Determination of mercury and other trace elements in hair and its application in human biomonitoring studies

Dr Agneta Runkel from the Jožef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana, Slovenia, unveiled a novel method for determining mercury and other trace elements in human hair.

This method represents a significant advancement in human biomonitoring, providing insights into long-term exposure to toxic elements.

Why monitor mercury in hair?

Hair is an ideal matrix for biomonitoring due to its ease of sampling, cost efficiency, and ability to reflect long-term exposure.

Mercury, a toxic element of environmental and health concern, can accumulate in human tissues through natural sources and anthropogenic activities.

Dr Runkel emphasized that exposure varies by form: organic mercury primarily from dietary sources, elemental mercury from household accidents, and inorganic mercury largely from occupational settings.

Methodology overview

The research focused on analyzing the first three centimeters of hair, representing exposure over the past three months.

Samples were meticulously prepared to prevent contamination, using Wolfram scissors and sequential washing with acetone and water.

Hair was digested with concentrated nitric acid in a microwave digestion system, followed by analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

The method demonstrated exceptional sensitivity, detecting 13 trace elements, including mercury isotopes 2001 and 2002. Quality assurance measures, such as external calibration and certified reference materials, ensured the reliability of results.

Key findings

Dr Runkel’s method was applied in two large-scale studies:

1. Mediterranean environment and health network: analysis of 178 mother-child pairs revealed higher mercury levels in mothers (246 ng/g) compared to children (154 ng/g)
2. Slovenian biomonitoring program: among 1,100 children aged seven to 15, no significant differences in mercury levels were observed across age groups or genders.

These findings suggest adults may have higher mercury exposure due to cumulative dietary intake, while children exhibit consistent exposure patterns.

Implications for environmental monitoring

Dr Runkel’s method offers a robust and scalable solution for large-scale biomonitoring.

By accurately quantifying trace elements in hair, researchers and policymakers can better understand exposure pathways and assess risks to human health.

For those monitoring and analyzing environmental contaminants, this innovative approach sets a new standard in detecting and addressing toxic element exposure.

Watch the full presentation video exclusively on Envirotech Online.

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