Artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in the Amazon results in the dumping of tons of mercury into the environment annually. Despite consensus on the impacts of mercury on human health, there are still unknowns regarding: (i) the extent to which mercury from ASGM can be dispersed in the environment until it becomes toxic to humans; and (ii) the economic value of losses caused by contamination becomes evident. The main objective of this study is to propose a methodology to evaluate the impacts of ASGM on human health in different contexts in the Brazilian Amazon. We connect several points in the literature based on hypotheses regarding mercury dispersion in water, its transformation into methylmercury, and absorption by fish and humans. This methodology can be used as a tool to estimate the extent of environmental damage caused by artisanal gold mining, the severity of damage to the health of individuals contaminated by mercury and, consequently, can contribute to the application of fines to environmental violators. The consequences of contamination are evaluated by dose-response functions relating to mercury concentrations in hair and the development of the following health outcomes: (i) mild mental retardation, (ii) acute myocardial infarction, and (iii) hypertension. From disability-adjusted life years and statistical life value, we found that the economic losses range from 100,000 to 400,000 USD per kilogram of gold extracted. A case study of the Yanomami indigenous land shows that the impacts of mercury from illegal gold mining in 2020 totaled 69 million USD, which could be used by local authorities to compensate the Yanomami people.

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A expansão das áreas protegidas em todos os biomas é um dos compromissos assumidos peloBrasil junto à Convenção sobre Diversidade Biológicae deveria ser atingido até 2010. Contudo, esta metafoi apenas parcialmente alcançada. Uma das razõesapontadas são os altos custos para consolidação emanutenção de novas áreas em contraposição aoorçamento público historicamente insuficiente. Estetrabalho busca identificar o potencial de redução deemissões de carbono por desmatamento associadoà implementação de Unidades de Conservação de Proteção Integral em áreas consideradas prioritárias na Amazônia Brasileira. Para tal, estimou-se o preço do carbono que seria suficiente para compensar ocusto de oportunidade da terra resultante da criaçãodas unidades. Os resultados obtidos evidenciam baixos custos de oportunidade da conservação,indicando que o preço a ser pago pela emissão evitada de carbono não precisa ser alto para queseja financeiramente viável conservar grande partedo território.

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This chapter discusses the main findings of five empirical studies focusing on local health innovation systems in Brazil. It focuses on the articulation of service and manufacturing segments within the Health complex and the other organizations that constitute a Local Innovation and Production System (LIPS) and discusses the learning, capacity building and innovation processes and their effective and potential impact on the local territory. The findings suggest that the types and intensity of interactions are closely related to the characteristics of what can be called a local cognitive territory. The directions of capacity building and scientific and technological evolution are directly influenced by conflicts among individuals and groups. The influence of these power relations, which are often associated with diverging private and public (collective) interests, highlights the importance of the institutional and policy dimensions for mediation and for promoting an evolution of the system that favors social inclusion and efficiency.