Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Mazandaran, Iran.
Sci Total Environ. 2010 Mar 1;408(7):1538-43. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.01.008. Epub 2010 Jan 25.
In this study we aimed to estimate the level of mercury in women's hair and its association with fish consumption and amalgam fillings in an Iranian southern port town (named Mahshahr). A total number of 195 hair samples were collected randomly from women aged 25-45 years free from occupational exposures to mercury. Additional information about these women's age, weight, height, number of pregnancies, level of education, number of amalgam fillings and fish consumption were also gathered. The determination of Hg level in hair samples was carried out by the LECO, AMA 254, Advanced Mercury Analyzer, according to ASTM standard No. D-6722. The average mercury level in these women's hair was 2.95+/-2.33microg/g (ranged from 0.07 to 24.46microg/g). In the next stage, the study participants were divided into four groups with respect to their fish consumption and number of amalgam fillings; A) <3 amalgam fillings, <3 times fish consumption per month, B) <3 amalgam fillings, >7 times fish consumption per month, C) >6 amalgam fillings, <3 times fish consumption per month, and D) >6 amalgam fillings, >7 times fish consumption per month. Statistical analysis showed that the Hg level was significantly different in these four groups (P<0.001). Mercury levels in this sample exceeded the USEPA-recommended 1microg/g in 76.4% of the studied population. Finally, the multiple linear regression results revealed that frequency of fish consumption and amalgam restorations are the most important routes of Hg exposure. However, the main determinant of Hg exposure was the intake of Hg through fish consumption.
在这项研究中，我们旨在估计伊朗南部港口城市（名为马赫沙赫尔）女性头发中的汞含量及其与鱼类消费和汞合金填充物的关系。从 25-45 岁、无职业性汞暴露的女性中随机采集了 195 份头发样本。还收集了这些女性的年龄、体重、身高、怀孕次数、受教育程度、汞合金填充物数量和鱼类消费等信息。头发样本中 Hg 水平的测定是根据 ASTM 标准 No. D-6722，使用 LECO、AMA 254、高级汞分析仪进行的。这些女性头发中的平均汞含量为 2.95+/-2.33μg/g（范围为 0.07 至 24.46μg/g）。在接下来的阶段，根据她们的鱼类消费和汞合金填充物数量，将研究参与者分为四组；A）<3 个汞合金填充物，<3 次/月鱼类消费，B）<3 个汞合金填充物，>7 次/月鱼类消费，C）>6 个汞合金填充物，<3 次/月鱼类消费，和 D）>6 个汞合金填充物，>7 次/月鱼类消费。统计分析表明，这四组的 Hg 水平有显著差异（P<0.001）。在研究人群中，76.4%的人头发中的 Hg 水平超过了 USEPA 推荐的 1μg/g。最后，多元线性回归结果表明，鱼类消费频率和汞合金修复是 Hg 暴露的最重要途径。然而，Hg 暴露的主要决定因素是通过鱼类消费摄入的 Hg。
