CORRELATION OF MERCURY WITH SELENIUM IN HUMAN HAIR AT A TYPICAL MERCURY-POLLUTED AREA IN CHINA

The levels of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) and their correlation in human scalp hair of 29 pairs of pregnant women and their newborns livi ng at a high-Hg and low-Se area, the Second Song-Hua-Jiang River Syste m, have been studied by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Our results indicate that the Hg level in infant hair samples are roughly close to that in their mothers, whereas the Se level in infants is muc h higher. Furthermore, the molar ratios of Se/Hg in newborns are also 40% higher than those in mothers. It demonstrates that infants are abl e to absorb more selenium from their mothers' bodies to protect agains t or alleviate the intoxication of Hg. This ''autoprotective mechanism '' likely plays a critical role during fetal development. The possible chemical species of Hg and Se in hair is also discussed.