Varying mercury exposure with varying food source in a James Bay Cree community

James Bay Quebec Crees are exposed to methylmercury (MM) through fish consumption. Hair mercury concentrations were measured in women of child-bearing age and men and women 40 years of age and above in a small Cree community of James Bay (with traditionally low exposure to MM) before and after fishing expeditions to inland lakes where fish were contaminated with methylmercury. Median hair mercury concentrations in persons 40 years and above increased from 4.1 mg/kg to 9.9 mg/kg and the highest value from 17.4 to 47.2 mg/kg. A similar increase was seen after a second fishing expedition where the median hair concentration increased from 3.4 mg/kg to 7.2 mg/kg and the highest value from 17.7 to 49.9 mg/kg. Populations with traditionally low exposure to MM can become highly exposed with changes in sources or quantities of fish consumed.