A systematic review on metal contamination due to mining activities in the Amazon basin and associated environmental hazards

Moulatlet, Gabriel M.; Yacelga, Naomi; Rico, Andreu; Mora, Abrahan; Hauser-Davis, Rachel Ann; Cabrera, Marcela; Capparelli, Mariana V.

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139700

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…Scientometric studies on Hg contamination have revealed a more pronounced focus on the Amazon compared to other Brazilian biomes, emphasizing gold mining, fish exposure to Hg, and contamination by Hg in water bodies and river sediments [ 40 , 41 ]. Additionally, a recent systematic review of the geological characteristics of the Amazon basin highlighted the uneven distribution of dangerous metal enrichment, including mercury, owing to mining activities, as well as a scarcity of data from other countries in the Amazon basin [ 42 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in Mercury Contamination Distribution among Human and Animal Populations in the Amazon Region

Martoredjo,

Calvão Santos,

Vilhena

et al. 2024

Toxics

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Mercury contamination in the Amazon arising from both natural sources and intensive mining activities in the region is a significant public health concern. This metal is used to separate Au from sediments. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the impact of mining on mercury contamination in the animal and human populations of the Amazon. This overall objective was pursued through a systematic review of the existing literature to assess the impact of Hg and identify gaps in geographic coverage arising from this assessment. Herein, we employed PECO and PRISMA-ScR protocols to select articles published between 2017 and 2023 based on projected points on a map within the biogeographic boundaries of the Amazon. We found that mercury concentrations increase with trophic levels, reaching high values of 3.7 µg/g in the muscles of predatory fish and 34.9 µg/g in human hair. The mean level of mercury in human hair in the whole (Amazon) region exceeds 6 µg/g, surpassing tolerance levels. Although mining regions show high concentrations of Hg, the highest incidence was observed among populations with fish-based diets. It was concluded that continuous research and monitoring of fish in the region are required in order to accurately assess the risk associated with Hg contamination, especially since fish are the main source of protein in this region.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in Mercury Contamination Distribution among Human and Animal Populations in the Amazon Region

Martoredjo,

Calvão Santos,

Vilhena

et al. 2024

Toxics

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“…Scientometric studies on Hg contamination have revealed a more pronounced focus on the Amazon compared to other Brazilian biomes, emphasizing gold mining, fish exposure to Hg, and contamination by Hg in water bodies and river sediments [42,43]. Additionally, a recent systematic review of the geological characteristics of the Amazon basin highlighted the uneven distribution of dangerous metal enrichment, including mercury, owing to mining activities, as well as a scarcity of data from other countries in the Amazon basin [44]. Moreover, a review of feeding guilds and dietary habits in the Amazon revealed relatively high levels of CH3Hg + in predatory fish compared with their non-predatory counterparts [45].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in Mercury Contamination Distribution among Human and Animal Populations in the Amazon

Martoredjo,

Calvão Santos,

Vilhena

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Mercury contamination in the Amazon is a significant public health concern arising from both natural sources and intensive mining activities in the region. This metal is used to separate Au from sediments, forming an amalgam that facilitates the extraction of precious metals. Accordingly, this study aimed to address the following question: What is the impact of mining on mercury contamination in the animal and human populations of the Amazon? The overall objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the existing literature to identify gaps in geographic coverage and assess the impact of Hg contamination on human and animal populations in the Amazon region. Our hypothesis was that higher mercury concentrations in tissue samples would be found closer to the mining areas. We employed the PECO and PRISMA-ScR protocols to collect articles published between 2017 and 2023, selected based on criteria representing projected points on a map within the biogeographic boundaries of the Amazon. Mercury concentrations increase with trophic levels, reaching high values of 3.7 µg/g in the muscles of predatory fish and 34.9 µg/g in human hair. The average level of mercury in humans exceeds 6 µg/g, surpassing tolerance levels. Although mining regions show high concentrations of Hg, the highest incidence was observed among populations with fish-based diets. Research on fish is crucial for assessing the risk to human health, given that fish are the main source of protein in the region.

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Ecological risk assessment for metals in sediment and waters from the Brazilian Amazon region

Gomes,

da Silva Pinto,

Raymundo

et al. 2023

Chemosphere

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A systematic review on metal contamination due to mining activities in the Amazon basin and associated environmental hazards

Cited by 5 publications

References 76 publications

Trends in Mercury Contamination Distribution among Human and Animal Populations in the Amazon Region

Trends in Mercury Contamination Distribution among Human and Animal Populations in the Amazon Region

Trends in Mercury Contamination Distribution among Human and Animal Populations in the Amazon

Ecological risk assessment for metals in sediment and waters from the Brazilian Amazon region

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