Affiliations: Environment Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington,
Ontario, L7R 4A6, Canada | Department of Geography and Planning, Buffalo State,
State University of New York, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, New York,
U.S.A. | Resource Development International - Cambodia, Royal
Brick Road, Kien Svay, Kandal, P.O. Box 494 Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Abstract: Sampling and analysis of mercury was conducted along the Mekong
River from central to northern Cambodia. One of 10 Irrawaddy Dolphin livers
analyzed had a high concentration of mercury (67 μg/g). The mercury content of
fish at Kratie was on average 99 ng/g (n=160) but in some species it was up to
six-fold higher. People located in a sample drainage basin with gold mines, on
average, had more mercury in their hair (4.4 μg/g) than those living along the
northern portion of the Mekong River (3.4 μg/g). Males, on average, exhibited
higher mercury in their hair than women (5.2 vs 3.1 μg/g, respectively).
Individuals had as much as 23 μg/g of mercury in their hair. While mercury
levels in hair and fish were elevated and gold mines were one source, there are
other unknown sources and further analysis is required to determine what
sources of mercury are manageable in Cambodia.
Keywords: Mercury, hair, fish, gold mining, hydropower, Mekong River, Cambodia
