Mercury and Methylmercury in the children hair and fish mostly consumed in Cubatão, São Paulo State, Brazil Mercúrio e Metilmercúrio em cabelos de crianças e em peixes mais consumidos em Cubatão, estado de São Paulo, Brasil

This study evaluated Hg and MeHg concentrations in fish muscle and children hair from Cubatao, using as strategies: i) Hg and MeHg determinations in the mostly consumed fish species, ii) Hg and MeHg determinations in 93 children hair samples (from 04 to 14 years old), and iii) analysis on the children diet consumption questionnaire answered by the respective parents. The results obtained in a similar study in Cananeia were used as references. These two regions show different environmental anthropogenic impacts and distinct eating habits. The quantity and the frequency of fish consumption were the most important factors of Hg bioaccumulation in children hair. In both cities, 95 % of mercury contents in hair were >1 mg.kg -1 (US EPA reference) in analyzed children, and MeHg were between 67 and 83 % of total Hg. The median for total Hg concentration in fish muscle (wet basis) ranged from 10 to 179 µg.kg -1 for Cananeia and 10 to 181 µg.kg -1 for Cubatao, values lower