Table 5 Hair Mercury and Fish Consumption in Women of Childbearing Age in Three Lake Chapala Communities

All participants (n = 92)

2218.0 (14707.5), 463.5

27.2%

Excepting outlier (n = 91)

686.4 (720.2), 456.7

26.4%

Fish consumption, amalgam use or demographic characteristics

Mean Hair Mercury Concentration (SD), ppb

Percent > 1 ppm

Resident of Chapala (n = 24)

727.7 (588.6)

29.2%

Resident of Tuxcueca (n = 40)

740.0 (874.9)

20.0%

Resident of Jocotepec (n = 29)

587.1 (612.9)

13.8%

Purchase fish from fisherman on Lake Chapala or catch fish from Lake Chapala (n = 34)

856.0 (914.4)

23.5%

Purchase fish at supermarket, street vendor or other location (n = 57)

585.3 (559.6)

12.3%

No dental amalgams (n = 55)

732.2 (795.2)

20.0%

1-2 dental amalgams (n = 14)

735.7 (781.3)

21.4%

>2 dental amalgams (n = 22)

540.8 (435.5)

4.5%

<1 time/month carp consumption (n = 47)

526.0 (536.2)

10.6%

≥ 1 time/month carp consumption (n = 44)

857.8 (848.5)*

22.7%

<1 time/month whitefish consumption (n = 49)

550.9 (474.7)

14.3%

≥ 1 time/month but <1 time/week whitefish consumption (n = 30)

825.7 (897.8)

20.0%

≥ 1 time/week whitefish consumption (n = 8)

1085.7 (1148.6)*

25.0%

<1 time/month fish soup consumption (n = 32)

603.8 (467.8)

15.6%

≥ 1 time/month but <1 time/week fish soup consumption (n = 33)

685.0 (619.5)

18.2%

≥ 1 time/week fish soup consumption (n = 22)

897.7 (1100.7)

18.2%

<1 time/month tilapia consumption (n = 15)

703.7 (590.0)

26.7%

≥ 1 time/month but <1 time/week tilapia consumption (n = 33)

455.4 (452.2)

6.1%

≥ 1 time/week tilapia consumption (n = 39)

863.0 (884.7)

20.5%

<1 time/month catfish consumption (n = 52)

576.7 (656.3)

13.5%

≥ 1 time/month catfish consumption (n = 31)

868.5 (821.0)

22.6%

<1 time/month other fish consumption (n = 47)

683.5 (772.9)

14.5%

≥ 1 time/month other fish consumption (n = 44)

695.8 (537.1)

22.7%