Table 4.
Comparison of hair THg concentrations in children around the world.
| Location | n | Mean ± SD (μg/g) | Range (μg/g) | Remarks | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wanshan area, China | 227 | 1.40 (GM) | 0.09–5.98 | 5–12 years old, living in mine sites | This research |
| Kayabi, Amazonia, Brazil | 40 | 16.55 ± 11.44 | Children, fish consumers in gold-mining area | [64] | |
| Cururu, Amazonia, Brazil | 86 | 4.76 ± 2.09 | Children, fish consumers in gold-mining area | [64] | |
| Kaburua, Amazonia, Brazil | 77 | 2.87 ± 2.13 | Children, fish consumers in gold-mining area | [64] | |
| Negro river basin, Brazil | 12.56 | 0–44.53 | <15 years old, fish consumers in gold-mining area | [62] | |
| Sao Luiz do Tapajos, Brazil | 40 | 11.41 ± 7.16 | 1.08–28.17 | 0–12 years old, fish consumers in gold-mining area | [66] |
| Barreiras, Brazil | 37 | 5.64 ± 5.55 | 0.43–27.82 | 0–12 years old, fish consumers in gold-mining area | [66] |
| Maranhao, Brazil | 118 | 2.27 ± 1.84 | 0.13–9.54 | Far from prospecting areas, in the city of Abaetetuba | [66] |
| RioTapajo’s, Amazonia, Brazil | 51 | 10.2 | 0.5–41.4 | A traditional riverine village, children eating fish | [65] |
| Rondonia, Amazonia, Brazil | 11 | 6.24 ± 5.89 | 3–9 years old, in Gleba do Rio Preto riverine | [67] | |
| Rondonia, Amazonia, Brazil | 31 | 3.57 ± 1.86 | 3–9 years old, Demarcacao area riverine | [67] | |
| Anwiaso, Ghana | 7 | 4.27 | 0.06–28.3 | Children in gold-mining area | [68] |
| Sahuma, Ghana | 21 | 1.61 | 0.15–5.86 | Children in gold-mining area | [68] |
| Tanoso, Ghana | 11 | 1.21 | 0.07–3.19 | Children in gold-mining area | [68] |
| Elubo, Ghana | 15 | 0.62 | 0.32–2.19 | Children in gold-mining area | [68] |
| Madeira Island, Portugal | 4.09 | 0.38–25.95 | 7 years old | [63] | |
| Island of Madeira, Portugal | 4.08 ± 7.07 | Children working with Hg | [69] | ||
| Island of Madeira, Portugal | 3.82 (GM) | 0.4–26 | 6.4–7.4 years old, fish consumers | [69] | |
| Island of Madeira, Portugal | 2.27 ± 0.83 | Children living in Hg-exposed area | [69] | ||
| Faroe Islands | 917 | 2.99 | 1.7–6.1 | Children, 7-year-old, eating seafood | [61] |
| Tagum, Davao del Norte, Philippines | 0.99 ± 1.6 | 0.28–20.39 | Schoolchildren, near a gold processing and refining plant | [70] | |
| Phanom Pha, Phichit, Thailand | 59 | 0.93 ± 0.01 | Children living near the gold mining area | [71] | |
| Bolivian Altiplano, Bolivian | 242 | 0.49 (GM) | 0.09–8.44 | 7–10 years old, live in polymetallic mining communities | [72] |
SD: Standard deviation; GM: Geometric mean value.