Determination of total mercury and methylmercury in hair samples from residents of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by neutron activation analysis

To estimate the level of total mercury and methylmercury in Kuala Lumpur residents, 400 hair samples were analysed by neutron activation analysis. Separation of methylmercury from hair samples were carried out prior to neutron activation. The average level of total mercury and methylmercury in hair samples were 3.38 mg.kg(-1) (in range of 0.59-18.73 mg.kg(-1)) and 1.13 mg.kg(-1) (in range of 0-4.65 mg.kg(-1)), respectively. The average percentage ratio of methylmercury to total mercury was 31.15% (in range of 0 to 75.81%).