Characterizing Temporal Mercury Exposure From Hair In Women Of Child Bearing Age Exposed To Mercury From Regional Gold Mining In Madre De Dios, Peru

Abstract

The objective of research is to evaluate mercury exposure in women of child bearing age (WCBA, 15-49 years) as exposure to mercury during pregnancy is very harmful. Mercury is a natural part of our environment and a global pollutant that has known adverse impacts on the nervous and reproductive systems. Assessing exposures in human populations with a high exposure risk is important because of the adverse implications, especially for young children. Our research is focused on measuring mercury exposures in WCBA to assess potential prenatal exposures in a population exposed to mercury from regional gold mining in Madre de Dios, Peru. In this region, mining is the most important anthropogenic cause of environmental change, resulting in an annual clearing of 6,000 hectares per year of forest and an estimated 44,800 kg of mercury released into the environment for gold extraction. Mercury we have analyzed from fish tissues from the Madre de Dios River indicates that there is great potential for individuals to be exposed through fish consumption, and that this potential varies along the river. Fish were found to have significantly increased tissue mercury concentrations downstream of active mining areas. This study aims to (1) evaluate mercury exposure levels in communities along the Madre de Dios River and (2) describe how exposure varies over a year timeframe. Hair samples will be collected from WCBA in both communities that are impacted by the regional mining and in communities upstream of the mining influence for reference. Hair segments will be analyzed in two month intervals to determine exposure over the previous 12 months and a regression analysis will be used to assess temporal variation. Total mercury in hair will be measured using a DMA-80. Preliminary hair data suggests that there is elevated mercury exposure in the region.