The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effective exposure to mercury of pregnant women and women dentists at childbearing age, living in coastal areas of Greece. Scalp hair samples were taken from 30 pregnant women aged from 19 to 39 who reside in Attica and Zante inland and from 36 dentist women aged from 27 to 44 who had their dental surgeries in Athens. The participants completed standardized weekly nutritional questionnaires. The levels of mercury were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. In all the examined samples mercury levels have been found within acceptable limits, established by FAO/WHO/UNEP and the mean value, in both groups, were lower than in most similar studies. Mercury concentration in women dentists was about twice that of pregnant women even after controlling for confounding factors. The findings suggest that there is no evident risk for both groups when seafood consumption is relatively low. The eventual risk would be significantly higher for women at childbearing age working in dental surgeries. Possible health hazard might exist for women living in small non-touristic inlands and seaboard towns, consuming large quantities of seafood.