detailed citation - record # 5913
- Title
- Research Project Summary: Cultural Uses of Mercury in New Jersey - Year 2 - Mercury Vapors in Residential Buildings - Comparison of Communities That Use Mercury for Cultural Purposes with a Reference Community
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- Web Document or Associated Web Site
- http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/research/#humanhealth
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- Abstract
- The first year of this study compared levels of mercury (Hg) vapor in hallways and common areas of apartment buildings in West New York, New Jersey and Union City, New Jersey to outdoor levels (Garetano et al. 2006). These two
communities were chosen based on the prevalence of botanicas that sold Hg for cultural uses (e.g., Santeria and
related practices). In the second year of this study, the researchers increased the number of buildings sampled in West New York and Union City (the study communities), and compared the Hg vapor levels in these buildings to levels in a reference community with comparable housing stock, but no evidence of cultural use of Hg. There was no difference between the outdoor Hg levels in the study communities versus the reference community (2.9 vs. 2.3 ng/m3; p=0.20). However, compared with the reference community, public spaces in buildings in the study communities had significantly higher mean Hg levels (9.8 vs. 5.0 ng/m3; p=0.03) and higher average maximum values (13.3 vs. 6.4 ng/m3; p=0.01). Comparison of levels in the reference community to outdoor levels suggests an elevated background of indoor Hg vapor possibly from a history of unintentional Hg spills. However, the significantly increased levels above this background that were observed in the study communities strongly suggest (but do not prove) the prevalence of intentional cultural use of Hg. These findings call attention to the potential for significant exposure in areas with likely cultural use of Hg.
- Author
- Stern, Alan H.: Gochfeld, Michael: Garetano, Gary
- Publisher
- Division of Science, Research and Technology of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)
- Publication Date
- 2007/09/01
- Publication Place
- P.O. Box 409, Trenton, New Jersey, 08625
- Supplemental Information
- 3 p.,
- Primary Theme Keyword
- buildings, community awareness, environmental monitoring, human health, risk assessment, toxins, water quality
- Theme Keywords
- mercury,
Santeria
- Primary Place Keyword
- New Jersey
- Type of Document
- Report/study
- Document Location
- NJER 07-201
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