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Taipei residents' mercury content is too high, tests say

The Taipei City Health Bureau yesterday released the results of its first-ever tests to determine the mercury content of city residents' hair, which was found to be considerably higher than the safe average.

The tests, conducted between Aug. 1 and Aug. 5 using 104 samples, found that the mercury content ranged from 0.16mg per kilogram to 7.95mg per kilogram. The average was 2.3mg per kilogram. The reference level set by the Environmental Protection Agency in the US is 1mg per kilogram. This level was exceeded by 80 percent of those tested.

According to Hsu Ming-lun (許明倫), director of the bureau's laboratories, mercury buildup in the human body can be caused by cosmetics, environmental pollution, contaminated food and dental fillings. It is not easily eliminated and excessive buildup can lead to digestive problems, breathing problems and allergies, ultimately affecting the nervous system and retarding brain functions.

According to Chen Jiau-hua (陳椒華), chairwoman of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union, the management of heavy metals in the soil is far from transparent. The high content of heavy metals in the soil is part of the price that Taiwan is paying for its "economic miracle," Chen said.
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