Mercury Levels in Women and Children from Interior Villages in Suriname, South America

Ouboter, Paul E.; Landburg, Gwendolyn; Satnarain, Gaitrie U; Starke, Sheryl Y; Nanden, Indra; Simon-Friedt, Bridget R.; Hawkins, W. B.; Taylor, Robert J.; Lichtveld, Maureen Y.; Harville, Emily W.; Wickliffe, Jeffrey K.

doi:10.3390/ijerph15051007

Cited by 24 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Sample sizes were selected based on power analyses designed to detect differences among mercury exposures on a regional scale as indicated previously. Total mercury concentrations were determined using cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (CVAAS) as reported previously [ 8 , 46 , 49 ].…”

Section: Materials/subjects and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This study builds on an initial biomarker project examining concentrations of total mercury in hair samples from a cohort of women and children in a number of interior villages in Suriname [ 6 , 8 , 46 ]. Results from that work indicate that residents in many of the interior villages near ASGM operations or downwind from such activities are indeed exposed to high levels of mercury [ 6 , 8 , 46 ]. As reported herein, continued biomonitoring of pregnant women in Suriname supports these previous findings, with high concentrations of total mercury observed in hair of women from interior sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exposure to total and methylmercury among pregnant women in Suriname: sources and public health implications

Wickliffe

Lichtveld

Zijlmans

et al. 2020

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

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Previous research has found that women and children living in rural, interior communities in Suriname have high concentrations of mercury in hair. Freshwater fish from these areas also have high concentrations of mercury. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining operations in parts of the country use elemental mercury to extract gold from soils and sediments. Total mercury and methylmercury concentrations have been determined in hair and blood from pregnant women across the country. Pregnant women from interior communities have significantly higher concentrations of both total and methylmercury in hair (median total mercury in hair 3.64 μg/g) compared with pregnant women from two urban coastal cities, Paramaribo (0.63 μg/g) and Nickerie (0.74 μg/g). Total and methylmercury concentrations in blood and hair are highly correlated ( r =0.986, r =0.974) with methylmercury making up 86% of the total in blood and 97% of the total in hair. Most women in the interior regions rely heavily on local fish as part of their regular diet, and many live outsides of areas with active ASGM operations. This study demonstrates that diet and fish consumption largely govern mercury exposures in pregnant women in Suriname.

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Section: Materials/subjects and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to total and methylmercury among pregnant women in Suriname: sources and public health implications

Wickliffe

Lichtveld

Zijlmans

et al. 2020

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

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“…Female active involvement in ASGM activities is likely to increase exposure of Hg to children living in these communities. 29,30 Women in Africa work with their children in mining sites, thus exposing their children to Hg. 31 This study demonstrates considerable occupational exposure to Hg through self-reported use (73.3%) and biologic monitoring parameters.…”

Section: Similar To Findings In Studies Table 4 -Crude and Adjusted Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury Exposure Among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Four Regions in Uganda

