Large-scale projects in the amazon and human exposure to mercury: The case-study of the Tucuruí Dam

Arrifano, Gabriela de Paula; Martín-Doimeadios, Rosa C. Rodríguez; Jiménez-Moreno, María; Ramírez-Mateos, Vanesa; Silva, Núbia F.S. da; Souza-Monteiro, José Rogerio; Augusto-Oliveira, Marcus; Paraense, Ricardo S.O.; Macchi, Barbarella de Matos; Nascimento, José Luíz Martins do; Crespo-López, María Elena

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.08.048

Cited by 81 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…This study included 763 participants ( Table 1 ), it was similar in size or larger than published studies that have looked at the characteristics of the Amazonian riverine population [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mercury is also found naturally in Amazonian soils and is concentrated in the environment by man-made large-scale projects such as dams. One of the largest dams in the world is located in Tucuruí ( Figure 1 ), and human exposure to high levels of mercury was recently demonstrated in riverine population in this area [ 34 ]. Mercury is bioaccumulated and biomagnified through the food chain and by piscivorous fish, which are the species that are typically consumed the most by riverine population [ 52 , 53 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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In the Heart of the Amazon: Noncommunicable Diseases and Apolipoprotein E4 Genotype in the Riverine Population

Arrifano

Alvarez-Leite

Souza-Monteiro

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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The Amazon River basin is the largest tropical forest in the world. Most of the Amazon belongs to Brazil, a developing country that currently faces huge challenges related to the consolidation of its universal healthcare system. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death in Brazil, accounting for 74% of all deaths, and NCDs are probably underestimated in Amazonian population because of their geographical isolation and the precariousness of riverine communities. Important risk factors, such as genetic susceptibility, remain undetermined in the riverine population. This study performed fasting blood sugar (FBS) and blood pressure measurements and investigated the presence of the ε4 allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE4) to determine the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and the genetic risk of NCDs. FBS and APOE4 were measured in blood samples from 763 participants using spectrometry and real-time PCR; 67.5% showed altered measurements, and 57.9% had never been diagnosed or treated. Altered FBS was found in 28.3% of the participants, hypertension in 57.6% and APOE4 in 32.0%. The health profile of the riverine population appears to differ from that of urban population in the Amazon. Additional risk factors for NCDs, such as environmental contamination and nutritional transition, may contribute more than increased genetic susceptibility to the prevalence of altered FBS and hypertension. Our results will help guide the development of preventive strategies and governmental actions for more effective management of NCDs in the Amazon area.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In the Heart of the Amazon: Noncommunicable Diseases and Apolipoprotein E4 Genotype in the Riverine Population

Arrifano

Alvarez-Leite

Souza-Monteiro

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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“…Human populations throughout the world are chronically exposed to different species of Hg compounds [ 7 – 10 ]. Amazonian populations, for example, are exposed to Hg vapor due to the use of this metal in artisanal processes and small-scale gold mining [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Amazonian populations, for example, are exposed to Hg vapor due to the use of this metal in artisanal processes and small-scale gold mining [ 7 , 8 ]. Additionally, because of the contaminated environment, populations living downstream of the mining areas or near dams (large-scale projects that may concentrate Hg in the environment) are exposed to both organic and inorganic mercury [ 8 , 10 ]. The latter exposure is predominantly via the oral route due to contaminated food (mainly piscivorous fish) [ 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hippocampal Dysfunction Provoked by Mercury Chloride Exposure: Evaluation of Cognitive Impairment, Oxidative Stress, Tissue Injury and Nature of Cell Death

Aragão

Teixeira

Fagundes

et al. 2018

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity

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Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic metal, which can be found in its inorganic form in the environment. This form presents lower liposolubility and lower absorption in the body. In order to elucidate the possible toxicity of inorganic Hg in the hippocampus, we investigated the potential of low doses of mercury chloride (HgCl2) to promote hippocampal dysfunction by employing a chronic exposure model. For this, 56 rats were exposed to HgCl2 (0.375 mg/kg/day) via the oral route for 45 days. After the exposure period, the animals were submitted to the cognitive test of fear memory. The hippocampus was collected for the measurement of total Hg levels, analysis of oxidative stress, and evaluation of cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and tissue injury. It was observed that chronic exposure to inorganic Hg promotes an increase in mercury levels in this region and damage to short- and long-term memory. Furthermore, we found that this exposure model provoked oxidative stress, which led to cytotoxicity and cell death by apoptosis, affecting astrocytes and neurons in the hippocampus. Our study demonstrated that inorganic Hg, even with its low liposolubility, is able to produce deleterious effects in the central nervous system, resulting in cognitive impairment and hippocampal damage when administered for a long time at low doses in rats.

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“…De acuerdo a Arrifano [8] el metilmercurio cruza fácilmente las paredes del tracto gastrointestinal debido a su rápido transporte a través de membranas biológicas, acumulándose en las paredes de las células nerviosas causando daño neurológico). Además Chételat et al [6] señala que el metilmercurio es más tóxico para los microorganismos y plantas acuáticas; lo que implica la inhibición del crecimiento por reducción de la actividad fotosintética; niveles de entre 1 y 10 mg/L causan una toxicidad aguda para la mayoría de invertebrados acuáticos.…”

Section: Impacto Ambiental Del Mercurio En La Biotaunclassified

Minerías artesanales para la extracción de oro mediante el uso de mercurio: Estado del arte del impacto ambiental en los medios agua, aire y suelo

Ramírez-Morales¹,

Rodríguez-Artavia²,

Sáenz-Vargas³

et al. 2019

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La minería artesanal a pequeña escala (MAPE), como economía de subsistencia, ha tenido un auge importante en los últimos años debido al aumento en el precio del oro, generando impactos ambientales y socioeconómicos. El uso de la técnica de extracción de oro con amalgamas de mercurio y descomposición térmica para la purificación del metal; genera al menos cinco problemas ambientales: degradación de la tierra, deforestación, contaminación y sedimentación de cursos de agua, contaminación atmosférica y degradación de la salud de la fauna y los seres humanos. La forma orgánica del mercurio es la más tóxica, puede bioacumularse y biomagnificarse a través de la cadena trófica. En el presente estudio se realiza una descripción del estado del arte de la MAPE a nivel mundial, así como sus implicaciones socioeconómicas y ambientales. Se determinó que la innovación en las técnicas utilizadas por la MAPE; ayudarían a la reducción y futura eliminación del uso del mercurio; así como la generación de regulaciones o leyes que garanticen la sostenibilidad ambiental y un adecuado desarrollo socioeconómico de los mineros artesanales y de pequeña escala.

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Large-scale projects in the amazon and human exposure to mercury: The case-study of the Tucuruí Dam

Cited by 81 publications

References 40 publications

In the Heart of the Amazon: Noncommunicable Diseases and Apolipoprotein E4 Genotype in the Riverine Population

In the Heart of the Amazon: Noncommunicable Diseases and Apolipoprotein E4 Genotype in the Riverine Population

Hippocampal Dysfunction Provoked by Mercury Chloride Exposure: Evaluation of Cognitive Impairment, Oxidative Stress, Tissue Injury and Nature of Cell Death

Minerías artesanales para la extracción de oro mediante el uso de mercurio: Estado del arte del impacto ambiental en los medios agua, aire y suelo

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