Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASM) is a poverty-driven activity that provides an important source of livelihood for rural communities. The amount of mercury lost by 10 to 15 million small-scale gold miners can reach as much as 1,000 tonnes a year, potentially contaminating 100 million people worldwide. This document brings simple, replicable and sustainable techniques to be used by environmental and health agencies, mining-related institutions and researchers for monitoring mercury pollution. These are badly needed decision-making tools to support mitigation of a serious problem.

Protocols for Environmental and Health Assessment of Mercury Released by Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners

Maternal mercury exposure and neuro-motor development in breastfed infants from Porto Velho (Amazon), Brazil

Elevated blood selenium levels in the Brazilian Amazon.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate mercury and selenium concentrations in hair samples of reproductive age women from riverside communities of the Tapajos River basin. We studied 19 pregnant and 21 non-pregnant women, 13 to 45 years old, living in the region for at least 2 years, and having a diet rich in fish. The analysis of Se and total Hg were performed in the Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares (IPEN, Sao Paulo, Brazil) by using a Varian AA220-FS atomic absorption spectrometer with a flow injection system. There were no differences between the two groups — pregnant and non-pregnant — concerning age (23.80F6.92 and 26.60F9.60 years old, respectively) and residential time (20.21F8.30 and 22.20F10.90 years, respectively). The geometric means and ranges for total Hg concentration were similar (pN0.05): 8.25 Ag/g (1.51-19.43) in pregnant and 9.39 Ag/g (5.25-21.00) in non-pregnant women, respectively. Total Hg concentrations were also similar in different gestational stages. However, there was a significant difference between the two groups (pb0.05, Student t test) in relation to Se concentration: 0.61 Ag/g (0.40-2.33) in pregnant and 2.46 Ag/g (0.92-5.74) in non-pregnant women, respectively. We concluded that Hg exposure levels in reproductive age women were only slightly higher than a provisional tolerable weekly intake of MeHg would provide, that Hg concentration in maternal hair samples was independent of gestational age, and that low Se concentration in pregnant women indicates high mineral consumption by fetal organism to satisfy their metabolic requirements raised during pregnancy, including as a protective mechanism for Hg cytotoxic effects. D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Short communication Mercury and selenium concentrations in hair samples of women in fertile age from Amazon riverside communities

Biomarkers of selenium status in the amazonian context: Blood, urine and sequential hair segments

Biomarkers of selenium status in the Amazonian context : blood, urine and sequential hair segments

Ž. Total mercury and selenium concentrations were determined in hair samples collected from Wari Pacaas Novos ´ Indians living in Doutor Tanajura village, Gujara-Mirim city, Rondonia State. The mercury concentrations in some ´ˆ samples are much higher than the values determined in samples from individuals not exposed to mercury contamination, occupationally or environmentally. The selenium concentrations are in the normal range. A correlation was observed between the mercury and selenium concentration and the values of the molar ratio approach 1 at low Hg concentrations. This fact is related to the equimolar complex formed by �Ž . 4 HgSe Seleprotein P, which can decrease the bioavailable mercury in the organism. 2002 Elsevier Science nm

Correlation between mercury and selenium concentrations in Indian hair from Rondonia State, ˆ

Medicinal plants can be used as alternative sources of mineral nutrients in the alimentary diet. Elements such as iron, manganese, and zinc present variable bioavailability due to their chemical form (species) present in foods. This work has the objective of evaluating the concentration and bioavailability of iron, manganese, and zinc in extracts of the peel and leaves of Caesalpinia ferrea Martius by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS). The extraction agents tested were 0.05 mol.L -1 NaOH, 0.05 mol.L -1 Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.0), 0.05 mol.L -1 Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.0) containing 1% (m/v) sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), 0.05 mol.L -1 HCl, and hot water at 60 °C. The peel and leaves of Caesalpinia ferrea Martius presented higher levels of iron and manganese when compared to other medicinal plants. The elements studied showed predominant association with compounds of high and low molecular weight and soluble and insoluble species in water. Among the analyzed elements, the iron presented the best bioavailability in the peel and leaves of the fruit. Manganese and zinc presented higher bioavailability in the leaves. The peel and leaves of Caesalpinia ferrea Martius can be an alternative source of iron, manganese, and zinc in the alimentary diet.

Avaliação do uso da casca do fruto e das folhas de Caesalpinia ferrea Martius como suplemento nutricional de Fe, Mn e Zn Evaluation of the use of the fruit peel and leaves of Caesalpinia ferrea Martius as a nutritional supplement of Fe, Mn and Zn

Sarkis Muller

Papers

Correlation between mercury and selenium concentrations in Indian hair from Rondonia State, ˆ

Avaliação do uso da casca do fruto e das folhas de Caesalpinia ferrea Martius como suplemento nutricional de Fe, Mn e Zn Evaluation of the use of the fruit peel and leaves of Caesalpinia ferrea Martius as a nutritional supplement of Fe, Mn and Zn