Wanyana¹,

Agaba²,

Sekimpi³

et al. 2020

Journal of Health and Pollution

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Background. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining is a human health concern, especially in low-income countries like Uganda due to the use of mercury (Hg) in the mining process. Objective. The aim of the present study was to assess Hg exposure among artisanal and small-scale gold miners in Uganda through biologic monitoring parameters and Hg-related clinical manifestations. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July 2018 among 183 miners from Ibanda (Western region), Mubende (Central region), Amudat (Karamoja region) and Busia (Eastern region) in Uganda. An interviewer-administered questionnaire and health assessment were used to collect socio-demographic, exposure and self-reported Hg poisoning symptoms. In addition, 41 urine, 41 blood and 26 environment samples were assessed. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test for comparison of Hg levels in urine and blood among miners were performed while logistic regression was used to assess associations between exposure and Hg poisoning-related symptoms. Results: The miners ranged from 15 to 65 years old and were primarily male (72.6%). The majority (73.3%) had worked directly with Hg for an average duration of 5.3 years. Symptoms associated with working directly with Hg included chest pain (odds ratio (OR)=9.0, confidence interval (CI)=3.3 to 24.6), numbness (OR=8.5, CI=2.1 to 34.4), back pain (OR=6.2, CI= 2.2 to 17.5), fatigue and stress (OR=5.4, 2.0 to CI=14.9), headache (OR=4.7, CI=1.9 to 11.3), dizziness (OR=3.8, CI=1.5 to 9.7) joint pain (OR=3.2, CI=1.3 to 8.3) and respiratory problems (3.2, 1.0 to 10.1). Statistically significant differences in Hg levels with p-values less than 0.05 were observed across district, gender and type of work. Mubende had the highest blood and urine levels (136 μg/l and 105.5 μg/l) in comparison with Busia (60 μg/l and 70.6 μg/l) and Ibanda (43 μg/l and 58 μg/l). Females (84.7 μg/l), panners (109 μg/l) and those with knowledge of occupational health and safety measures (95.6 μg/l) reported higher levels of Hg in urine. The average levels of Hg in water and soil samples were 23.79 μg/l and 0.21 μg/l, respectively. Conclusions. Variation in Hg levels were attributed to varied duration of exposure across geographical sites. There was considerable exposure to Hg as indicated by both clinical manifestations and biologic parameters among miners in Uganda with Hg in urine exceeding the recommended thresholds. Participant Consent. Obtained Ethics Approval. Ethical approval was obtained from the Makerere University School of Health Science Institutional Review Board (reference number SHSREC REF 2018–2019) and Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (reference number SS 4577) Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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“…Pregnant women potentially exposed to complex environmental chemical and non-chemical stressors were recruited from three regions of Suriname: (1) Paramaribo, where pesticides are primarily used for residential purposes; (2) Nickerie, the major rice producing region in western Suriname where pesticide use is abundant and (3) the tropical rainforest interior, where Hg is used in artisanal gold mining and the population is highly dependent on consumption of contaminated fish. 18 Taking into account, a potential 20% lost to follow-up, we requested and were approved to consent 1200 pregnant women and their singleton birth children by the Institutional Review Boards of both the Government of Suriname and Tulane University.…”

Section: Cohort Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most of these women are primarily exposed to methylmercury from consuming contaminated fish from local artisanal gold-mining activities. 18 24 Other possible sources of exposure may include active participation in or living very close to gold mining areas. Hg concentrations from the Nickerie and Paramaribo subcohorts were similar to other studies.…”

Section: Findings To Datementioning

confidence: 99%

Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health (CCREOH) Cohort Study: influences of complex environmental exposures on maternal and child health in Suriname

Zijlmans¹,

Wickliffe

Hindori-Mohangoo

et al. 2020

BMJ Open

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PurposeThe Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health prospective environmental epidemiologic cohort study addresses the impact of chemical and non-chemical environmental exposures on mother/child dyads in Suriname. The study determines associations between levels of environmental elements and toxicants in pregnant women, and birth outcomes and neurodevelopment in their children.ParticipantsPregnant women (N=1143) were enrolled from December 2016 to July 2019 from three regions of Suriname: Paramaribo (N=738), Nickerie (N=204) and the tropical rainforest interior (N=201). Infants (N=992) were enrolled at birth. Follow-up will take place until children are 48 months old.Findings to dateBiospecimens and questionnaire data on physiological and psychosocial health in pregnant women have been analysed. 39.1% had hair mercury (Hg) levels exceeding values considered safe by international standards. Median hair Hg concentrations in women from Paramaribo (N=522) were 0.64 µg/g hair (IQRs 0.36–1.09; range 0.00–7.12), from Nickerie (N=176) 0.73 µg/g (IQR 0.45–1.05; range 0.00–5.79) and the interior (N=178) 3.48 µg/g (IQR 1.92–7.39; range 0.38–18.20). 96.1% of women ate fish, respective consumption of the three most consumed carnivorous species, Hoplias aimara, Serrasalmus rhombeus and Cichla ocellaris, known to have high Hg levels, was 44.4%, 19.3% and 26.3%, respectively, and was greater among the interior subcohort. 89% frequently consumed the vegetable tannia, samples of which showed presence of worldwide banned pesticides. 24.9% of pregnant women had Edinburgh Depression Scale scores indicative of probable depression.Future plansFish consumption advisories are in development, especially relevant to interior women for whom fish consumption is likely to be the primary source of Hg exposure. Effects of potentially beneficial neuroprotective factors in fish that may counter neurotoxic effects of Hg are being examined. A pesticide literacy assessment in pregnant women is in progress. Neurodevelopmental assessments and telomere length measurements of the children to evaluate long-term effects of prenatal exposures to toxicant mixtures are ongoing.

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Mercury Levels in Women and Children from Interior Villages in Suriname, South America

Cited by 24 publications

References 47 publications

Exposure to total and methylmercury among pregnant women in Suriname: sources and public health implications

Exposure to total and methylmercury among pregnant women in Suriname: sources and public health implications

Mercury Exposure Among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Four Regions in Uganda

Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health (CCREOH) Cohort Study: influences of complex environmental exposures on maternal and child health in Suriname

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