Variability of mercury in urine among Mexican women residing in a mining area.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To know the variability of the creatinine-adjusted inorganic mercury (HgUCr) levels in women aged >or=12 years to evaluate the impact of residing at a site contaminated by mercury in soil. METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiologic study was conducted, in which 122 women participated, in whom, HgUCr was determined. Simultaneously, a questionnaire was applied for evaluate the different factors of mercury exposure, sociodemographic characteristics, and dietary hygiene measures. The environmental exposures were evaluated by measure Hg in soil and mining dumps. RESULTS: Women aged >30 years residing in areas contaminated by Hg in soil (>625 ppb) had 212% more HgUCr than the women who living in areas least contaminated, while women with amalgam dental fillings had 120% more HgUCr than women without these. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, exposure to different physicochemical forms of Hg by environmental mechanisms and factors intrinsic to the women are probably responsible for HgUCr-level variability in the women.