Blood and hair mercury content in fish consumers. A preliminary report

Mercury contents in whole blood and hair were determined for 462 persons and correlated with the number of fish meals per week. The subjects were living in four localities representing different degrees of water pollution, assessed among other factors, with Hg determinations on the local fish samples. Human Hg values reaching the danger zone (whole blood 200 ng/g or higher, hair 60 μg/g or higher were not observed. A few values exceeded the safety limits (20 mg/g for blood and 6 μg/g for hair). A correlation, between the Hg content in blood and hair and fish meal frequency was observed in some regions. The Hg content varied by region. The risk of Hg poisoning from fish is considered relatively low.