Hair as a Biomarker of Long Term Mercury Exposure in Brazilian Amazon: A Systematic Review

Nathália Santos Serrão de Castro and Marcelo De Oliveira Lima
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Nathália Santos Serrão de Castro: Centre of Research and Extension, Metropolitan College of Amazon (FAMAZ), Visconde de Souza Franco Avenue, 72, Belém-Pará 66053-000, Brazil
Marcelo De Oliveira Lima: Environmental Section, Evandro Chagas Institute, BR-316, s/n, Ananindeua-Pará 67030-000, Brazil

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: Many studies have assessed mercury (Hg) exposure in the Amazonian population. This article performs a literature search of the studies that used hair as a biomarker of Hg exposure in the Brazilian Amazonian population. The search covered the period from 1996 to 2016 and included articles which matched the following criteria: (1) articles related to Hg exposure into Brazilian Amazon; (2) articles that used hair as a biomarker of Hg exposure; (3) articles that used analytical tools to measure the Hg content on hair and (4) articles that presented arithmetic mean and/or minimum and maximum values of Hg. 36 studies were selected. The findings show that most of the studies were performed along margins of important rivers, such as Negro, Tapajós and Madeira. All the population presented mean levels of Hg on hair above 6 µg g −1 and general population, adults, not determined and men presented levels of Hg on hair above 10 µg g −1 . The results show that most of the studies were performed by Brazilian institutions/researchers and the majority was performed in the State of Pará. The present study identified that Amazonian population has long-term been exposed to Hg. In terms of future perspectives, this study suggests the implementation of a strategic plan for environmental health surveillance in the region in order to promote health and benefit Amazonian population.

Keywords: mercury; methylmercury; Amazon; hair Amazonia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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