Several developing countries have limited or no information about exposures near anthropogenic
mercury sources and no studies have quantified costs of
mercury pollution or economic benefits to
mercury pollution prevention in these countries. In this study, we present data on
mercury concentrations in human hair from subpopulations in developing countries most likely to benefit from the implementation of the Minamata Convention on
Mercury. These data are then used to estimate economic costs of
mercury exposure in these communities. Hair samples were collected from sites located in 15 countries. We used a linear dose-response relationship that previously identified a 0.18 IQ point decrement per part per million (ppm) increase in hair
mercury, and modeled a base case scenario assuming a reference level of 1 ppm, and a second scenario assuming no reference level. We then estimated the corresponding increases in
intellectual disability and lost Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY). A total of 236 participants provided hair samples for analysis, with an estimated population at risk of
mercury exposure near the 15 sites of 11,302,582. Average
mercury levels were in the range of 0.48 ppm-4.60 ppm, and 61% of all participants had hair
mercury concentrations greater than 1 ppm, the level that approximately corresponds to the USA EPA reference dose. An additional 1310 cases of
intellectual disability attributable to
mercury exposure were identified annually (4110 assuming no reference level), resulting in 16,501 lost DALYs (51,809 assuming no reference level). A total of $77.4 million in lost economic productivity was estimated assuming a 1 ppm reference level and $130 million if no reference level was used. We conclude that significant
mercury exposures occur in developing and transition country communities near sources named in the Minamata Convention, and our estimates suggest that a large economic burden could be avoided by timely implementation of measures to prevent
mercury exposures.