Epidemiological and toxicological profile of a community exposed environmentally to mercury in the amazon

Abstract

Objective: to know the epidemiology and the toxicological profile in relation to the total Hg in the sample of the population of Sena Madureira, in the State of Acre, northern region of Brazil. Method: Cross-sectional, population-based, descriptive study with a quantitative approach. Result: The sample consisted of 302 484 people from a community in the municipality of Sena Madureira, state of Acre, Brazil, located southwest of the northern region of Pan-Amazon. This study found that total blood and hair Hg levels were above the limits considered safe by the World Health Organization. The presence of total Hg in the blood and in the capillary matrix shows that the population of the municipality of Sena Madureira is environmentally exposed to metal. This exposure occurs through the existence of the biogeochemical cycle with the participation of fish consumption and the anthropic activity of artisanal gold mining in the bordering region of the state of Acre. Conclusion: The high content of total Hg in the biological matrices of the studied population indicates the physiological dynamics of the metal in the organism. The distribution of mercury in both sexes and in different age groups, suggests that there is a significant risk to the health of individuals, especially women and children.