NAA, GC(EC) AND SRXRF STUDY OF HG SPECIES IN HEAD HAIR OF MOTHERS ANDTHEIR NEWBORN-INFANTS

Twenty-seven pairs of head hair from mothers and their new-born infant s were collected at the time of delivery in a hospital in Beijing. The total mercury content in the hair samples was determined by INAA. The correlation between mercury content in hair of mothers and their new- born infants has been investigated. In addition, the change of Hg cont ent in pregnant women's hair during their pregnancy was also studied b y INAA and SRXRF. The results indicate a significant positive correlat ion between the mercury content in maternal and infant bead hairs (r = + 0.862, p < 0.001). The average content of Hg in infant and maternal hairs was 0.66 +/- 0.31 mu g/g and 0.59 +/- 0.25 mu g/g, respectively . The infant level exceeded the maternal by 12%. The Hg content in mat ernal head hair gradually reduced during pregnancy. Further, the methy lmercury (Me-Hg) content in 3 maternal hair samples was analyzed by GC (EC). The Me-Hg was in accordance with the total mercury content. Thus a conclusion can be drawn that damage to the infant from Hg occurred in the early stages of pregnancy.