Result of laboratory analyses for study health effects related to mercury in Bornuur andJargalant soum of Tuv aimag / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

ABSTRACT

Goal To make mercury exposure assessment among private gold miners, who live in Jargalant and Bornuur soums ofTuv province.Objectives:1. To collect human bio-samples, including hair, urine and blood, then determine mercury concentrations.2. To asess the mercury exposure situation for those of two soum civilizationsMaterials and MethodsThe MoH-lead investigations were undertaken in collaboration with the Institute of Public Health from UMIT University in Hall, Austria as well as national Mongolian partners from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Public Health Institute , the and other institutions. The Mongolian WHO office supported the mission. The urine samples were analyzed by the Department of Forensic Toxicology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Munich, (LMU) Germany and the National Institute for Minamata Disease, Japan. The blood samples were analyzed by the Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, HPA, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon, UK through the Health and Safety Laboratory, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire, UK.Results and Conclusions• The median level of mercury in urine for the control area is 0.10 μg/l, compared to 2.88 μg/l for the group exposed by living in the area and 4.37 μg/l for the group working with mercury. The blood results do differ significantly as well (median 0.24 μg/l for control group, median 0.33 μg/l for the group living in an exposed area, median 0.55 μg/l for the group working with mercury).• The hair results do differ significantly as well (median 0.11/0.08 (root/tip) μg/l for control group, median 0.0.25/0.19 (root/tip) μg/l for the group living in an exposed area, median 0.31/0.26 (root/tip) μg/l for the group working with mercury).• Laboratory tests performed on urine, blood and hair samples collected in Bornuur and Jargalant Soum indicate that the population is very likely to have been recently exposed to mercury. The participants from Bornuur soum and Jargalant soum show results above HBM I to a high percentage and even above HBM II, indicating a much higher exposure to mercury compared to Khushaat soum.