Artisanal Gem Mining in Brazil: Evaluation of Oxidative Stress and Genotoxicity Biomarkers

Heberson Teixeira da Silva, Thainá Sprícido Magalhães, Sumaia Araújo Pires, Ana Paula Rufino Santos, Jairo Lisboa Rodrigues () and Márcia Cristina da Silva Faria
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Heberson Teixeira da Silva: Instituto de Ciência, Engenharia e Tecnologia (ICET), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Teófilo Otoni 39803-371, MG, Brazil
Thainá Sprícido Magalhães: Instituto de Ciência, Engenharia e Tecnologia (ICET), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Teófilo Otoni 39803-371, MG, Brazil
Sumaia Araújo Pires: Instituto de Ciência, Engenharia e Tecnologia (ICET), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Teófilo Otoni 39803-371, MG, Brazil
Ana Paula Rufino Santos: Instituto de Ciência, Engenharia e Tecnologia (ICET), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Teófilo Otoni 39803-371, MG, Brazil
Jairo Lisboa Rodrigues: Instituto de Ciência, Engenharia e Tecnologia (ICET), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Teófilo Otoni 39803-371, MG, Brazil
Márcia Cristina da Silva Faria: Instituto de Ciência, Engenharia e Tecnologia (ICET), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Teófilo Otoni 39803-371, MG, Brazil

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: This study was carried out in the district of Taquaral de Minas, in the municipality of Itinga, located in Jequitinhonha Valley, state of Minas Gerais, which is considered one of the largest yolk-producing regions in Brazil. Miners in gem extraction areas are prone to severe oxidative damage due to their increased exposure to toxic metals, as well as chemical, physical, and biological agents, resulting in diseases such as silicosis. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate occupational exposure in prospectors through biomonitoring techniques using a variety of biomarkers for oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and mutagenicity. Twenty-two miners and seventeen workers who were not occupationally exposed were recruited, totaling thirty-nine participants. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys. In this study, the levels of total peroxides, catalase activity, and microelements in plasma were evaluated. Additionally, environmental analysis was carried out through the Ames and Allium cepa tests. The results of the lipoperoxidation assessment were significant, with increased frequencies in exposed individuals compared to controls ( p < 0.05), as determined by the Mann–Whitney test. Micronutrients in the blood showed lower concentrations in the group exposed to Fe and Se than in individuals not exposed to these elements. The results of the Ames test and Allium cepa test were statistically significant compared to the controls ( p < 0.05), as determined by the Mann–Whitney test for genotoxicity and cytotoxicity. Thus, the results of the present study indicate possible environmental contamination and a potential risk to the health of miners, which suggests that further studies are important in the region.

Keywords: mining; occupational exposure biomarkers; oxidative stress; biomonitoring (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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