Human Health Risk Assessment Is Associated with the Consumption of Metal-Contaminated Groundwater around the Marituba Landfill, Amazonia, Brazil.

Groundwater is present in its purest form beneath the earth's surface. However, metal contamination is potentially a problem faced by many countries. For this reason, the present study aims to make an assessment of the risks associated with groundwater consumption around the Marituba landfill in an Amazon region. The present study was characterized as transversal with the use of primary data. The sampling occurred in a stratified random way, performed in two radii of action being the 1st radius of 2.5 km away from the landfill and the 2nd radius of 3.5 km away from the landfill to the neighborhoods. A total of 184 points were collected. In all communities the average daily dose (ADD) was higher than the reference oral dose (Rfd), for the metals As, Pb and Mn the risk quotient (HQ) was greater than 1 (one) in all neighborhoods, the concentration of Mn in the least exposed neighborhood was greater than 10 µg.L-1, even at a distance of 3.5 km from the landfill. The average concentrations for As and Pb did not exceed the recommended, however, they were more significant for the Beira Rio neighborhood, respectively 1.47 µg.L-1 and 1.9 µg.L-1. And the average concentration for Cu was more significant for the Uriboca neighborhood 18.20 µg.L-1, but within the recommended. The average of the general concentration of Heavy Metals Pollution Index (HPI) of the water consumed was 80.03, indicating that the water consumed by the population is contaminated by metals.

An Assessment of Health Outcomes and Methylmercury Exposure in Munduruku Indigenous Women of Childbearing Age and Their Children under 2 Years Old.

In line with the 1000-day initiative and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 and 3, we present a cross-sectional analysis of maternal health, infant nutrition, and methylmercury exposure within hard-to-reach indigenous communities in the state of Pará, Brazilian Amazon. We collected data from all women of childbearing age (i.e., 12-49) and their infants under two years old in three Munduruku communities (Sawré Muybu, Sawré Aboy, and Poxo Muybu) along the Tapajos River. We explored health outcomes through interviews, vaccine coverage and clinical assessment, and determined baseline hair methylmercury (H-Hg) levels. Hemoglobin, infant growth (Anthropometric Z scores) and neurodevelopment tests results were collected. We found that 62% of women of childbearing age exceeded the reference limit of 6.0 µg/g H-Hg (median = 7.115, IQR = 4.678), with the worst affected community (Sawré Aboy) registering an average H-Hg concentration of 12.67 µg/g. Half of infants aged under 24 months presented with anemia. Three of 16 (18.8%) infants presented H-Hg levels above 6.0 µg/g (median: 3.88; IQR = 3.05). Four of the 16 infants were found to be stunted and 38% of women overweight, evidencing possible nutritional transition. No infant presented with appropriate vaccination coverage for their age. These communities presented with an estimated Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 86.7/1000 live births. The highest H-Hg level (19.6 µg/g) was recorded in an 11-month-old girl who was found to have gross motor delay and anemia. This already vulnerable indigenous Munduruku community presents with undernutrition and a high prevalence of chronic methylmercury exposure in women of childbearing age. This dual public health crisis in the context of wider health inequalities has the potential to compromise the development, health and survival of the developing fetus and infant in the first two critical years of life. We encourage culturally sensitive intervention and further research to focus efforts.

A comparative study of cadmium levels in blood from exposed populations in an industrial area of the Amazon, Brazil.

Chemical pollution from industrial sources is one of the main problems affecting the environment. In urban areas, the emission of toxic gases and particulates to the atmosphere can damage human health. Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most ecotoxic metals among these pollutants, even at low concentrations. In this study, environmental exposure to Cd was evaluated from the Cd blood levels (CdB) of the human populations living in two Amazonian districts. The first was Bairro Industrial (BIN), which is located next to the industrial complex in Barcarena City, while the second was Vila do Beja (VBJ), a control group located in the farthest area from industrial activities in Abaetetuba City. Sectional and comparative studies were applied for both districts. Sampling (N = 469) occurred in 2012 and 2013. Gender, age, residence time, drinking water source, alcohol consumption, and smoking were used as independent variables. CdB levels were analyzed by induced coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In BIN, geometric mean and median CdB levels were 0.27 and 0.43 µg∙L-1, respectively (range: ≤0.03-17.49 µg∙L-1), while in VBJ these were 0.19 and 0.23 µg∙L-1 (range: ≤0.03-2.38 µg∙L-1). The higher CdB concentration in the blood of people from BIN was similar to levels previously found in people living near other industrial areas, and showed that the BIN residents were more exposed to Cd pollution. The studies showed the need for surveillance actions to evaluate possible routes of exposure, avoiding the future worsening of the health of the population living next to industrial areas in the Amazon.

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.

[Mercury exposure evaluation among Pakaanóva Indians, Amazon Region, Brazil]. / Avaliação dos níveis de exposição ao mercúrio entre índios Pakaanóva, Amazônia, Brasil.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate mercury (Hg) exposure among 910 Pakaan va Indians from the counties of Guajar Mirim and Nova Marmor , Rond nia 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 micro g/g (range 0.52-83.89), indicating high exposure. Young children (< 2 years old) showed a mean Hg of 10.54 micro g/g, and children from 3 to 5 years old had a mean Hg of 9.34 micro g/g. Mercury levels in women (8,91 micro g/g) were higher than in men (7.55 micro g/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 Pakaan va Indians in Rond nia State.

Mercury exposure in Munduruku Indians from the community of Sai Cinza, State of Pará, Brazil.

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate mercury exposure and health status among Munduruku Indians from the community of Sai Cinza, State of Pará, Brazil. The population studied included 330 indians, who submitted to a questionnaire, clinical exams, and collection of hair, blood, urine, and feces. Mercury was measured in hair and fish. Although no person was found to have overt mercury intoxication, the mean levels of mercury in hair were elevated (14.45 micrograms/g for children from 7 to 12 years old, 15.70 micrograms/g for women between 14 and 44 years old, and 14.1 micrograms/g for the remaining population). Mercury levels in fish were below levels recommended by the World Health Organization, but rates of fish consumption were high. These results place this indigenous populations as a group under risk of mercury toxicity from the gold production.