Iracina Maura de Jesus

Diagnóstico das condições de saúde de uma comunidade garimpeira na região do Rio Tapajós, Itaituba, Pará, Brasil, 1992

O objetivo do trabalho foi conhecer as condicoes de vida e de saude de uma comunidade garimpeira e, particularmente, a superposicao da contaminacao Mercurial com outros agravos. Foi realizada no garimpo do igarape do Rato, na bacia hidrografica do rio Tapajos, Itaituba-Para. A populacao abrangeu 223 individuos aos quais foi aplicado um questionario epidemiologico, e feito atendimento medico e coleta de especimes biologicos. Na coproscopia, 96,1% individuos estavam parasitados e 66,4% anemicos. A prevalencia para o virus da hepatite B ficou em 85,0%; 11 (6,0%) eram portadores do virus. Dentre os pacientes investigados para malaria, 35,0% (65) estavam com a doenca e desses 52,3% (34) eram pacientes assintomaticos. A prevalencia para sifilis foi de 41.6%. As dosagens de mercurio em urina de 173 individuos revelaram 16 (9,2%) pacientes com dosagens maiores do que 10 ug/l e ate 19 ug/l, enquanto que 9 pacientes (5,2%) do total investigado revelaram teores acima de 20 ug/l. O estudo revela individuos com superposicao de agravos, sem diagnostico adequado por falta de atendimento medico, praticando a automedicacao, e, agora, vivendo a ameaca da intoxicacao por mercurio. Concluindo, o presente trabalho ofereceu apenas uma visao geral das condicoes de saude encontradas na comunidade garimpeira estudada. Impossivel, sob pena de alongar demasiadamente o artigo, detalhar todos os diversos aspectos que foram pesquisados, e que serao objeto de publicacoes futuras. Entretanto, essa visao geral atinge a finalidade de por em evidencia a multicausalidade encontrada quando se precisa avaliar as condicoes de saude na regiao amazonica, e que deve ser levada em consideracao por ocasiao do atendimento clinico e da administracao terapeutica.

Correlation between blood mercury levels in mothers and newborns in Itaituba, Pará State, Brazil

This study evaluated transplacental mercury transfer by measuring Hg in blood samples of mothers and newborns (umbilical cord) in hospitals in the municipality (county) of Itaituba, Pará State, Brazil. Epidemiological and mercury exposure data were collected, besides clinical birth data. Mercury tests were performed by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A total of 1,510 women and an equal number of their newborns participated in the study. Mean blood mercury was 11.53 microg/L in mothers and 16.68 microg/L in newborns (umbilical cord). The highest Hg levels were in the 31-40-year maternal age group and their newborns, with 14.37 microg/L and 21.87 microg/L, respectively. However, in all age groups the mean mercury level was higher in newborns than in mothers. There was a strong positive correlation between Hg levels in newborns and mothers (r = 0.8019; p = 0.000), with a significant linear regression model (r = 0.5283; p = 0.000). The results highlight the importance of monitoring pregnant women exposed to mercury as part of public health surveillance.

Exposição ao mercúrio e ao arsênio em Estados da Amazônia: síntese dos estudos do Instituto Evandro Chagas/ FUNASA

