Zinc, copper and mercury in Oriomo Papuans' hair
- 1 January 1978
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Ecology of Food and Nutrition
- Vol. 6 (4) , 243-249
- https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.1978.9990503
Abstract
Hair samples from the Oriomo Papuans, being sago‐ and meat‐eaters, were analysed for zinc, copper, and inorganic and organic mercury concentrations. Values obtained were compared between the sexes, and with those for Japanese islanders (rice‐ and fish‐eaters) on Kuchinoshima in the south of Japanese mainlands. Hair zinc values of female Papuans were significantly lower than those of male Papuans and adult male and female Japanese islanders, but no difference was found in hair copper values. Hair organic mercury values were markedly higher in Japanese islanders than in Papuans. The low levels of hair zinc nutriture in female Papuans was discussed in relation to the food consumption and the high incidence of stillbirth.Keywords
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