In the Amazon Basin, naturally occurring methylmercury bioaccumulates in fish, which is a key source of protein consumed by riverine populations. The hydroelectric power-plant project at Santo Antônio Falls allows us to compare the Hg exposure of riverine populations sparsely distributed on both sides of the Madeira river before the area is to be flooded. From 2009 to 2011, we concluded a population survey of the area (N = 2,008; representing circa 80% of community residents) that estimated fish consumption and mercury exposure of riverine populations with different degrees of lifestyle related to fish consumption. Fish samples from the Madeira river (N = 1,615) and 110 species were analyzed for Hg. Hair-Hg was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in less isolated communities near to the capital of Porto Velho (median 2.32 ppm) than in subsistence communities in the Cuniã Lake, 180 km from Porto Velho city (median 6.3 ppm). Fish Hg concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 6.06 µg/g, depending on fish size and feeding behavior. Currently available fish in the Madeira river show a wide variability in Hg concentrations. Despite cultural similarities, riparians showed hair-Hg distribution patterns that reflect changes in fish-eating habits driven by subsistence characteristics.

Resumo O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o estado nutricional de crianças e mulheres indígenas Yanomami e elucidar fatores associados. Estudo transversal, realizado em 17 aldeias, em 2014. Para a avaliação do estado nutricional utilizou-se as curvas de crescimento de 2006 e os escores-Z (ESZ) de estatura/idade (E/I), peso/idade (P/I), peso/estatura (P/E), os quais foram gerados nos programas WHO-Anthro e WHO-AnthroPlus. Estatura inferior a 145cm foi o descritor de baixa estatura materna nas > 18 anos. A regressão de Poisson e as análises estatísticas foram efetuadas no software R, versão 3.1.2. Nos < 5 anos a prevalência de baixa E/I foi 83,8%, de baixo P/I 50%, de baixo P/E 5,4% e de sobrepeso 2,7%. Em 59,5% das crianças observou-se muito baixa E/I e em 68,1% das mães baixa estatura. As crianças de 36-59 meses apresentaram maior risco de baixa estatura severa, em comparação com as de 0,1-23 (RP = 1,3; IC 95%: 1,1-2,3), assim como os filhos de mães com estatura < 145cm, em relação aos filhos de mães com estatura > 144cm (RP = 2,1; IC 95%;1,2-3,6). As alarmantes prevalências de baixa estatura severa revelam a grave situação nutricional das crianças. Já a associação de baixa estatura severa nas crianças e baixa estatura materna reflete o caráter intergeracional do problema.

The gold rush in the Amazon Region caused an increase of mercury (Hg) levels in the environment, and, consequently, raised human exposure. Once released into aquatic systems, Hg could generate methylmercury (MeHg), an extremely toxic compound, which is accumulated through trophic chains. Several studies have provided evidences of the brain sensitivity to MeHg, as well as, of the fetus vulnerability during pregnancy. The main objective of this study was to estimate the Mild Mental Retardation (MMR) in Amazonian populations, caused by prenatal exposure to MeHg, using the methodology proposed by Poulin (2008), which quantifies the environmental burden of disease. The estimates of the MMR burden, attributed to prenatal MeHg exposure, were based on the calculation of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY), which were obtained from MMR incidence rate in the studied populations. At the local level, the MMR incidence rate calculations were based on primary data of MeHg exposure of riverine women at childbearing age. The MMR incidence rate was equal to 5.96/1,000 infants, which would result in 2.0 IQ points loss in 34.31% of the newborns. The estimated DALY/1,000 infants was equal to 71.2, while the DALY was 576. For the regional estimates, different exposure scenarios were created. The calculated DALY varied from 3,256 to 65,952 per year.

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