Factors Associated with High Mercury Levels in Women and Girls from The Mojana Region, Colombia, 2013–2015

Abstract

Women are primarily exposed to mercury through the consumption of fish contaminated by gold mining activities. The main systems affected are the central nervous and renal systems, although effects on the reproductive system have also been found. Objective: To explore the relationship between mercury levels in women and their possible sources of contamination. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2013 to 2015 with women residing in 11 municipalities in La Mojana, Colombia, using non-random sampling. Standardized instruments were used to identify sociodemographic characteristics, mercury use, mining-related activities, water and fish consumption, and other factors. Blood, urine, and hair samples were taken to quantify mercury levels. A logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with elevated mercury values in the participants’ samples. A total of 428 women were included, with an average age of 36.7 ± 16.7 years, 3.3% of whom were pregnant at the time of the survey and 8.4% of whom were exposed occupationally. High levels of mercury were present in 62.8% of the women, in any one of the three samples processed. Those exposed occupationally and environmentally had similar values (p = 0.821). Frequency of fish consumption and source of drinking water were associated with higher levels of mercury (p < 0.05).

Mercury Exposure in Women of Reproductive Age in Rondônia State, Amazon Region, Brazil

“…Comparing this study results with previous research, similar Hg levels were found with other communities in the Amazon region [ 30 , 31 , 36 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ] and in South America [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ], all exceeding internationally accepted safety levels for total Hg in hair [ 1 ].…”

Mercury Levels Assessment in the Population of Aby and Frambo Villages in the Vinicity of Aby Lagoon in Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)

“…We also noticed that about 82% of the volunteer exceed the USEPA recommended limit [32], whereas 56% of the sampled group exceed the normal level of WHO [31]. The percentage of unhealthy levels of mercury (above 6 μg Hg/gram of hair by WHO standards [39] [40] [41], concerned 2% of the population with 50% for each village.…”

Determination of methylmercury and inorganic mercury in human hair samples of individuals from Colombian gold mining regions by double spiking isotope dilution and GC-ICP-MS

“…The values obtained in Córdoba department (Calao-Ramos et al, 2021;Gracia et al, 2010Gracia et al, , 2016Marrugo-Negrete et al, 2013) could be compared with those obtained from Antioquia, Sucre (Argumedo et al, 2013;Olivero-Verbel et al, 2016) and Bolívar (Carranza-Lopez et al, 2019;Olivero-Verbel et al, 2011;Olivero et al, 1995) regions, as these four regions are adjacent, and some of their territories conform the Mojana region (Diaz et al, 2020) (Fig. S5).…”