Factors contributing to the difference of hair mercury concentrations between the sexes.

Abstract

Scalp hair samples were collected by mail from 97 married couples who were living in several places in Okinawa-prefecture and supposedly had no specific exposure to mercury compounds. They were selectively analysed for organic and inorganic mercury content and the difference of hair mercury concentration between the sexes was discussed in relation to the frequency of fish intake, fish species, drinking habits and permanent-wave hair treatment. Results obtained were as follows: 1) The increase in hair levels of organic and inorganic mercury concentrations was roughly proportional to the dietary intake of fish in the range from none or low to moderate frequencies for both husbands and wives. However, this increase was not proportional to the dietary intake of fish in the range from moderate to high frequencies, showing almost the same level irrespective of the frequency of fish intake. 2) Though husbands and wives had dietary consumption patterns quite similar to each other, husbands were found to have higher hair organic mercury levels than wives, the average values being 6.40 ppm with a standard deviation of 4.69 ppm for husbands and 2.86 ppm with a standard deviation of 1.97 ppm for wives, respectively. The difference was statistically significant. No significant difference between the sexes was detected for inorganic mercury concentrations. However, a highly significant positive correlation coefficient for organic mercury and also a significant positive correlation coefficient for inorganic mercury were found between husbands and wives. 3) Hair without permanent-wave treatment showed higher levels of organic mercury concentrations than hair with permanent-wave treatment for both husbands and wives. Drinkers also had higher levels of hair mercury as compared to non-drinkers. However, the lower levels of organic mercury concentrations in women's hair than in men's hair were not fully explained by these factors. 4) Both men and women who showed higher hair levels of organic mercury had a preference for highly predatory fish such as tuna and bonito, which probably contributed most to the human intake of mercury.