Allergological and Toxicological Aspects in a Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Cohort

Table 3

Mean [±SD] total mercury concentrations in biological matrices (whole blood, urine, saliva, and scalp hair).

Characteristics	Total cohort with MCS patients		Concentrations of total mercury in biological matrices; micrograms/liter	Reference range; micrograms/liter
	41
Sex - no. (%)
Female	39	95.1%
Male	2	4.9%
Age at diagnosis of MCS
Mean	44.8±11.2
Range (min–max)	25–65
Total cases of Hg in blood	19
Mean			7.6±13.6	≤2.0
Total cases of Hg in urine	19
Mean			1.9±2.5	≤2.0
Total cases of Hg in saliva§	20
Mean			38.1±52.1	≤2.7
Total cases of Hg hair analysis	17
Mean			2.2±2.5	≤2.0*

§Total mercury was measured in gum-stimulated saliva samples.
∗Total mercury in scalp hair was expressed in micrograms per gram.