Mercury, dental amalgam fillings and intellectual abilities in Inuit school children in Greenland.

The hair mercury concentration of 125 Greenland pupils aged 12 to 17 was recorded and compared with the pupils' marks in selected school subjects. Mercury values ranged from 0.2 to 15.9 microgram per gram (micrograms/g) and 20% of the pupils had more than 6 micrograms/g. There was no correlation between a high mercury concentration score and poor results in school. Correlation of the number of dental amalgam fillings with mercury concentration showed a weak trend but no significant relation. Eating habits were significantly correlated with mercury concentration. Girls had a significantly higher number of amalgam fillings than boys, and had a significantly higher mercury concentration. Modern Inuit and the mummified Qilaqitsoq Inuit from the 15th century had largely identical levels of mercury in the hair irrespective of today's higher exposure to global environmental contamination. This is believed to result from a change in eating habits away from the traditional Greenland food towards a more continental diet.