Mercury human biomonitoring in Croatia, Kyrgyzstan and the Russian Federation

In 2014–2017 pilot surveys using human biomonitoring to assess prenatal exposure to mercury were conducted in coastal and continental regions of Croatia, in the area of mercury mining in Kyrgyzstan and in the Republic of Karelia of the Russian Federation. Standardized methodology developed by WHO/Europe was applied in the surveys.

Around 250 samples of scalp hair, cord blood and urine were collected from each site and analysed to gather knowledge on baseline levels and main sources of human exposure to mercury, and to characterize the levels and distribution of prenatal exposure in the populations studied. These efforts support implementation of the Minamata Convention and contribute to development of a global instrument for human biomonitoring of exposure to mercury.