Total mercury in human renal cortex, liver, cerebellum and hair

The aim of this study was: a. to estimate the concentration of total mercury in the renal cortex, liver, cerebellum and hair of 46 persons who died suddenly in the Gda´nsk region, northern Poland, between the ages of 17 and 90; and b. to assess whether a correlation occurs between mercury content in the investigated biological media. The mean concentrations of mercury in the human hair, renal cortex, liver and cerebellum were: 378"315.4 ngrg; 68.6"92.3 ngrg; 29.9"22 ngrg and 5.3"6.9 ngrg respectively. Positive correlations were found between mercury levels in: cerebellum and liver rs0.873., cerebellum and hair rs0.853., cerebellum and renal cortex rs0.578., hair and liver rs0.771., hair and renal cortex rs0.478. liver and renal cortex rs0.66.. The geometric mean levels of mercury in the renal cortex, liver, cerebellum and hair in the residents of the Gda´nsk region are 15]19 times lower than in the population of Tokyo and its environs wSuzuki T, Hongo T, Yoshinaga J et al. The hair]organ relationship in mercury concentration in contemporary Japanese. Arch Environ Health 1993;44:361]365x.