A study by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) reveals that fish consumed in the main urban centers of the Amazon is contaminated by mercury. The results show that fish from all six Amazonian states had levels of contamination above the acceptable limit (greater than or equal to 0.5 micrograms per gram), established by the World Health Organization (WHO). The study, carried out in partnership with Greenpeace Brazil, the Indigenous Research and Training Institute (Iepé), the Socio-environmental Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Brazil), indicates that the worst rates are in Roraima, where 40% of fish have mercury above the recommended limit, and in Acre, where the index is 35.9%. The lowest indicators are in Pará (15.8%) and Amapá (11.4%). “On average, 21.3% of the fish sold in the localities and that arrive at the table of families in the Amazon region have mercury levels above safe limits”, highlighted Fiocruz, through a note, when highlighting that, in all layers In the populations analyzed, the daily intake of mercury exceeded the recommended reference dose. In the municipality cited as the most critical, Rio Branco, the potential intake of mercury exceeded 6.9 to 31.5 times the reference dose indicated by the Environmental Protection Agency of the US government. “Women of childbearing age – the group most vulnerable to the effects of mercury – would be ingesting up to nine times more mercury than the recommended dose; while children from 2 to 4 years old, up to 31 times more than advised”, warned Fiocruz. In Roraima, the second state considered the most critical, the potential intake of mercury extrapolated from 5.9 to 27.2 times the reference dose. “Considering the population strata most vulnerable to contamination, women of childbearing age would be ingesting up to eight times more mercury than the indicated dose and children aged 2 to 4 years, up to 27 times more than the recommended amount”. The research According to Fiocruz, the research sought to assess the risk to human health due to the consumption of contaminated fish, through visits to markets and fairs in 17 Amazonian cities where the samples used were purchased. The survey was carried out from March 2021 to September 2022 in Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia and Roraima. Samples were collected in the municipalities of Altamira (PA), Belém (PA), Boa Vista (RR), Humaitá (AM), Itaituba (PA), Macapá (AP), Manaus (AM), Maraã (AM), Oiapoque ( AP), Oriximiná (PA), Porto Velho (RO), Rio Branco (AC), Santa Isabel do Rio Negro (AM), Santarém (PA), São Félix do Xingu (PA), São Gabriel da Cachoeira (AM) and Tefe (AM). 1,010 specimens of fish of 80 different species, purchased at markets, fairs and directly from fishermen, were evaluated, simulating the daily lives of local consumers. Of the general total of samples, 110 were herbivorous fish (which consume food of plant origin), 130 detritivores (which consume organic waste), 286 omnivores (which consume food of animal and vegetable origin) and 484 carnivores (which consume food of animal origin ). Carnivores, more appreciated by final consumers, showed higher levels of contamination than non-carnivorous species. The comparative analysis between species indicated that contamination is 14 times higher in carnivorous fish when compared to non-carnivorous ones. “The main recommendation that the researchers make is to have greater control of the Amazonian territory and to eradicate illegal mining and other sources that emit mercury into the environment”, concluded Fiocruz.
Agência Brasil
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