Este artigo e uma revisao das pesquisas da Secao de Meio Ambiente do Instituto Evandro Chagas/FUNASA sobre exposicao ao mercurio (Hg) no vale do rio Tapajos e Estado do Acre, e exposicao ao arsenio (As) atraves de residuos da exploracao de manganes (Mn) realizada pela ICOMI deixados no Porto de Santana-AP. Em relacao ao mercurio, tem sido pesquisadas populacoes sob risco atraves da via respiratoria ou alimentar. No primeiro caso, os trabalhadores de casas de compra e venda de ouro tem apresentado teores mais elevados de Hg em urina do que os garimpeiros estudados. No segundo caso, as populacoes ribeirinhas tem mostrado niveis diferenciados de exposicao (Hg em cabelo). Comunidades ribeirinhas situadas em areas nao afetadas pelo mercurio da garimpagem e com habitos alimentares semelhantes as de area de risco tem sido avaliadas, visando a construcao de parâmetros de normalidade regional. Sao tambem pesquisados os teores de Hg em materiais ambientais e na biota aquatica. Os estudos de saude humana e ambiente na cidade de Santana-AP objetivaram avaliar as fontes e possiveis vias de exposicao da populacao da comunidade do Elesbao ao arsenio. Verificou-se a existencia de fonte de risco atraves dos rejeitos de Mn, porem os niveis de As na agua consumida pela populacao mostraram-se dentro dos parâmetros de normalidade. As medias encontradas em sangue e cabelo coincidem com medias de normalidade referidas na literatura, em populacoes nao expostas, e as associacoes entre variaveis epidemiologicas, avaliacao clinico-laboratorial e os teores de arsenio nao mostraram significância estatistica.

Mercury levels assessment in hair of riverside inhabitants of the Tapajós River, Pará State, Amazon, Brazil: Fish consumption as a possible route of exposure

The study present evaluated the levels of mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in hair samples of people from Barreiras community, riverside inhabitants of the Tapajós River (Pará, Brazil), an area impacted by clandestine gold mining, as well as we analyzed the levels of Hg and Se (selenium) in nine fish species (carnivores and non-carnivorous) from the Tapajós River, which stand out as the main species consumed by riverside inhabitants, to evaluate a relationship between frequency of fish consumption and Hg concentration, and also to evaluate possible mechanisms of fish protection (or non-protection) to Hg exposure by Se. Furthermore we analyze the water quality to evaluate the environmental trophic state, fact responsible by creating conditions that can potentiate the effects of toxic mercury. Concentrations of Hg and MeHg were analyzed in hair samples of 141 volunteers in different age band. Of those, 84.40% of samples present values above the threshold for biological tolerance, which is 6.00μgg(-1) of total Hg in hair. Total Hg, in men there was a variation of 2.07-24.93μgg(-1), while for women the variation was 4.84-27.02μgg(-1). Consequently, the level of MeHg in men presented a variation of 1.49-19.57μgg(-1), with an average of 11.68μgg(-1), while with women the variation was from 3.73 to 22.35μgg(-1), with an average of 10.38μgg(-1). In fish species, Hg concentrations in carnivorous species had an average of 0.66μgg(-1), higher than that permitted by current legislation, ranging from 0.30 to 0.98μgg(-1), while the non-carnivorous species have values below the recommended by the legislation averaging 0.09μgg(-1), ranging between 0.02 and 0.44μgg(-1). For Se in fish, show that among carnivores, the contents of Se ranged between 0.18 and 0.54μgg(-1) with a mean of 0.34μgg(-1), while for non-carnivores these values were of the order of 0.16-0.56μgg(-1), with an average of 0.32μgg(-1). In surface water quality variables at the sampling points all showed values in accordance with the range established by current legislation. In this regard, the results provided by this study, while not conclusive, are strong indicators that despite not having been shown the relationship between the concentration of mercury in hair and feeding habits along the Tapajós River basin communities showed that a plausible correlation exists between levels of mercury and selenium in fish. This fact may serve as a subsidy to research human health, because in the Amazon, there is still a lot to examine with regards to the full understanding of the Se cycle.

Avaliação da concentração de mercúrio em sedimentos e material particulado no rio Acre, estado do Acre, Brasil

