Contents of heavy metals in villagers’ hair in contaminated areas of the Xiaoqinling gold belt

In contaminated areas of the Xiaoqinling gold mine, Hg and Pb contents in hair of local people are significantly higher than those in the control area. In order to reveal quantitatively the accumulation of heavy metals in people’s hair in the contaminated area and their harm to people’s health, the authors investigated the health conditions of villages in a certain contaminated area and collected Hg, Pb, Cd, As, Cr and Cu samples and analyzed their contents in hair of 20 villagers, which were compared with the heavy metal contents of villages in uncontaminated contrast areas. Occupational exposure or long-term exposure to heavy metals is the main cause for the significant increase of the heavy metal content in human hair in contaminated areas. The heavy metal content in hair of people who directly dealt with gold smelting is notably higher than that in hair of low-level exposed people. The content of heavy metals in hair may better indicate people’s health conditions. The research results provide a scientific basis for the government’s making more efforts to implement prevention and control of mine environment contamination.