Strategies for Preventing Adolescent Mercury Exposure in Brazilian Gold Mining Areas

Mercury and Selenium – A Review on Aspects Related to the Health of Human Populations in the Amazon

“…In cities where gold commerce is economically vibrant, such as Poconé (Mato Grosso), samples from residues and soil obtained from the city center and periphery showed high Hg concentrations: 1.91 and 0.09 μg/g in the city center, 63.3 and 3.2 μg/g in the city periphery for residues and soil, respectively. The values in residues from the city center and periphery, as well as the value in the soil of city periphery are significantly higher than those reported in a control region located outside the city limits at 0.25 and 0.27 μg/g for residues and soil, respectively, where no activity related to gold mining and gold commerce has been reported (Câmara et al 1997).…”

“…The mean total-Hg concentration in urine collected from subjects in the city center and periphery were 4.35 and 4.89 μg/l, respectively, compared to 1.25 μg/l in a control area. Anxiety, irritability, memory loss, insomnia, asthenia, all of which are characteristic symptoms of mercurial erethism, were noted among subjects with high urinary Hg (Câmara et al 1997).…”

“…In the Amazon, occupational Hg 0 exposure is inherent to the artisanal process of gold mining and gold commerce, where large amounts of Hg 0 are used to amalgamate the gold during its commercial processing (Figure 1). As a result of this process, gold miners in the “garimpos” (gold mines) and gold dealers in the gold shops, as well as other professionals working in the same environment and industry are commonly exposed to excessive levels of Hg (Akagi et al 1995; Branches et al 1993; Câmara et al 1997; Couto et al 1988; Souza et al 2003). Several studies have reported total-Hg concentrations in hair samples obtained from gold miners from different garimpos zones: Cachoeiro do Piriá (Pará), mean total-Hg concentration 11.49 μg/g, range 1.97–68.98 μg/g (Couto et al 1988); Cumarú (Pará), mean total-Hg concentration 5.18 μg/g, range 1.50–13.68 μg/g (Couto et al 1988).…”

“…Câmara and colleagues (Câmara et al 1997) evaluated the effects of gold commerce in the city environment and in the health of residents of Poconé (Mato Grosso). They found that the environment contamination and human exposure in the city center was due to Hg 0 emissions in gold shops, while in the city periphery Hg contamination was associated with the burning of gold-mercury (Au-Hg) amalgam inside residences.…”