Methylmercury human exposure in riverside villages of Tapajos basin, Pará State, Brazil

Evaluation of total human exposure to mercury and methylmercury was effected in riverine villages along the Tapajos river and in the metropolitan area of Belem city, state of Para, Brazil, by using total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in hair samples in 1994 and 1995. It was observed that...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 2000-05, Vol.33 (3), p.265
Main Authors: Pinheiro, M d, Nakanishi, J, Oikawa, T, Guimarães, G, Quaresma, M, Cardoso, B, Amoras, W W, Harada, M, Magno, C, Vieira, J L, Xavier, M B, Bacelar, D R
Format: Article
Language:Portuguese
Subjects:
Adult
Brazil
Environmental Exposure
Environmental Pollution
Female
Humans
Male
Methylmercury Compounds
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Evaluation of total human exposure to mercury and methylmercury was effected in riverine villages along the Tapajos river and in the metropolitan area of Belem city, state of Para, Brazil, by using total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in hair samples in 1994 and 1995. It was observed that average concentrations of total mercury are in a range from 2 +/- 1 microg/g-1 to 20.5 +/- 12. 1 microg/g-1. While methylmercury average concentration varies from 1. 4 +/- 0.7 microg/g-1 to 18.5 +/- 11 microg/g-1. These results confirm mercury contamination in the Tapajos river and possible appearance of mercury intoxication symptoms, and recommends the monitoring of compounds in hair samples as well as the need for epidemiological and clinical studies for human health prevention and control of mercury intoxication.
ISSN:0037-8682