Fish Consumption, Fish Lore, and Mercury Pollution—Risk Communication for the Madeira River People

Boischio, Ana; Henshel, Diane S.

doi:10.1006/enrs.2000.4035

Cited by 77 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Furthermore, 8% of men living in mining zones had mercury levels that are considered unhealthy. Indigenous communities in the Western Amazon have been documented to consume one to two meals of fish per day on average, and thus may be at risk of developing health problems related to MeHg exposure as a result of gold mining [50]. However, avoidance of fish consumption by indigenous people because of fear of Hg exposure can result in a switch to a western diet, associated with processed foods high in fat and low in protein [51].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gold Mining and Mercury Bioaccumulation in a Floodplain Lake and Main Channel of the Tambopata River, Perú

Roach¹,

Jacobsen²,

Fiorello³

et al. 2013

JEP

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Contamination of water bodies by inorganic mercury (Hg [II]) used in placer mining of gold deposits in the Madre de Dios Department, Perú, contributes to the bioaccumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) in fish tissue. We measured MeHg and total Hg (THg) concentrations (mg/kg wet weight [ww] tissue) of thirteen fish species from the Tambopata River, Perú, and the connected oxbow lake Tres Chimbadas. We also used stable isotope analysis (δ 15 N and δ 13 C) to estimate trophic positions of fishes. Average MeHg concentrations of fish species ranged from 0.042 mg/kg ww (Satanoperca jurupari) to 0.463 mg/kg ww (Hoplias malabaricus) in the main channel and from 0.090 mg/kg ww (Parauchenipterus sp.) to 1.282 mg/kg ww (Pimelodina flavipinnis) in the lake. Spearman rank correlation indicated that trophic position had no influence on MeHg concentrations of species in the main channel, but in the lake, trophic positions of species were positively associated with MeHg. Migrations of the pimelodid catfish surveyed from the main channel are well documented. Because little gold mining occurs at our study site, fishes from the main channel may be bioaccumulating MeHg from areas where mining is widespread. Fish species that reside in the lake are relatively sedentary and migration is limited by the brief period of floodplain inundation and the long, narrow corridor that connects the lake to the main channel; lake sediments are therefore the likely source for MeHg bioaccumulation. Five out of the eight fish species surveyed from the main channel and two out of the five species from the lake had MeHg levels higher than United States Environmental Protection Agency fish tissue criterion for human consumption.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gold Mining and Mercury Bioaccumulation in a Floodplain Lake and Main Channel of the Tambopata River, Perú

Roach¹,

Jacobsen²,

Fiorello³

et al. 2013

JEP

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“…Kehrig et al (1998) suggested that pregnant women and women of childbearing age should consume less fish to limit their exposure to potential sources of methyl mercury, while Boischio and Henshel (2000) put forward that risk communication for this exposed population could be addressed using fish advisories for consumers, fishermen, and retailers, which would recommend an acceptable number of fish meals to be consumed according to species. Whereas both these studies used predictive models to provide important insights on the potential risks to human health, their recommendations are limited by their methodological approach.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Daily mercury intake in fish-eating populations in the Brazilian Amazon

