Mercury levels in human hair and sex factors

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(80)90115-2· OSTI ID:6637170

Shimomura, S; Kimura, A; Nakagawa, H; Takao, M

Evidence has been presented: (1) that the geometric mean is essential to the statistical analysis of the result of the amount of Hg in hair, and (2) that the individual Hg level in hair must be evaluated by the standard deviation of logarithmic values. The Hg level in hair obtained from 1324 inhabitants on Shikoku Island showed logarithmic-normal distribution curves, with higher values in males than in females. To verify such a sexual difference, hair samples were obtained from male and female children (N = 346), teenagers (N = 300), and adults (N = 354) living in an agricultural area of Tokushima Prefecture on the island. As the result, males were found to have more Hg than females in sexually mature teenagers and adults (P < 0.05 by F test) but not in younger children.

• Research Organization: Kagawa Univ., Takamatsu, Japan
• OSTI ID: 6637170
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Vol. 22:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
MERCURY
TOXICITY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
HAIR
JAPAN
MAN
SEX
STATISTICS
ANIMALS
ASIA
BODY
ELEMENTS
MAMMALS
MATHEMATICS
METALS
ORGANS
PRIMATES
SKIN
VERTEBRATES
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology- Man- (-1987)
990200 - Mathematics &amp; Computers