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Public Health
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Hair Mercury Biomonitoring Program
Alaska Statewide Maternal Hair Mercury Biomonitoring Program
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Who is eligible to participate in the program? The Statewide Hair Mercury Biomonitoring Program was started to obtain information about exposures to mercury among women of childbearing age in Alaska. In high doses, mercury can have subtle harmful effects on the neurodevelopment of an unborn fetus. The Alaska Hair Mercury Biomonitoring Program focuses on all women of childbearing age, ages 15-45 years, since the fetus is most vulnerable to the toxic effects of mercury. Having their hair tested for mercury enables women to determine their own mercury levels, and to learn whether dietary alterations are necessary to reduce their mercury exposure. How do people get exposed to mercury? Because mercury bioaccumulates up the food chain, most exposure occurs through consumption of older carnivorous fish and marine mammals. Although the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation's Fish Monitoring Program has shown that Alaska has some of the cleanest fish in the world, recent data show that some fish species have mercury levels of potential health concern if eaten in large quantities by pregnant or breastfeeding women or young children. While the Alaska Division of Public Health continues to strongly support fish consumption by all Alaskans, we have been evaluating Alaska-specific data in order to craft optimum fish consumption guidelines for women of childbearing age and young children. Click here to read all about Alaska specific fish consumption guidelines. 
What does the test entail, and how do I get my results? A mercury hair test takes about two minutes to administer. It consists of cutting a small piece of hair from the back of the woman’s head, placing it in a labeled zip-lock bag, then sending it to the lab in a pre-addressed envelope. Patients and their providers will receive the results by mail within one month of the lab receiving the sample. Our office performs follow-up activities to investigate hair mercury levels over 5 parts per million (ppm), and assists in devising strategies to reduce further exposure. Please contact Sophie Wenzel, MPH, Statewide Hair Mercury Biomonitoring Program Coordinator, by phone (907-269-8054) or by e-mail (sophie.wenzel@alaska.gov) if you have any questions about the Program or would like to order collection kits. Want more information on mercury? Downloads
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The Alaska Division of Public Health has offered free, confidential mercury testing through its Statewide Hair Mercury Biomonitoring Program since 2002. Samples are collected by patients' health care providers, and analyzed by the Alaska State Public Health Laboratory.
