Abstract
Fish serves as the principal source of animal protein for the indigenous people of the Amazon, ensuring their food and nutritional security. However, gold mining causes mercury (Hg) contamination in fish, and consequently increases health risks associated with fish consumption. The aim of this study was to assess the health risk attributed to the consumption of mercury-contaminated fish by Munduruku indigenous communities in the Middle-Tapajós Region. Different fish species were collected in the Sawré Muybu Indigenous Land to determine mercury levels. The health risk assessment was carried out according to the World Health Organization (WHO 2008) methodology and different scenarios were built for counterfactual analysis. Eighty-eight fish specimens from 17 species and four trophic levels were analyzed. Estimates of Hg ingestion indicated that the methylmercury daily intake exceeds the U.S. EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) (2000) reference dose from 3 to 25-fold, and up to 11 times the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)/WHO (2003) dose recommendation. In all situations analyzed, the risk ratio estimates were above 1.0, meaning that the investigated Munduruku communities are at serious risk of harm as a result of ingestion of mercury-contaminated fish. These results indicate that, at present, fish consumption is not safe for this Munduruku population. This hazardous situation threatens the survival of this indigenous population, their food security, and their culture.
Highlights
IntroductionFish has an important role in food security, since 17% of all animal protein consumed in the world is provided by fish [1]
The risk ratio estimated in this study indicates that there is no safe consumption of fish by the Munduruku population in any of the scenarios created for counterfactual analysis
Indigenous Land have mercury concentrations with the potential to harm the health of the Munduruku population, women of childbearing age and children
Summary
Fish has an important role in food security, since 17% of all animal protein consumed in the world is provided by fish [1]. Fish consumption contributes to nutritional security, given its high content of essential nutrients (i.e., vitamins and minerals) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g., omega-3 and omega-6) [2,3]. The food and nutritional security attributed to fish consumption is especially important for low-income populations in developing countries where over 90% of inland water caught fish are directed for local human consumption [4,5]. Fish is often the only quality protein accessible to poor 4.0/).
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