Table 2.
Percentages of participants with estimated blood levels exceeding safe thresholds and hazard quotients according to US Environmental Protection Agency USEPA or WHO criteria.
| Village (or Sub-Village) | Blood Hg > 5.8 µg/L | Blood Hg > 10 µg/L | HQ a > 1 (Individual Body Mass, USEPA RfD b) | HQ > 1 (60 kg Body Mass, USEPA RfD) | HQ > 1 (60 kg Body Mass, WHO PTWI c) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kwakoegron | 88.5% | 80.8% | 95.8% | 100% | 80.8% |
| Pikin Saron | 100% | 81.3% | 100% | 100% | 81.3% |
| Poesoegroenoe | 100% | 92.3% | N/A e | 100% | 92.3% |
| Njoeng Jacobkondre | 81.3% | 62.5% | N/A e | 87.5% | 68.8% |
| Brownsweg | 56.1% | 27.4% | see sub-villages below | 76.2% | 29.9% |
| Kadyu d | 62.5% | 31.3% | 87.5% | 84.4% | 31.3% |
| Waki Basu I d | 57.1% | 23.8% | 81.0% | 81.0% | 23.8% |
| Waki Basu II d | 66.7% | 46.7% | 93.3% | 73.3% | 53.3% |
| Waki Basu III d | 57.1% | 14.3% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 28.6% |
| Makambi d | 29.0% | 3.2% | 81.8% | 64.5% | 6.5% |
| Nyun Gansee d | 57.6% | 24.2% | 84.6% | 69.7% | 27.3% |
| Biri Udu Mata d | 85.0% | 65.0% | 87.5% | 95.0% | 65.0% |
| Southeast LA (Non-pregnant Women) | 11.3% | 3.7% | N/A | 14.8% | 2.5% |
| Southeast LA (Pregnant Women) | 11.4% | 4.0% | N/A | 13.6% | 2.3% |
a HQ = hazard quotient calculated as the estimated daily dose of Hg divided by the USEPA Reference Dose (RfD) or WHO Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI); b USEPA RfD for methylmercury of 1 × 10−1 µg/kg/day; c WHO PTWI of 1.6 µg/kg/week; d Subvillages in Brownsweg; e Not available as data was not collected.