Mercury contamination in fishermen's hair in Zabol Chahnimeh Reservoirs, Iran

Aquatic ecosystems contaminated by heavy metals are a worldwide concern. These metals are toxic and persistent. This research aimed to measure mercury in the hair of fishermen, working at Chahnimeh Reservoirs, Iran. Samples were collected from April ۲۰۱۲ through October ۲۰۱۲ from ۴۰ local fishermen in Chahnimeh Reservoirs, Iran. Fishermen with teeth filled with amalgam (a source of mercury) were excluded. The average amount of mercury in the samples was ۱.۵۶ μg/g (ranging from ۰.۱ to ۳.۶۵ μg/g). In ۲۹ fishermen (۷۲%) hair mercury levels exceeded the reference dose of the USEPA. The results in this study showed that height and age was not significantly related to mercury levels, but body weight and BMI was significantly correlated.Fish consumption (p=۰.۰۰۱), smoking (p=۰.۰۱۸), weight (r=۰.۳۵, p=۰.۰۲) and BMI (r = ۰.۳۵, p=۰.۰۲) were significantly related to hair mercury levels. Fruit (p=۰.۰۱۷) and dairy consumption (p<۰.۰۰۱) were inversely related to the concentration of mercury in hair.