Mercury levels assessment in aquatic systems areas without influences of antropogenic sources have not been well studied in the Amazon region. For the identification of the origin of high values of Hg in fish consumed by population of Rio Branco City - AC, the Evandro Chagas Institute - IEC, studied the mercury levels in sediments, suspended solids and studied also the physical-chemical characterization of waters, in the Acre river and also some in afluents, between Brasileia and Assis Brasil cities. Bottom sediments samples were sieved to <250 mesh fraction after drying. The suspended solid was obtained by precipitation with Al2SO4. About 250 mg of the material was submitted the acid digestion and the determinations of Hg were made by Could Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The physical-chemical parameters pH, electric conductivity, temperature and dissolved total solids, were studied in the field, by potenciometric methods. The Hg levels in bottom sediments range 0,018 and 0,184 mg g-1, mean of 0,054 ± 0,034 mg g-1, while the suspended solids varied between 0,067 and 0,220 mg g-1, average of 0,098 ± 0,037 mg g-1. The waters were slightly acid with pH varying among 5,80 - 6,95 and conductivity electric 151,60 - 1.151,00 mS cm-1. The mercury levels in the analyzed materials was below of standard levels for the non-polluted Amazon rivers. However complementary studies should be developed to elucidate the origin and the processes of mercury biodisponibility.

Níveis de mercúrio em peixes consumidos pela comunidade indígena de Sai Cinza na Reserva Munduruku, Município de Jacareacanga, Estado do Pará, Brasil

O estudo consiste em avaliar os niveis de mercurio no pescado consumido pela comunidade indigena de Sai Cinza (Reserva Munduruku) no Estado do Para, e associa-los com os habitos de consumo da populacao. Um total de oitenta especimes de peixes foram capturados. As determinacoes de Hg foram realizadas por absorcao atomica. A concentracao media de Hg nas especies carnivoras foi de 0,293 µg/g (DP = 0,104) enquanto nas nao carnivoras foi de 0,112 µg/g (DP = 0,036). As especies referidas como de maior consumo ente os 330 individuos entrevistados foram: tucunare, pacu, jaraqui, traira, aracu, matrincha e caratinga. As especies com concentracoes mais elevadas de Hg foram tucunare e traira, que estao entre os peixes mais consumidos. A frequencia de consumo constitui-se num fator importante na avaliacao de risco de contaminacao por mercurio em comunidades que nao tem outras alternativas de alimentacao.

Avaliação dos níveis de exposição ao mercúrio entre índios Pakaanóva, Amazônia, Brasil

Um estudo seccional foi realizado para avaliar os niveis de exposicao ao mercurio (Hg) entre 910 indios Pakaanova, residentes nos municipios de Guajara Mirim e Nova Marmore no Estado de Rondonia, Brasil. Amostras de cabelo da regiao occipital foram coletadas de cada participante do estudo e os teores de Hg determinados por Espectrofotometria de Absorcao Atomica com Geracao de Vapor Frio. Os teores medios de Hg nas amostras de cabelo foram de 8,37µg/g (0,52-83,89µg/g), indicando exposicao elevada. Criancas de ate 2 anos e entre 3 e 5 anos de idade apresentaram medias de 10,54µg/g e 9,34µg/g, respectivamente. Os teores medios de Hg nas mulheres (8,91µg/g ) sao mais elevados do que os valores observados nos homens (7,55µg/g), sendo esta diferenca estatisticamente significante (t = 3,26; p < 0,01). Estes resultados indicam a necessidade de desenvolvimento de programas de vigilância e estudos complementares envolvendo os indios Pakaanova no Estado de Rondonia.A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate mercury (Hg) exposure among 910 Pakaanova Indians from the counties of Guajara Mirim and Nova Marmore, Rondonia State, Brazil. Individual hair samples were taken from the occipital region, and Hg was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry with cold vapor generation. Mean Hg in hair samples was 8.37 µg/g (range 0.52-83.89), indicating high exposure. Young children (< 2 years old) showed a mean Hg of 10.54 µg/g, and children from 3 to 5 years old had a mean Hg of 9.34µg/g. Mercury levels in women (8,91µg/g) were higher than in men (7.55µg/g), and this difference was significant (t = 3.26; p < 0.01). These results indicate the need for surveillance programs and complementary studies including the Pakaanova Indians in Rondonia State.

