MERCURY AND METHYLMERCURY IN POPULATION RISK GROUPS ON THE ATLANTIC COAST OF SOUTHERN SPAIN

The presence of methylmercury and total mercury in the hair of high ri sk groups residing in the highly industralized South Atlantic coastal area of Spain were studied. In fishermen, total mercury and methylmerc ury content showed slight nonstatistically significant differences amo ng groups from two different coastal areas (geometric means: 10.41 and 8.36 mu g/g for total mercury; 8.28 and 6.72 mu g/g methylmercury). M ercury content in both groups differed significantly from controls (ge ometric mean 2.5 mu g/g total mercury, 4.50 mu g/g for methylmercury; p < 0.05). In pregnant women, statistically significant differences we re found in the three groups (two coastal areas and controls). Geometr ic means were 2.40, 5.94, and 0.94 mu g/g for total mercury and 1.93, 4.78, and 0.82 mu g/g for methylmercury. Results were compared with th ose obtained in other European countries in the Mediterranean area. Si multaneously, the same compounds were analyzed in fish and molluscs fr om those most consumed by people in the above-mentioned groups. The fo llowing results were obtained: sword fish, 1.57 +/- 1.27 mu g/g and 1. 20 +/- 0.94 mu g/g for total mercury and methylmercury respectively; S crobicularia plana, 0.07 +/- 0.052 and 0.053 +/- 0.039 mu g/g; Tapes d ecussatus, 0.046 +/- 0.20 and 0.039 +/- 0.018 mu g/g.