Objective:

It was proposed to establish the environmental exposure to mercury, to identify the impact on the health of the population of children and adolescents in four departments of Colombia.

Methodology:

A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out between 2014 - 2015, in eleven municipalities of the departments of Bolívar, Sucre, Antioquia and Córdoba and within this a nested study was carried out with a group of 63 children and 37 adolescents from these municipalities.

Results:

Average residence time between 6 and 9 years and a high frequency of fish consumption was found. 6.3% of children and 29.7% of adolescents exceeded the allowable limit of mercury in blood and 50.8% of children and 46.0% of adolescents exceeded the permissible limit on hair. Regarding the symptoms referenced by the participants, there was a statistically significant difference (p> 0.05) between the population of children and that of adolescents in excessive salivation (15.9%), hair loss (18.7%), insomnia (29.0%), nervousness (19.6%), weakness (18.0%) and memory loss (17.3%). Metallic taste in the mouth (8.4%), weight loss (23.4%), tremor (21.5%), concentration problems (17.9%) and chest pain (17.9%) did not show difference between the two groups.

Conclusions:

Children and adolescents who reside in areas of gold exploitation or who are influenced by gold mining are exposed to mercury, which implies a high risk to their health.