Mercury Speciation in Hair of Children in Three Communities of the Amazon, Brazil

Children from riverside communities located downstream of gold mining areas may be chronically exposed to relatively high levels of MeHg through the consumption of fish of this region. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare levels of THg and MeHg in hair of children less than 12 years in communities near mines in the municipality of Itaituba and in communities far from prospecting areas in the city of Abaetetuba. The communities of Itaituba (Barreiras and São Luiz do Tapajós) had THg mean levels of 5.64 ± 5.55 μg·g−1 (0.43–27.82) and 11.41 ± 7.16 μg.g−1 (1.08–28.17), respectively, and an average count of MeHg relative to THg of 92.20% and 90.27%, respectively. In the Maranhão community, the THg average concentrations results were 2.27 ± 2.11 μg·g−1 (0.13–9.54) and the average values were 93.17% for MeHg. Children of Itaituba had average levels of mercury above the limit established by the World Health Organization (10 μg·g−1) and the strong correlation coefficient between the communities (R = 0.968 and P = 0.0001) suggests the hair as an excellent biomarker of human exposure to organic mercury in riverside populations of the Tapajós, which has the intake of fish daily as main source of protein dietary.

Assessment of surface water in two Amazonian rivers impacted by industrial wastewater, Barcarena City, Pará State (Brazil)

In 2007, surface waters were collected from 21 sampling points in Barcarena City in Northern Region of Brazil: one sampling point located in a stream that receives discharge of wastewater from a kaolin processing industry and flows into the Curupere River, three sampling points located near sources that emerge on the left bank and flow into the Curupere River, nine sampling points in Curupere River, which flows into the Dende River, and eight in Dende River, a tributary on the right bank of the Para River. For all water samples were quantified 14 physicochemical variables and levels of 12 metals. The results in the points near the sources of the Curupere River presented physicochemical profile and metal levels which are typical of surface waters being used as reference to compare and identify possible changes in the chemical characteristics of the other sampling points. The comparison between the results obtained for the sources of the Curupere River and the ones for the point near the discharge of industrial wastewater revealed strong changes in the values of 6 physicochemical variables (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), sulfate (SO4), ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4-N) and salinity) and an increase in magnitude of the levels of four metals (Al, Fe, Mn and Zn). These facts characterized that the wastewaters were discharged into the environment without adequate treatment. Results in other sampling sites showed that these anomalous conditions were also found along the Curupere and Dende Rivers, especially during low tide. This chemical characterization of the waters allowed to identify harmful conditions to aquatic ecosystems and potential health risk for the local people, who use the rivers for drinking water, recreation and transportation.

Ocorrência de uma floração de cianobactérias tóxicas na margem direita do Rio Tapajós, no Município de Santarém (Pará, Brasil)

The presence of cyanobacterial blooms and their subproducts interferes directly in water quality and may cause negative effects, both aesthetically and to public health, due to the production of potentially toxic and carcinogenic compounds. The most common type of intoxication involving cyanobacteria is caused by microcystin-LR (hepatotoxin), which can cause severe damage to the liver. The objective of this study was to identify the genera that caused cyanobacterial blooms in the Tapajos river (Santarem, Para, Brazil) in March 2007, as well as to execute acute toxicity bioassays in Swiss-webster mice. Sample collection was performed at five sampling points throughout the left margin of the Tapajos river, by horizontal dragging with the aid of a 20 μm plankton net. Samples of raw water (5,000 ml) were also collected in amber propylene bottles. Optical microscopy was applied to identify the organisms, and the determination of microcystin-LR was executed through ELISA and HPLC. The analyses showed that, at P01 and P02, there was an ecological imbalance in the phytoplanktonic community, characterized by an intense proliferation of the genera Anabaena and Microcystis. The concentrations of microcystin-LR reported in the raw water samples were below the maximum values permitted by Brazils legislation for drinking water. However, it is important to note that the blooming observed in loco occupied around 10 cm of the water column surface and therefore presented cyanobacterial cells enough to cause rashes in people who swam or bathed in the rivers during this period.