(-1) (range: 0.19-1.1 mu g g(-1)) (n = 80), which was recognized as the background level in this area. In contrast, the populations involved in gold-mining activities had a significantly higher level of hair Hg (mean: 1.2 mu g g(-1), range: 0.39-3.0 mu g g(-1)) (n = 86) than the background level, indicating direct or indirect exposure to Hg from gold mining. The hair Hg level in populations downstream of the gold-mining area was significantly higher than the background level, due to the consumption of Hg-contaminated fish. Mercury concentrations were significantly higher in males than in females, regardless of location properties.