Passos

Silva

Lemire

et al. 2007

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

110

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Although high levels of fish consumption and bioindicators of mercury exposure have been reported for traditional populations in the Amazon, little is known about their actual daily intake of Hg. Using an ecosystem approach, calculate daily mercury intake in adult fish-eaters, examine the relations between mercury intake and bioindicators of exposure and the factors that influence these relations. A cross-sectional dietary survey on fish and fruit consumption frequency was carried out with 256 persons from six villages of the Tapajo´s River. Fish portion per meal was determined. Mercury concentration was determined for 1123 local fish specimens. Daily mercury intake (mg/kg/day) was determined for men and women from each village using the average fish-mercury concentration for the fish caught in their fishing zone, the average quantity of fish per meal, fish-species frequency consumption and participants' body weight. Fish-mercury averaged 0.33 mg/g70.33. Daily mercury intake varied between 0 and 11.8 mg/kg/day (mean 0.92 mg/kg/day70.89) and varied by gender and village. Mean blood-and hair-mercury were 58.7736.1 mg/l and 17.9711.5 mg/g, respectively. There was a strong and positive relation between blood-mercury and daily mercury intake, with an inverse relation for fruit intake and schooling; significant variations were observed with immigrant status, and among villages. Hair-mercury was directly associated with daily mercury intake and inversely related to schooling and fruit consumption. Fruit consumption modified the relation between daily mercury intake and blood-mercury levels: for the same daily mercury intake, persons eating more fruit had lower blood-mercury concentrations (ANCOVA Interaction term: F ¼ 10.9, Po0.0001). The median difference of the ratio of blood-mercury to daily mercury intake between low and high fruit consumers was 26, representing a 26.3% reduction. These findings reveal high levels of daily mercury intake. Rigorous studies for developing risk-based reference doses in the Amazon should be undertaken to orient viable risk-management strategies to reduce exposure, while maintaining fish diet.

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“…The basin soils, therefore, act as a temporary sink, and the Hg release to waterways is no longer just a function of the emissions, but also of land use changes, which may trigger transformations and interactions with other environmental compartments that eventually remobilize Hg to food chains and increase its bioavailability through methylation. As for the riverside populations, fish is their main protein source, with a daily consumption of up to 500 g. Therefore, even relatively small increases of Hg concentrations in fish due to the increasing bioavailability may result in high exposure doses for these human groups (Boischio andHenshel 2000, Roulet et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impacts of land use changes in the mercury flux in the Madeira River, Western Amazon

Lacerda

Bastos

Almeida

2012

An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc.

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Changes in hydrochemistry and Hg distribution in the Madeira River from Porto Velho to the confluence with the Amazon River were studied in two cruises in 1997 and 2002. Water conductivity was similar in both periods, but the pH was significantly higher in 2002, in particular along the middle reaches of the river. Total suspended matter concentrations also increased from 1997 to 2002 along the same river portion, which is a result of forest conversion to other land uses, in particular pastures and agriculture accelerated during the interval between the cruises. Dissolved Hg concentrations were similar along the river in both cruises, but particulate Hg concentrations increased significantly along the middle portion of the river, although the suspended matter from 2002 was relatively poorer in Hg compared to that from 1997. Since particulate Hg represents more than 90% of the total Hg present in the river water, there was a significant increase in the total Hg transport in the Madeira River. Although gold mining has nearly ceased to exist in the region, the remobilization of Hg from forest soils through conversion to other land uses is responsible for maintaining relatively high Hg content in the Madeira River environment.

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Fish Consumption, Fish Lore, and Mercury Pollution—Risk Communication for the Madeira River People

Cited by 77 publications

References 21 publications

Gold Mining and Mercury Bioaccumulation in a Floodplain Lake and Main Channel of the Tambopata River, Perú

Gold Mining and Mercury Bioaccumulation in a Floodplain Lake and Main Channel of the Tambopata River, Perú

Daily mercury intake in fish-eating populations in the Brazilian Amazon

The impacts of land use changes in the mercury flux in the Madeira River, Western Amazon

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Fish Consumption, Fish Lore, and Mercury Pollution—Risk Communication for the Madeira River People

Cited by 77 publications

References 21 publications

Gold Mining and Mercury Bioaccumulation in a Floodplain Lake and Main Channel of the Tambopata River, Per&#250;

Gold Mining and Mercury Bioaccumulation in a Floodplain Lake and Main Channel of the Tambopata River, Per&#250;

Daily mercury intake in fish-eating populations in the Brazilian Amazon

The impacts of land use changes in the mercury flux in the Madeira River, Western Amazon

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Gold Mining and Mercury Bioaccumulation in a Floodplain Lake and Main Channel of the Tambopata River, Perú

Gold Mining and Mercury Bioaccumulation in a Floodplain Lake and Main Channel of the Tambopata River, Perú