Some results on Hg content in hair in different populations in Albania

The mercury content in hair, for exposed dental workers and unexposed groups of people living in Albania was studied. The influence of factors such as age, sex, body weight, fish consumption in the diet, number of dental amalgam fillings and time exposed to mercury, was determined. The mean value of mercury content in hair for the subjects under study (0.705 mu g/g) was found to be lower than the value referred from the World Health Organization (WHO) for people who do not consume fish with a high methylmercury content (1-2 mu g/g). A significant positive correlation of Hg content with the number of dental amalgam fillings, time under exposure and frequency of fish consumption in the diet was found. These correlations became stronger when exposed and unexposed groups of people were evaluated separately. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.