Mercury in human hair and relation to fish consumption in Bangladesh

Human scalp hair mercury concentrations were determined in 219 hair samples from male individuals from different regions of Bangladesh. Total hair mercury concentrations were very low with a mean value of 0.44 +/- 0.19 micrograms Hg/g (range 0.02-0.95) for a moderately elevated fish consumption averaging 2.1 kg/month (range 1.4-2.6). A highly significant positive correlation (r = 0.88, P < 0.001) was found between fish consumption and hair mercury concentration. Neither age, region nor occupation had any influence on the hair mercury content. Our results in agreement with literature values, are described by equation (X = 183Y + 0.16) linking calculated daily methylmercury intake (X, mg) and hair total mercury level (Y, micrograms/g). Low concentrations in hair were linked to extremely low levels of daily mercury intake, the determining factor being remarkably low mercury levels in Bangladesh fish.