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Human Mercury Exposure in Yanomami Indigenous Villages from the Brazilian Amazon

Author

Listed:
  • Claudia M. Vega

    (Center for Amazonian Scientific Innovation, Wake Forest University, 1834 Wake Forest Road P.O. Box 7306, Winston-Salem, NC 27106, USA)

  • Jesem D.Y. Orellana

    (Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Teresina, 476, Adrianópolis, Manaus CEP: 69057-070, Brazil)

  • Marcos W. Oliveira

    (Instituto Socioambiental—ISA, Av. Higienópolis, 901, Higienópolis, São Paulo CEP: 01238-001, Brazil)

  • Sandra S. Hacon

    (Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sérgio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro CEP: 21041-210, Brazil)

  • Paulo C. Basta

    (Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sérgio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro CEP: 21041-210, Brazil)

Abstract

In the Brazilian Amazon, where the majority of Yanomami villages are settled, mercury (Hg) exposure due to artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has been reported since the 1980s. This study assessed mercury exposure in the Yanomami reserve and whether the level of contamination was related to the ASGM geographical location. It was conducted using a cross-sectional study of 19 villages. Direct interviews were performed and hair samples were used as a bioindicator of Hg exposure. The Prevalence-Ratio (PR) was estimated as an indicator of association between ASGM geographical locations and human exposure to mercury. Mercury levels (239 hair samples) ranged between 0.4 and 22.1 μg·g −1 and presented substantial differences amongst the villages. In the Waikas-Aracaça region, where current ASGM was reported, we observed the highest Hg concentrations (median = 15.5 μg·g −1 ). Almost all participants presented with hair-Hg levels >6 μg·g −1 (prevalence = 92.3%). In the Paapiu region, we observed the lowest concentrations (median = 3.2 μg·g −1 ; prevalence = 6.7%). Our findings showed that the Waikas Ye’kuana and Waikas Aracaca villages presented with 4.4 (PR = 4.4; Confidence Interval (CI) 95% = 2.2–9.0) and 14.0 (PR = 14.0; CI 95% = 7.9–24.9) times higher prevalence of hair-Hg concentration, respectively, compared with Paapiu. Considering seasonal variation of Hg-exposure, the lowest concentrations were observed during the wet season (June–September) and the highest in the dry season (December–April). Our study suggests that there is an association between mercury exposure and ASGM geographical locations.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia M. Vega & Jesem D.Y. Orellana & Marcos W. Oliveira & Sandra S. Hacon & Paulo C. Basta, 2018. "Human Mercury Exposure in Yanomami Indigenous Villages from the Brazilian Amazon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:6:p:1051-:d:148441
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sandra S. Hacon & José G. Dórea & Márlon De F. Fonseca & Beatriz A. Oliveira & Dennys S. Mourão & Claudia M. V. Ruiz & Rodrigo A. Gonçalves & Carolina F. Mariani & Wanderley R. Bastos, 2014. "The Influence of Changes in Lifestyle and Mercury Exposure in Riverine Populations of the Madeira River (Amazon Basin) near a Hydroelectric Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-19, February.
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    1. Paulo Cesar Basta & Paulo Victor de Sousa Viana & Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos & André Reynaldo Santos Périssé & Cristina Barroso Hofer & Natalia Santana Paiva & Joseph William Kempton & Danie, 2021. "Mercury Exposure in Munduruku Indigenous Communities from Brazilian Amazon: Methodological Background and an Overview of the Principal Results," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-32, September.
    2. Leonardo Barcellos de Bakker & Pedro Gasparinetti & Júlia Mello de Queiroz & Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos, 2021. "Economic Impacts on Human Health Resulting from the Use of Mercury in the Illegal Gold Mining in the Brazilian Amazon: A Methodological Assessment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-26, November.
    3. Jamila Alessandra Perini & Mayara Calixto Silva & Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos & Paulo Victor Sousa Viana & Marcelo Oliveira Lima & Iracina Maura Jesus & Joseph William Kempton & Rogério Adas , 2021. "Genetic Polymorphism of Delta Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase ( ALAD ) Gene and Symptoms of Chronic Mercury Exposure in Munduruku Indigenous Children within the Brazilian Amazon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-12, August.
    4. Thayssa C. S. Bello & Rafael J. Buralli & Mônica P. L. Cunha & José G. Dórea & Fredi A. Diaz-Quijano & Jean R. D. Guimarães & Rejane C. Marques, 2023. "Mercury Exposure in Women of Reproductive Age in Rondônia State, Amazon Region, Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-13, March.
    5. Luiz Cortinhas Ferreira Neto & Cesar Guerreiro Diniz & Raian Vargas Maretto & Claudio Persello & Maria Luize Silva Pinheiro & Marcia C. Castro & Luis Waldyr Rodrigues Sadeck & Alexandre Fernandes Filh, 2024. "Uncontrolled Illegal Mining and Garimpo in the Brazilian Amazon," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Lilian de C. Moraes Pinto & José G. Dórea & José Vicente Elias Bernardi & Leonardo Fernandes Gomes, 2019. "Mapping the Evolution of Mercury (Hg) Research in the Amazon (1991–2017): A Scientometric Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-12, March.
    7. Sandra de Souza Hacon & Marcelo Oliveira-da-Costa & Cecile de Souza Gama & Renata Ferreira & Paulo Cesar Basta & Ana Schramm & Decio Yokota, 2020. "Mercury Exposure through Fish Consumption in Traditional Communities in the Brazilian Northern Amazon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-15, July.
    8. Joeseph William Kempton & André Reynaldo Santos Périssé & Cristina Barroso Hofer & Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos & Paulo Victor de Sousa Viana & Marcelo de Oliveira Lima & Iracina Maura de Jesu, 2021. "An Assessment of Health Outcomes and Methylmercury Exposure in Munduruku Indigenous Women of Childbearing Age and Their Children under 2 Years Old," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-23, September.
    9. Rafaela Waddington Achatz & Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos & Lucia Pereira & Paulo Victor de Sousa Viana & Paulo Cesar Basta, 2021. "Impacts of the Goldmining and Chronic Methylmercury Exposure on the Good-Living and Mental Health of Munduruku Native Communities in the Amazon Basin," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-18, August.
    10. Leila Pereira & Rafael Pucci, 2024. "A Tale of Gold and Blood: The Consequences of Market Deregulation on Local Violence," Working Papers, Department of Economics 2024_18, University of São Paulo (FEA-USP).

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