Determination of mercury in Colombian prehispanic biological samples
Keywords:
paleopathology, mercury, environmental pollution, archaeological toxicology
Abstract
Mercury is useful as a tracer of environmental pollution levels. We measured mercury levels in hair from two human mummies (XII and XIV centuries, respectively) and from a stag (Odocoileus virginianus). The total and inorganic mercury levels found in the samples were very low. This findings indicated a minimal exposure to mercury in food and its absence in the atmosphere. Mercury levels can be used to explore the relationship between humans and environment, especially after metallurgy appeared, and to assess environmental contamination in different periods.Downloads
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How to Cite
1.
Idrovo AJ, Romero WM, Silva E, Villamil de García G, Ortíz JE. Determination of mercury in Colombian prehispanic biological samples. Biomed. [Internet]. 2002 Mar. 1 [cited 2026 Mar. 5];22(1):67-70. Available from: https://revistabiomedicaorg.biteca.online/index.php/biomedica/article/view/1141
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Published
2002-03-01
Issue
Section
Technical note
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