The impact of hydroelectric dams on mercury dynamics in South America: A review

Pestana, Inácio Abreu; Azevedo, Lucas Silva; Bastos, Wanderley Rodrigues; Souza, Cristina Maria Magalhães de

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.12.035

Cited by 45 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 54 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In addition, the construction of dams for the operation of hydroelectric plants significantly affects the mercury cycle in the Amazon environment, as it facilitates the mercurial methylation process and other chemical transformations (e.g., demethylation, reduction, and oxidation) [48][49][50]. In general, dams have favorable physicochemical conditions (e.g., temperature, oxygenation, redox potential, dissolved organic matter) for the proliferation of bacteria that participate in mercury cycling, promoting an increase in the concentration of dissolved organic matter which serves as a carbon source for the organomercurial species, and additionally, inhibits fish migration, facilitating the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of the methylmercury produced [50][51][52][53].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury Exposure in Munduruku Indigenous Communities from Brazilian Amazon: Methodological Background and an Overview of the Principal Results

Basta

Viana

Vasconcellos

et al. 2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Amazonian indigenous peoples depend on natural resources to live, but human activities’ growing impacts threaten their health and livelihoods. Our objectives were to present the principal results of an integrated and multidisciplinary analysis of the health parameters and assess the mercury (Hg) exposure levels in indigenous populations in the Brazilian Amazon. We carried out a cross-sectional study based on a census of three Munduruku indigenous villages (Sawré Muybu, Poxo Muybu, and Sawré Aboy), located in the Sawré Muybu Indigenous Land, between 29 October and 9 November 2019. The investigation included: (i) sociodemographic characterization of the participants; (ii) health assessment; (iii) genetic polymorphism analysis; (iv) hair mercury determination; and (v) fish mercury determination. We used the logistic regression model with conditional Prevalence Ratio (PR), with the respective 95% confidence intervals (CI95%) to explore factors associated with mercury exposure levels ≥6.0 µg/g. A total of 200 participants were interviewed. Mercury levels (197 hair samples) ranged from 1.4 to 23.9 μg/g, with significant differences between the villages (Kruskal–Wallis test: 19.9; p-value < 0.001). On average, the general prevalence of Hg exposure ≥ 6.0 µg/g was 57.9%. For participants ≥12 years old, the Hg exposure ≥6.0 µg/g showed associated with no regular income (PR: 1.3; CI95%: 1.0–1.8), high blood pressure (PR: 1.6; CI95%: 1.3–2.1) and was more prominent in Sawré Aboy village (PR: 1.8; CI95%: 1.3–2.3). For women of childbearing age, the Hg exposure ≥6.0 µg/g was associated with high blood pressure (PR: 1.9; CI95%: 1.2–2.3), with pregnancy (PR: 1.5; CI95%: 1.0–2.1) and was more prominent among residents in Poxo Muybu (PR: 1.9; CI95%: 1.0–3.4) and Sawré Aboy (PR: 2.5; CI95%: 1.4–4.4) villages. Our findings suggest that chronic mercury exposure causes harmful effects to the studied indigenous communities, especially considering vulnerable groups of the population, such as women of childbearing age. Lastly, we propose to stop the illegal mining in these areas and develop a risk management plan that aims to ensure the health, livelihoods, and human rights of the indigenous people from Amazon Basin.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury Exposure in Munduruku Indigenous Communities from Brazilian Amazon: Methodological Background and an Overview of the Principal Results

Basta

Viana

Vasconcellos

et al. 2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The effect of hydro dam construction on mercury methylation, bioaccumulation in fish, and exposure to humans is of concern in the Amazon. Approximately 80% of the hydroelectric reservoirs in South America had MeHg levels in predatory fish above the limit (0.5 mg/kg -1 WHO, 2006) desirable for human consumption (Pestana et al, 2019). Several of these reservoir are located in the Amazon (Malm et al, 2004;Dominique et al, 2007;Kasper et al, 2012;Kasper et al, 2014).…”

Section: Total Mercury In Fish From Tele Pires Rivermentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury concentrations in fish and human health assessment in preflood phase of a hydro dam in Teles Pires River, Southern Brazilian Amazon

Matos

Correa

Silva

et al. 2021

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ingestion of fish is considered the main pathway of human exposure to methylmercury (MeHg), particularly for riverside populations, where fish is the main source of protein. The objective of this study was to estimate concentration of MeHg based on total concentration of mercury in muscles of three species of carnivorous fish: Boulengerella cuvieri (bicuda), Serrasalmus rhombeus (piranha), and Hydrolycus armatus (cachorra), collected from Teles Pires River, Brazil. Furthermore, we calculated human health risk related to MeHg contamination caused by fish consumption. Fish were collected in 20 field campaigns from December 2011 to September 2016 at Teles Pires River, in area of influence of Colíder hydroelectric plant. Risk index (RI) related to ingestion of MeHg through fish intake was calculated considering that MeHg corresponds to around 90% of mercury in fish. There were no significant differences in average mercury concentration between all species: S. rhombeus (0.304 mg/kg–1), H. armatus (0.229 mg/kg–1), and B. cuvieri (0.199 mg/kg–1). RI calculated for sensitive groups (lactating women, breastfeeding infants and children) and RI calculated for general population presented average values, suggesting adverse health effects. This first assessment on MeHg and human exposure to people from Teles Pires River area through fish consumption suggests that mercury concentrations might be posing health adverse effects on people of this sensitive group. Further studies involving more fish specimens and considering fish biological factors are needed to fully understand health risks of mercury exposure to humans in this region.

show abstract

“…Due to the low declivity of the basin, the dams flood large areas for a modest electricity production, the worse examples in that aspect being the Balbina reservoir, on the Uatuma River, near Manaus, and Samuel reservoir, near Porto Velho, on a Madeira River tributary. In the Amazon as elsewhere, damming produces the "reservoir effect" on Hg levels in fish, that increase sharply after damming, to slowly decrease as the reservoir ages (Drew Bodaly et al, 2007;Pestana et al, 2019). Although Tucurui has been more studied for Hg than other dams in the Amazon, the only published study documenting fish mercury increase after damming in Brazil concerned the Manso reservoir, near Cuiaba (Hylander et al, 2006).…”

Section: Hydroelectric Reservoirs In the Amazon And Hgmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury in the Amazon

Guimarães

2020

Elem Sci Anth

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The aim of this text is to present a critical overview of Hg research in the Amazon along the last 30 years, discussing some of the lessons learned and the unique challenges that the complex Amazonian environment can place to researchers working on mercury. The description provided here is based on our long-term research with mercury in this tropical rainforest environment and may be particularly relevant for those initiating mercury studies in the tropics.

show abstract

The impact of hydroelectric dams on mercury dynamics in South America: A review

Cited by 45 publications

References 54 publications

Mercury Exposure in Munduruku Indigenous Communities from Brazilian Amazon: Methodological Background and an Overview of the Principal Results

Mercury Exposure in Munduruku Indigenous Communities from Brazilian Amazon: Methodological Background and an Overview of the Principal Results

Mercury concentrations in fish and human health assessment in preflood phase of a hydro dam in Teles Pires River, Southern Brazilian Amazon

Mercury in the Amazon

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About