Abstract
Amazon is a hotspot for mercury (Hg) contamination and Terra do Meio region, despite its protected status for sustainable use, has never been monitored for this element. Looking to address this gap, this study aimed to quantify capillary Hg concentration in riverine populations of Terra do Meio (Xingu Basin, Central Amazon, Brazil) and associated factors with high Hg levels (90 percentile). Hair samples from 182 individuals from Iriri, Riozinho do Anfrísio and Xingu Extractive Reserves (RESEX), aged between 18 and 70 years old, were collected to measure total mercury levels (HgT), and socioeconomic, demographic, and clinical-epidemiological data were annotated. Overall, high levels of Hg were observed (mean 4.985 µg/g, median 3.531 µg/g) with significant differences between localities. Among the factors related to high capillary Hg levels, male gender, smoking habit, work in agriculture, livestock or extractivism, and residence in Iriri and Riozinho do Anfrísio RESEX were highlighted. A high prevalence of symptoms related to Hg intoxication, including anxiety, memory deficit, and lower limb problems, was observed. Overall, the results reveal that communities in these RESEXs are exposed to Hg and appear to be suffering from chronic health effects. Considering the increased anthropogenic alterations observed recently in the Amazon region and the subsequent amplified environmental bioavailability of Hg, further studies and mitigating actions are critical. This includes better surveillance of illegal anthropic activities and provision of ongoing education on this matter and incentives for dietary adaptations.
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Acknowledgements
This research was developed with the support of the Non-Governmental Organization Health in Harmony in partnership with the Instituto Socioambiental (ISA) and the Residents Associations of the RESEX of Terra do Meio (AMORA, AMORERI, AMOMEX). The map with geographical location of Iriri, Riozinho do Anfrísio and Xingu RESEX (Fig. 1) was elaborated with the support of Hermogens Felipe Lemos, from the Integrated Geotechnology Laboratory (LABIGEO)/Federal University of Pará.
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This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico—Research Productivity Fellowship, 310856/2020-5 and Non-Governmental Organization Health in Harmony.
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MDCM: Data curation; Investigation; Methodology; Writing—review & editing. TSP: Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Writing—review & editing. FMRSJ: Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Visualization; Writing—review & editing. RBM: Data curation; Investigation; Methodology. EOV: Data curation; Investigation; Methodology. ÉFCP: Conceptualization; Investigation; Methodology; Resources; Writing—review & editing. MdCNP: Conceptualization; Data curation; Funding acquisition; Investigation; Methodology; Resources; Visualization; Writing—review & editing. OSS: Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Funding acquisition; Investigation; Methodology; Project administration; Resources; Supervision; Visualization; Writing—review & editing.
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de Castro Moita, M.D., da Silva Júnior, F.M.R., da Silva Pereira, T. et al. Mercury exposure in riverine populations of Terra do Meio Extractive Reserves in the Xingu basin, Amazon, Brazil. Environ Geochem Health 46, 88 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-024-01853-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-024-01853-3