ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE The Munduruku indigenous people are among those most severely impacted by mercury (Hg) contamination in the Amazon region. Mercury exposure can have severe consequences for the physical and cognitive development of children. We aimed to describe the health assessment in indigenous Munduruku children in the Tapajós River basin, possibly exposed chronically to Hg. METHODS A cross-sectional study with children <12 years old living in the Sawré Muybu (SM), Poxo Muybu (PM), and Sawré Aboy (SA) villages. We collected […]

The primary economic activity of the municipality of Poconé, Central-West Brazil, is the production of gold. In an attempt to reduce exposure to metallic mercury, schools in that location conduct educative programs directed towards their students. A questionnaire used to evaluate the efficacy of these programs with respect to adolescents’ comprehension concerning exposure to mercury was developed in 2007. This questionnaire is self-applied and has 12 questions. A test-retest reliability study, with a 21-day interval between the two sessions, was […]

This is a comparative study of the most feasible methods of sampling mercury vapour. Absorption in acid permanganate, absorption in iodine and iodide solutions, adsorption in activated charcoal, and in hopcalite. A process to produce a standard atmosphere of mercury vapour to test the different methods is described. The method showing greatest accuracy and precision was found to be absorption in acid permanganate.

This research project was undertaken for the purpose of studying poisoning by metallic mercury among workers of an electric lamp factory located in S.Paulo (Brazil). 71 workers were investigated, of whom 61 (85,92%) were chronically poisoned. Exposure period ranged from 4 months to 30 years. The 57 (80.30%) of chronically poisoned workers showed poor psychomotor co-ordination, 56 (78.88%) showed neurological impairments, 51 (71.83%) decreases in memory capacity, 47 (66.20%) pathological findings in the clinical exam, 45 (63.38%) psychiatric disturbances and […]

This is a review on current knowledge of chronic occupational mercurialism syndrome. Major scientific studies and reviews on clinical manifestation and physiopathology of mercury poisoning were evaluated. The search was complemented using Medline and Lilacs data. Erethism or neuropsychological syndrome, characterized by irritability, personality change, loss of self-confidence, depression, delirium, insomnia, apathy, loss of memory, headaches, general pain, and tremors, is seen after exposure to metallic mercury. Hypertension, renal disturbances, allergies and immunological conditions are also common. Mercury is found […]