Eating tropical fruit reduces mercury exposure from fish consumption in the Brazilian Amazon

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

“…The intake of fruit was associated with lower mercury concentrations in both bioindicators, corroborating recent findings, which indicate that individuals consuming fresh fruit more frequently have much lower blood-and hair-mercury concentrations for the same level of fish consumption, as compared to those who consume fruit less frequently (Passos et al, 2003b(Passos et al, , 2004(Passos et al, , 2007a. In an exploratory study, which covered a large variety of dietary information such as the intake of vegetables and many other foods, only fruit consumption was related to bioindicators of mercury exposure, when fish consumption frequency was considered (Passos et al, 2001(Passos et al, , 2003b. In the present study, fruit consumption was the only element that modified the relation between mercury intake and bioindicators of exposure.…”

“…Despite attempts to establish reference values and background parameters as well as eliminate uncertainties about the reference dose in the Amazonian context, few studies have adopted a rigorous procedure for developing risk-based reference doses (Gaylor and Kodell, 2002;Rice, 2005). Dietary and genetic factors (Passos et al, 2003b(Passos et al, , 2004(Passos et al, , 2007aKlautau-Guimara˜es et al, 2005) as well as other specificities of the Amazonian traditional populations, make it difficult to evaluate the suitability of using current reference doses for methyl mercury exposure in the Amazon. Despite this difficulty, allegations that daily consumption of mercurycontaminated fish in large amounts poses no health hazards, based on the absence of mercury-induced clinical effects and the existence of general health problems (Do´rea, 2003(Do´rea, , 2004, do not take into consideration the importance of changes in biological functions on the population level and their usefulness for risk assessment (Bellinger, 2004;Rice, 2005).…”

“…In the Amazon, mercury daily dose is particularly difficult to estimate due to the diversity of fish and ecosystems, as well as seasonal changes in fish availability. Furthermore, studies in this region have shown that fruit consumption influences the relation between fish consumption and mercury concentrations both in blood and hair (Passos et al, 2003b(Passos et al, , 2004(Passos et al, , 2007a, but we do not know how it affects the relationship between mercury intake and exposure.…”

Interações Mercúrio-Selênio: Uma Abordagem Integrada De Avaliação De Exposição Ao Mercúrio Em Populações Ribeirinhas No Município De Porto Velho, Rondônia

“…Os possíveis fatores de proteção presentes nas dietas das populações expostas ao Hg através de consumo do peixe devem ser levados em consideração na hora da avaliação de risco das mesmas (Clarkson e Strain, 2003;Ralston et al, 2008;Ralston, 2009;Zhang et al, 2014 (Passos et al, 2003;Passos et al, 2007). Outros pesquisadores reportam também o papel do Se como um elemento capaz de mitigar os efeitos tóxicos de Hg nos organismos, (Ganther et al, 1972;El-Demerdash, 2001;Berry e Ralston, 2008;Ralston et al, 2008;Ralston, 2009;Dang e Wang, 2011).…”

Efeito da sazonalidade na exposição ao mercúrio e nos marcadores do estresse oxidativo e de inflamação em populações ribeirinhas da Amazônia

“…Vários estudos, tanto no Brasil como em outros países demonstram a não observância de sinais e sintomas de intoxicação ao MeHg, mesmo quando as populações são expostas a altas doses desse metal (DÓREA et al, 2005a;GRANDJEAN et al, 1992;WEIHE, 1993;WEIHE;WHITE, 1995;MCKEOWN-EYSSEN;RUEDY;NEIMS, 1983;YOSHIZAWA et al, 2002 (PASSOS et al, 2003). Assim, esses autores sugeriram um possível efeito protetor do consumo de frutas contra a bioacumulação do metal nos habitantes da região.…”