Application of neutron activation analysis for mercury species determination in scalp hair samples from Malaysia, Libya and Jordan

Neutron activation analysis was used to determine the levels of total mercury and methylmercury in hair samples obtained from 400 Malaysian (Kuala Lumpur), Libyan (Benghazi) and Jordanian (Amman) donors. Our results show that the level of total mercury in hair samples of the Malaysian group (3.38 mg.kg(-1)) was significantly higher than those of Libyan (0.81 mg.kg(-1)) and Jordanian groups (0.69 mg.kg(-1)). Likewise, a significant difference was found between the level of methylmercury of the Malaysian group (1.13 mg.kg(-1)) and those of the Libyan (0.04 mg.kg(-1)) and Jordanian groups (0.13 mg.kg(-1)). This difference could be attributed to the variation in life habits especially fish diet and to the local environment of each population. On the other hand, no significant differences were found between the level of total mercury and methylmercury in hair samples of the Libyan and Jordanian residents.