Fernanda Gonçalves da Cunha

Arsenic exposure assessment of children living in a lead mining area in Southeastern Brazil

Environmental contamination by arsenic compounds in the Ribeira River Valley, São Paulo, Brazil has already been observed. Lead mining and refining activities had been carried on since late colonial times and finished recently, at the end of 1995. The source of As in the region is known to be mainly from arsenopirite geological presence in the lead ore. Chronic exposure to arsenic compounds may cause peripheral vascular disorders, hyperpigmentation, hiperkeratosis and cancer of the skin, bladder, lung, liver and other internal organs. The purpose of this study was to assess children exposure to arsenic from environmental sources in the region. Urine samples from children between 7 to 14 years old were collected at the following localities: Cerro Azul (Paraná); urban areas of Ribeira (São Paulo) and Adrianópolis (Paraná); Vila Mota neighborhood (rural area of Adrianópolis) and Serra neighborhood (Iporanga, São Paulo), identified as groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Group 1 was considered as non-exposed control group. Toxicologically relevant forms of As were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry with hydride generation system. The median values of urine arsenic levels obtained in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 were respectively: 3.60, 6.30, 6.41 e 8.94 microg/L.

Medical Geology Studies in South America

“Earth and Health” or medical geology has been promoted worldwide as one of the fundamental themes of the International Year of Planet Earth (2007–2009). This was in response to relevant achievements noted in this new field of applied science from the time of the IGCP 454 project which led to foundation of the International Medical Geology Association (IMGA) in 2004. In association with international movements, several academic, professional, and student groups in South America began to study medical geology which started with scientific meetings held in Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay in 2002 and 2003. In this chapter, an attempt is made to describe South American scientists’ relevant contributions to various subjects such as arsenic, lead, mercury, and selenium as well as fluorine and environmental problems affecting different parts of the continent. Some societal issues arising from medical geology studies are also highlighted from the point of view of the international risk communication and risk governance debate and the pioneering ethnographic descriptions of geophagy in the Andean and Amazonian countries. Finally, some ongoing medical geology projects in South America are identified as inspiring initiatives that may encourage future educational and research activities in this science field.