Exposure to mercury in pregnant women from Alta Floresta-Amazon Basin, Brazil

The region of Alta Floresta in the South of the Amazon basin, close to the Teles Fires River, was one of the main prospecting gold areas in the Amazon Basin until the beginning of the 19905. The economic growth was accompanie d by a considerable increase in the population, due to a massive influx of migrants from the southern region of the country. Women had an important ro le during that process. They worked in the "garimpos" in different activiti es, such as cooking or managing, where they were exposed mainly to indoor e lemental mercury during burning of amalgam. They also worked in gold dealer s' shops, where a great amount of amalgam was burned daily. Fish consumptio n was an important dietary protein source and also a possible exposure path way, due to the high Hg concentrations reported in carnivorous species. The present study evaluates the mercury uptake and consequent risks involved f or pregnant women from Alta Floresta at the end of the gold rush period. Th e survey included women at different pregnancy stages and it was supported by clinical exams, followed by an interview with a specific questionnaire. Mercury hair concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 8.2 mug/g were found among women, with 13% of them showing concentrations above 2 mug/g. According to the results, mean differences in hair mercury concentration mere statist i cally higher for pregnant women if they had worked in gold mining areas, th ey had consumed alcohol, their husbands had worked as "garim-peiros," they ate fish, and/or they had malaria before and/or during pregnancy. (C) 2000 Academic Press.