Abstract
ISEE-131 Objective: Mercury (Hg) emissions by gold mining and deforestation have been contributing to increased human exposure to mercury by fish consumption in the Amazon. The aim of this study was to analyze the longitudinal pattern of mercury exposure in 3 different periods: 2000 to 2001 (1510 mothers and their 1510 newborns) and preliminary results of a sample from those persons in 2004 (254 mothers and 271 children) and 2006 (190 mothers and 180 children). Material and Methods: Data were obtained using a questionnaire and also from analysis of mercury concentration of blood samples from mothers, newborns (umbilical cord), and children according to the Brazilian ethical standards. Mercury analysis was carried out by a cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: Mercury of mother's blood in 2000 to 2001 was 11.53 ± 11.3 μg/L and newborn's umbilical cord blood reached 16.68 ± 17.1 μg/L. There was a strong and positive correlation among Hg levels in newborns and mothers with a significant model of linear regression (r = 0.8019; P = 0.000). In 2004, preliminary results pointed to similar mercury levels in mother's blood (10.19 ± 8.5 μg/L) and a significant decrease (t test 2.51; P < 0.006) in children's blood (9.51 ± 4.18 μg/L). At the last time point (2006) there was a significant decrease of these figures for both mothers (7.70 ± 5.9 μg/L and t test 3.45; P < 0.000) and children (5.27 ± 4.8 μg/L and t test 179; P < 0.000). Conclusions: The Hg levels found in mothers and newborns characterize an exposure profile that has been observed in this area. Decrease in mercury levels in children's blood should result after finishing Hg transfer through the placenta and Hg elimination during the first years of life. The result of Hg levels in mother's blood in 2006 could be explained, among others, by season type of fish consumption. Finally, special surveillance practices for preventing intrauterine accumulation of this metal in the Brazilian Amazon were discussed.
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