Biomonitoring of Mercury in Hair among a Group of Eritreans (Africa)

Maria Luisa Astolfi, Carmela Protano, Elisabetta Marconi, Lorenzo Massimi, Daniel Piamonti, Marco Brunori, Matteo Vitali and Silvia Canepari
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Maria Luisa Astolfi: Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
Carmela Protano: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
Elisabetta Marconi: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
Lorenzo Massimi: Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
Daniel Piamonti: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrology, Anaesthesiology and Geriatric Science, Sapienza University, Viale del Policlinico 155, I-00161 Rome, Italy
Marco Brunori: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrology, Anaesthesiology and Geriatric Science, Sapienza University, Viale del Policlinico 155, I-00161 Rome, Italy
Matteo Vitali: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
Silvia Canepari: Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: Small-scale or artisanal mining, using gold-mercury amalgamation to extract gold from ore, is a significant source of exposure for the workers and nearby populations. Few studies on hair mercury (Hg) have been conducted in Africa despite the fact that Africa has several gold deposits. No studies have been conducted in Eritrea that is one of the emerging gold producing countries in Africa. The aim of the study was to assess the Hg concentration in hair samples ( n = 120) of a population living in Asmara, capital of Eritrea, and to evaluate the influence of some factors on the Hg levels in hair. Information on age, height, weight, occupation, smoking and fish consumption of participants were collected via questionnaire. Hair Hg concentration was significantly higher among women compared to men ( p < 0.001) and among women preparing spicy products in Medeber market compared to those who did other jobs ( p = 0.010). These results highlight the need for routine biomonitoring surveys and for health promotion campaigns devoted to local decision makers and workers.

Keywords: biological monitoring; hair analysis; toxic element; human health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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