Relação entre os níveis de mercúrio e o perfil sociodemográfico dos ribeirinhos do Baixo Tapajós: uma análise epidemiológica

Abstract

Mercury exposure is a serious public and collective health problem in the Tapajós Basin region, Pará, Brazil. The study aimed to describe mercury levels and associate them with socio-demographic variables such as age, gender, race/ethnicity and schooling, and to identify groups more vulnerable to exposure to the metal. Blood samples were collected from 49 participants living in riverine communities in the Lower Tapajós region, and Hg levels were quantified using atomic absorption spectrometry. The results showed that 83.7% of the participants had mercury levels above the limit considered safe by the World Health Organization (10 μg/L). The analysis showed that mercury exposure was higher in people over 60 years of age, women and residents of the Parauá municipality. These data highlight the need for effective public policies and local interventions to mitigate the effects of mercury exposure in these communities.