Total mercury levels in selected human tissues, Idaho-1973-74(1,2)

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Toxicology
• Human Biomonitoring

Background:

• Mercury is a toxic heavy metal with widespread environmental distribution.
• Human exposure to mercury can occur through various environmental pathways.
• Understanding mercury levels in human tissues is crucial for public health assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine total mercury levels in human tissues from different geographical areas of Idaho.
• To investigate the relationship between mercury levels and demographic factors (age, sex, residence).
• To compare findings with existing data to establish background mercury levels.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of total mercury in human tissues (kidney, liver, brain) from autopsy specimens.
• Collection of data from six hospitals across three geographical regions of Idaho.
• Statistical comparison of mercury levels based on age, sex, and geographic location.

Main Results:

• Mercury was detected in 76% of 242 analyzed specimens.
• Mean mercury levels were 1.04 ppm (kidney), 0.34 ppm (liver), and 0.08 ppm (brain).
• Geographical variations observed: southeastern (0.22 ppm), southwestern (0.80 ppm), and northern (0.43 ppm) Idaho.
• Higher mercury levels in women than men in southwestern and northern areas; reverse in the southeast.
• Elevated levels in southwestern Idaho may correlate with cinnabar deposits.

Conclusions:

• Human tissues in Idaho contain detectable levels of total mercury, with significant geographical and sex-based variations.
• Southwestern Idaho's higher mercury levels warrant further investigation into potential environmental sources like cinnabar.
• These findings contribute to understanding background mercury levels in human populations.