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Abstract
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Article Information:
A Comparative Analysis on Levels of Mercury in Human Scalp Hair of Students from Different Locations in Ghana
E.T. Anim, E.S. Agorku and A.K. Anim
Corresponding Author: Anim Alfred Kwablah
Submitted: 2011 January, 31
Accepted: 2011 February, 23
Published: 2011 April, 05 |
Abstract:
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This research was carried out to assess the levels of accumulation of total mercury (Hg-T) in human
scalp hair samples from selected students. Thirty seven (37) human scalp hair samples were collected from
students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology whilst on campus and analysed for total
mercury (Hg-T) concentrations by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. The least concentration,
0.007±0.001 μ/g was measured in a sample from a male student. The highest concentration, 5.535±0.133 μg/g
was measured in a sample from a female student.5.4% of the population had Hg-T concentrations above the
WHO, 1990 limit of 2 μg/g based on fish consumption. 94.6% of the population studied however measured Hg-
T concentrations below the WHO limit. In general, the concentrations measured in female students were higher
compared to concentrations in male students. The mean concentration of Hg-T in female students was
1.417±0.037 μg/g compared to 0.600±0.001 μg/g for male students. The higher concentrations measured in
female students may be attributed to the application of Hg containing cosmetics aside environmental exposures.
Key words: concentration, cosmetics, exposure, limit, population, spectrometry,
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Cite this Reference:
E.T. Anim, E.S. Agorku and A.K. Anim, . A Comparative Analysis on Levels of Mercury in Human Scalp Hair of Students from Different Locations in Ghana. Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences, (3): 293-296.
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ISSN (Online): 2041-0492
ISSN (Print): 2041-0484 |
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